Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Now Accepting Submissions for 2014 National Music Theater Conference

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center is now accepting projects for development during the 2014 National Music Theater Conference. Applicants may submit music theater works for consideration through Monday, November 25th, 2013. Early submissions are strongly encouraged.

The National Music Theater Conference, led by founding Artistic Director Paulette Haupt, supports the development of all styles and genres of music theater, including operas and hybrid works. The authors of selected works will be awarded a two week residency during June or July 2014 with a stipend, housing, meals, and transportation to support an intensive rehearsal process and four script-in-hand public readings.

Paulette Haupt is the co-founder and Artistic Director of the National Music Theater Conference since its inception in 1978. Ms. Haupt notes, "The open submission process at the O'Neill Theater Center speaks to the heart of our mission and to the artists we support at the Conference. So many of the works that have been developed here were written by creative talents who had no agent representation, and were it not for this policy we would likely have overlooked extremely deserving projects in need of development."

The National Music Theater Conference aims to provide a supportive and challenging environment in which emerging and established creative artists can take risks in order to refine and illuminate their work's vision during its formative stages. Since its inception, NMTC has developed more than 110 works.

Open Submissions is a key element of the National Music Theater Conference's mission to develop diverse voices and new works for the American Stage, requiring neither agent submission nor previous experience. Both original and adapted works are accepted; written rights to any material not in the public domain must be included with application and materials submitted. Projects which have been produced by a professional company must receive approval before applying.The O'Neill typically receives around 150 scripts for consideration for NMTC.

The submission fee is $35.00 USD and covers the costs of the process. In an effort to reduce the overall cost of applying, NMTC will also accept electronic submissions for the first time this year. This offers the writers the chance to save time and money on paper copies and postage. The O'Neill believes that a paperless process is also the responsible choice for the environment. Submissions continue to be accepted through the standard hard copy application process as well.

Visit www.theoneill.org/summer-conferences/nmtc/submission-info for application and guidelines.

Pictured: A scene from Mkhululi Z. Mabija and Michael Thurber's musical Goddess in 2013. Photo Credit: A. Vincent Scarano.

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