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Sunday, March 28, 2021

Fifth Avenue Theatre FIRST DRAFT: RAISE YOUR VOICE

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Deadline: April 1, 2021

SUBMISSION FORM

Our flagship new musical development program, First Draft: Raise Your Voice was created with three goals in mind: foster new musicals by writers from populations that have been left out of the musical theater canon; encourage and support brand new stories from authentic perspectives; and introduce new, creative voices to theater professionals and producers to amplify their work so that it is seen, heard, and developed by the greater musical theater community.

First Draft is a commissioning program designed to support new musical theater writers through the completion of a first draft of a brand-new musical. Across an 18-month cycle, writers will receive financial, artistic, dramaturgical, travel, and production support as they complete this first draft and will have the opportunity to hear their words spoken and songs sung at preliminary readings. We encourage everyone interested to apply—previous experience writing musical theater is not required. This program is committed to supporting writers on both a local and national scale.

Now Accepting Submissions for First Draft 2021/22!

We will be accepting submissions until April 1, 2021. Interviews will take place in April and selection will be completed by May 7, 2021.

This year, we plan to commission five projects.

WHO SHOULD APPLY

This cycle of First Draft will solicit submissions from the following:
  • BIPOC writers of all gender identities
  • Women writers
  • Transgender writers
  • Gender non-conforming writers
  • Non-binary writers
Writing teams should be made up of a composer, lyricist, and book writer. Teams can be 1-3 people, acknowledging that some writers will take on more than one job. Your team should be assembled and committed at the time of submission.

If you have questions, please contact Associate Artistic Director Kelsey Thorgalsen at nwsubs@5thavenue.org.

THE COMMISSION INCLUDES
  • $15,000 commission fee for the team
  • A week-long Story Summit with support to outline your show
  • One retreat
  • One residency ending in a table read
  • One 29-hour reading in either New York, Chicago, LA or Seattle (This reading will give your team 29 hours in a 5-day period for a cast to learn your material and present it as a complete first draft.)
  • For the official activities listed above, writers will be compensated in addition to the commission
  • Dramaturgical support throughout (Dramaturges of your choice will provide feedback on story structure, character development, historical context, etc.)
This work will take place over an 18-month period with the goal of completing a first draft of your new musical

Additionally, Theatre Latte Da in Minneapolis has committed to presenting a show from First Draft in a future NEXT Festival, which offers 50 hours of workshop and two public presentations to selected projects.


APPLICANTS MUST INCLUDE
A 1-paragraph to one-page description of your idea for a new musical that has yet to be written
A bio for each contributing writer that outlines your previous creative experience
A team statement that describes your interest in storytelling and your passion for your work

Submissions will be reviewed by a diverse panel of external theater professionals who will advise The 5th Avenue Theatre on selection. Ten teams will be selected to participate in an interview and five teams will be selected for a commission.


SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

Click the button to begin your submission. Teams need only submit under a single application.

We will be accepting submissions until April 1, 2021. Interviews will take place in April and selection will be completed by May 7, 2021.

SUBMIT

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