Unique West End Initiative Seeks New Musical Composers

Notes from New York and entertainment industry bible The Stage have joined forces to launch Notes for The Stage, a brand new and unique initiative offering budding British musical theatre composers the opportunity to have their work premiered on the West End stage. Notes for The Stage offers entrants the chance to have a song performed in "Christmas in New York," a one night gala at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue on Sunday, December 9. Songs should therefore center around a Christmas theme.

Entries will be considered by a panel of four major players in the musical theatre world. Leading lady and award-winning actress Anna-Jane Casey, whose credits include Velma Kelly in the West End production of Chicago and Dot in the Menier Chocolate Factory production of Sunday in the Park with George, joins Musical Director David Randall, critically acclaimed composer Grant Olding who is currently under commission at The National Theatre and theatre critic Mark Shenton. Shortlisted entries will be workshopped and performed for the judges by popular young West End performers Julie Atherton, star of West End hit Avenue Q, and Paul Spicer, whose extensive musical credits include lead roles in shows such as The Witches of Eastwick, Fame and Taboo.

Notes for The Stage has been launched to counter the demonstrable lack of prominent contemporary British musical theatre composers. There are currently no original British musicals playing in the West End that aren't adaptations and Notes for The Stage aims to encourage, discover and nurture the British musical theatre writing talent of the future. Striving for the high profile production and exposure of new musical theatre writing, it offers a unique opportunity for an unknown composer to receive a high profile West End debut. It will also help to bring new British musical theatre writing to a wider and more mainstream audience.

In addition to performance of the winning song in "Christmas in New York" at the Lyric Theatre, the winner will receive a pair of top price tickets to the show, VIP hospitality on the night, travel and accommodation if they live outside of the South East, a one year subscription to The Stage, the commission of a song for a future show and mentorship for a period of 12 months, which will include, but is not limited to, artistic consultations, the opportunity to workshop scores in progress and a financial contribution to expenses.

For details of how to enter, visit www.notesforthestage.co.uk or pick up a copy of "The Stage," which is published every Thursday.

Closing date for entries is Friday November 9.

Notes from New York was established in 2003 as the West End's first and only platform for contemporary musical theatre. Having received an enthusiastic and critically acclaimed response, the company has since produced sold out shows at the Donmar Warehouse, the Arts Theatre and the Trafalgar Studios. In March 2006 they presented Not(es) from New York at the Duchess Theatre which featured the work of British composers Charles Miller and Grant Olding. In December 2006 they produced Christmas in New York, a collection of seasonal songs by British and American composers featuring several world and UK premieres intertwined with classic carols thus introducing new material to a mainstream audience. "Christmas in New York" is revived this year.

"Christmas in New York" is at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue on Sunday, December 9, 2007. For further details and to book tickets, call 0870 890 1107 or visit www.christmasinnewyork.co.uk

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