OPEN New Musical Submissions for 2027 Savannah Musical Theatre Festival

Savannah Rep collaborates with bold artists to create theatre that reflects the values of our region. By championing innovative storytelling, we provide space where diverse voices thrive, inspire future generations, and use theatre as a catalyst for community transformation.

Following two successful festivals, Savannah Rep is thrilled to announce the third annual Savannah Musical Theatre Festival, a celebration of brand-new, never-before-produced musicals. The festival brings together writers, composers, performers, audiences, and industry professionals to experience original works through concert-style readings featuring live music and minimal staging.

Led by Founder/Managing Director Jenn Bishop and Artistic Director Natasha Drena, SMTF is the only festival of its kind in Georgia’s Lowcountry and continues to build Savannah’s place within the growing national landscape of new musical theatre. Selected works will be showcased in September 2027.
Applications for the 2027 Savannah Musical Theatre Festival open September 30, 2026. Be sure to read the full guidelines below, then use the link at the bottom to submit your work.

Eligibility:
- Complete libretto/script ready for evaluation.
- Running time no longer than 2 hours without intermission.
- Demo recordings that reflect the show’s musical style.
- Proof of rights for any pre-existing or copyrighted material.
- Must be an original work that has never had a fully staged/mounted production and is not licensed through any licensing house. (excluding self-produced)

If Selected:
- Writers/Directors are responsible for travel, lodging, and food for all out-of-town artists participating in the reading plus rehearsal space for any rehearsals outside of the allotted hours provided by the Rep. 
- Savannah Rep provides a theatre with stage and dressing rooms, a basic technical package, four hours of tech rehearsal plus space for an additional four hours of rehearsal, a stage manager, board operators, a keyboard, and community marketing.
- At least one member of the writing team must attend the reading and participate in the audience talk-back.

Other Deadlines after Selection:
- Final integrated libretto is due July 1st, 2027 (book and lyrics combined with all pages consecutively numbered). No significant revisions allowed after this point.
- Any call scripts for sound/lights/stage management are due 2 weeks before the start of the Festival.
- All sound effects (ex: Qlab stack), tracks, and/or projections are due 1 week before the start of the Festival.

Applications are due December 8th, 2026 by 10pm

Required Materials to Submit:
- Demo Recordings of 5 Songs (.mp3 audio)
- Complete and full script (pdf)
- One Sheet about the show (pdf): Cast Size, Character Breakdown, Synopsis
There is an application fee of $25 (payable to Savannah Rep through PayPal or Venmo)

Applications will be evaluated by our professional panel, with final selections announced March 2027.

Click or Copy/Paste this url for the form to submit: https://forms.gle/WD9N4kDaZN1K4V9v6
Thank you for considering the Savannah Musical Theatre Festival as the next step in your musical’s journey!

Contact us with any questions at