Michael Kooman News

The Stage Door Foundation revealed the artists and productions who will debut NEW NEXT NOW, a ground-breaking pipeline for the development of new musicals.

The Phoenix Theatre Company will present the 28th Annual Richard P. Stahl Festival of New American Theatre at the Judith Hardes Theatre. This year's festival will amplify new voices and expand the canon of American theatre.

Watch a video of the 2025 Red Bucket Follies opening number, from the annual variety show performed December 8 and 9, 2025 at the New Amsterdam Theatre.

Beginning next week, Tipping Point Theatre (TPT) in Downtown Northville will present free readings of a new play and new musical as part of its 2026 IN THE WORKS developmental theatre series. 

The Fred Ebb Foundation presented the 21st annual Fred Ebb Award for aspiring musical theatre songwriters to the team of Sophie Boyce and Veronica Mansour. Go inside the event in new photos.

The Fred Ebb Foundation will present the 21st annual Fred Ebb Award for aspiring musical theatre songwriters to the team of Sophie Boyce & Veronica Mansour.

Mercury Musical Developments and Stiles + Drewe in partnership with PW Productions have announced the star-studded cast that will appear at this year's Stiles + Drewe Best New Song Prize.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre has announced the complete casting and more details about the lineup for the 37th Annual FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS. Learn more here!

Liz Callaway isn’t only a Tony Award-nominated actress and singer, she’s also an Emmy Award-winning television talk-show host.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre has announced the creative teams and emerging artist participants for the 37th Annual Festival of New Musicals, which will be held Thursday, October 23 and Friday, October 24, 2025, at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

Following the cancellation of its Kennedy Center-produced tour, the children's musical Finn will be presented at NAMT's 37th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Learn more here!

SCNPF is a festival like no other, presenting a multi-day lineup of developmental readings of new plays and musicals, outdoor variety shows and street fairs, cabarets, workshops and masterclasses, and a musical theater scholarship contest that transforms Greenville into a hub of theatrical innovation from Thursday, August 7, to Sunday, August 10. 

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) has revealed the official selections for the 37th Annual Festival of New Musicals, set to take place October 23–24, 2025, at New World Stages in New York City.

The 41st Helen Hayes Awards took place on May 19, 2025, at The Anthem, honoring excellence in Washington D.C. theatre. Signature Theatre led with six wins. Awards were presented in 41 categories from 165 eligible 2024 productions.

Monumental Theatre Company has announced an all-ages concert reading of the Helen Hayes-nominated children's musical FINN. FINN runs 65 minutes and is suitable for all sharks, fish, friends, and families.

In celebration of WorldPride DC 2025, Theater Alliance will present WorldPride Arts Hub, two weeks of dynamic and inclusive events including vibrant performances, participatory community gatherings, and visual art installations. Learn how to attend.

The South Carolina New Play Festival has unveiled its season lineup for 2025. The 4th annual festival will take place over four days, transforming Greenville, South Carolina into a hub of theatrical innovation from Thursday, August 7- Sunday, August 10.

Stars in the House just commemorated its fifth anniversary with a very special live, and of course livestreamed, show, teaming up with FINN creators Chris Nee, Michael Kooman, and Christopher Dimond to present a star-studded one-night-only concert performance of FINN. Check out photos from the concert here!

Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley Jackson teamed up with FINN creators Chris Nee, Michael Kooman, and Christopher Dimond to present a one-night-only performance that also celebrated the fifth anniversary of Stars in the House. Watch the full show here!

The recent upheaval at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, following President Donald Trump's self-appointment as chairman, has sent shockwaves through the arts community. This unprecedented move has led to significant administrative changes, program cancellations, and a broader debate about the intersection of politics and cultural institutions.