American Harmony Prize

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Curtain Call is proud to announce the return of the American Harmony Prize, an annual award that celebrates diverse new works of musical theater. The goal of the American Harmony Prize is to showcase new musicals that explore our country's many ethnic, religious and gender identifications.

The fifth annual American Harmony Prize will showcase a new musical that dramatizes an aspect of the experience of Asian Americans. Asian American characters have rarely been featured centerstage in American musicals. But, with projects like The Wedding Banquet (from Next to Normal's Brian Yorkey) and Allegiance (the story of a Japanese American family during World War II and the years of the U.S. internment) in the works, their stories have begun to be told.

In addition to a cash award of $500.00 (funded in part by Stamford Gives Back), a 60-minute concert reading of highlights from the winning musical will be performed in Curtain Call's Kweskin Theater on February 6, 2012 at 7:30 pm. In order to qualify for consideration, a musical cannot have been professionally produced (Equity Dinner, LORT, Production, Special Production, SPT, Stock, etc.) or published. All other forms of developmental performance, including readings, concerts, workshops. festivals and nonprofessional productions, will not disqualify you – and are, in fact, encouraged!

Submissions will be accepted via mail from Monday, September 19, 2011 until Saturday, October 15, 2011. Submissions postmarked after Saturday, October 15, 2011, will ineligible for consideration. We are not able to receive electronic submissions at this time. Your submission should include:
1. A plot synopsis of 800 words or fewer (or roughly two pages).
2. 10 continuous pages of the libretto (with all dialogue, lyrics and stage directions included).
3. A cd that demonstrates as much of the musical's score as has been recorded to date. (It needn't be of studio quality.)
4. One sample of the sheet music for a song from the show's piano / vocal score.
5. A self-addressed, stamped envelope if you wish to have your materials returned. (If not, they will be recycled after the judging.)

Note: there is no submission / reading fee.

Submissions should be mailed to:
Curtain Call, Inc.
1349 Newfield Avenue
Stamford, CT 06905
Attn. American Harmony Prize

Short-listed applicants will be asked to submit additional materials after Friday, November 11, 2011. Additional materials postmarked after Saturday, November 19, 2012, will ineligible for final consideration. The winner of the 2012 American Harmony Prize will be announced mid-January, 2012, at www.CurtainCallinc.com.