A STAGE KINDLY Launches New Musical Theatre Initiative

A STAGE KINDLY Literary Department, a rare and unique opportunity for writers and composers creating new musicals to submit their work for a number of exciting opportunities, has just launched. The literary department and the opportunities it offers writers is made possible by the affiliation of three leading new musical theatre organisations: The A STAGE KINDLY New Musical Theatre Initiative, Stagescripts Ltd, and the New Musicals Network.

Works submitted will be read by a prestigious panel of professional practitioners and eligible submissions will actually be considered for not just one but several exclusive and exciting opportunities, including two new publishing opportunities. Previously, to submit work incurred a fee, but for the first time it is now a free opportunity. Previously, only hard copies of materials were accepted, but now works can be submitted online, which creates less waste and is better for the environment.

As standard, all titles and writing credits of all works submitted will be logged in the New Musicals Network archive of new Musical Theatre Works. Works shortlisted by the panel (who include West End Musical Director Nigel Lilley, Trustee of the Stephen Sondheim Society Matti Aijala, and West-End performers Oliver Mawdsley and Kirsty Hoiles) will be recommended to the Artistic Directors of A STAGE KINDLY for production opportunities or inclusion in the portfolio of works for which we seek production and co-production opportunities. Selected pieces may also be eligible for an exclusive publishing deal in affiliation with Stagescripts Ltd.

Yet another reason for writers to submit their shows is that individual outstanding songs will be considered for inclusion in the New Musical Songbook, an online enterprise supplying both auditioning professionals and theatre students around the world with the very latest new writing showstoppers. Full details of how to submit can be found at www.astagekindly.com

The A STAGE KINDLY New Musical Theatre Initiative is an independent organisation, the only one of its kind, exclusively dedicated to new musical theatre writing. Run in partnership between Katy Lipson and Giles Howe, it has produced a number of premiere productions, workshops, concerts, and a series of acclaimed revues, along with audio recordings, networking events, skills workshops, and has brought to life music by writers from all across the globe offering unique services and opportunities to all composers and writers involved in creating new musicals.

New Musicals Network was set up two years ago and is dedicated to celebrating and supporting new writing in the field of musical theatre. Based in Luton, Bedfordshire it is an online meeting place for all those interested in new musicals, but with especial emphasis on aspiring writers and composers who can upload their news, videos, demo recordings, contact details, details of shows etc, all free of charge. As well as the online presence, NMN also puts on an occasional series of charity showcases, Snappy Title, which gives new writers and composers the opportunity to have their work performed by professionAl West End artists from such shows as Les Miserables, Wicked and Phantom of the Opera.

Stagescripts Ltd is an independent publisher and rights-holder for the works of (mostly) contemporary writers and composers of musical theatre and drama. Serving adventurous producers it is becoming known for its catalogue of new and contemporary material. Its aim is to provide a shop window for those titles that are of excellent quality but have had little or no exposure on a West End or Broadway stage and are therefore mainly unknown quantities to a theatre audience. Stagescripts Ltd appeals to risk-taking and adventurous producers, and market themselves as such.

The New Musical Songbook is a new joint venture to supply auditioning professionals and theatre students with new musical theatre repertoire. It will be launched officially once it has been filled with material sourced through the A STAGE KINDLY Literary Department which is now accepting submissions.

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