Deadline: January 1, 2023
Click here for submission guidelines.
Who chooses the musicals?
A group of diverse industry 12 professional adjudicators that includes producers, literary managers, directors, professional performers, and writers from previous SOUND BITES guided by our Theatre Now staff members. We guide the committee to consider artistic quality, uniqueness and diversity of the pieces so the evening represents a wide range of styles and types of musicals. BIPOC writers, LGBTQ+ writers, and writers with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Do I need to live in the NYC area to participate?
No, however if chosen, as writer, you would need someone to represent you and attend all required meetings if you do not live in the area.
How much does it cost?
As Theatre Now is an artist service organization, and as the Producer of SOUND BITES, we cover the majority of your expenses and costs. We're the only short musical theatre festival that offer artists honorariums and rehearsal reimbursements for each piece. That said, there are some out-of-pocket costs depending on your show's requirements (cast & creative team size, number of rehearsals, size of rehearsal space, etc.) and personal choice. Most of these costs relate to specific set-dressing, props and costumes for your show and additional personnel such as musicians.
Submissions require a letter of recommendation. What should that include?
Your letter should be written by a theatre professional who can talk about the piece itself or you as a theatre artist.
Theatre Now defines a 10-minute musical as any piece that can be performed in max. 10min, has a beginning, middle, end story arch, and includes music. Having produced over 70 pieces, we want musicals that are diverse, current, test the musical form and communicate a well-crafted story. We accept musicals across all styles and genres, as well as consider foreign language and/or bilingual scripts. We strongly encourage submissions from female writers, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ writers.
Please review the following criteria thoroughly before sending your submission:
Musical theatre writers can only submit up to two scripts.
The story must have a beginning, middle, and end.
We also accept submissions in foreign languages or that are bilingual. Although the application process is still in English, the work itself may be submitted and performed in any other language if selected.
Each piece must include music.
- All submission must be submitted via this website. No physical copies.
- Each musical must be ten minutes long maximum. Cuts will be made if accepted.
- Longer one-acts or full-length musicals will not be considered.
- A musical may be a previously produced work with a production history.
- Though we have no formal script formatting guidelines, all scripts must be easy to read.
- The volume of submissions prevents us from providing feedback on all submissions.
- If your piece is visual (ie. Choreography heavy), please include video footage or detailed descriptions.
An acceptance email into the festival that will include additional information to confirm their involvement.
A waitlist email. In the event an accepted musical declines their participation, a selected wait listed musical will be notified to serve as a replacement.
The remaining musicals will receive a "not selected" email and are encouraged to submit again next year.
*All criteria is subject to change and without notice.*