NYMF Next Link Grand Jury to Include Champlin, Wittman, Meehan, and More

The Grand Jury for 2010 Next Link from the New York Musical Theatre Festival will include Donna Lynne Champlin, Ken Davenport, Kimberly Grigsby, Beverley MacKeen, Tom Meehan, Jack Viertel, and Scott Wittman. Next Link is presented annually as a part of the NYMF.

Twelve of the 2010 Festival's full production slots are reserved for participants in the Next Link Project, NYMF's primary writer service program. The Next Link Project empowers emerging musical theatre writing teams as both artists and entrepreneurs by providing the training and relationships needed to help them move their musicals from mere readings to fully-realized productions and to advance their careers by maximizing the exposure they receive in the Festival.??

Authors submitting to The Next Link Project will need to provide a demo recording of their songs, a detailed synopsis of their show, a 15-page script sample (15 consecutive pages representing the heart of the show and including lyrics for at least one of the songs), a complete script, and, if applicable, proof of rights to adapt underlying material.

Next Link Project participants receive the following benefits:

• A subsidized production slot at NYMF 2010 (including savings in production fees,
discounted technical and marketing support)?
• Individualized support from a member of our team of Next Link dramaturges
• Seminars and workshops geared toward helping them successfully prepare, present, and
promote their NYMF production
• Access to exclusive industry networking events

Any show which has not received a professional New York production may be submitted by authors with or without industry representation. Scripts, however, should be ready for developmental production and the widespread exposure that NYMF provides. All entries undergo double-blind evaluations by several members of NYMF's reading team, with finalists referred to the grand jury.

Now entering its seventh year, The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) exists to revitalize musical theater culture by discovering and promoting new musical theater artists, producers and projects; nurturing a vibrant and innovative artistic community; and connecting one of America's greatest art forms with a diverse, contemporary audience.

NYMF will also present "The Best of the Fest" Benefit Gala on April 19th at New World Stage (340 West 50th Street) which will celebrate the productions for last year's festival and present a selection of their songs. "The Best of the Fest" will be directed by Marc Bruni. Complete information, performers, musical numbers, and ticket prices will be announced shortly.