Show Search seeks student written musicals

The Festival of New American Musicals Show Search invites writers between the ages of fourteen and twenty-five to submit an unedited  video of a ten-minute musical that will be judged on storytelling, musicality, performance, and originality.

The festival will begin accepting submissions, which are to be posted through its website,  on January 10. The submission deadline is March 31. Six finalist musicals will be selected, three each in categories for high school and college students. Later in the spring the composers, lyricists, and book writers of the finalist shows will be invited to Los Angeles, all expenses paid, to watch their pieces performed in staged readings by professional musical theatre artists with a panel of celebrity judges. The FNAM says finalists will also receive scholarships.

Darren Criss, who plays Blaine Anderson on Glee, will host the readings. He discusses the Show Search program in more detail in this video:

Bob Klein, co-executive producer of the Festival of New American Musicals, says Show Search was created to fill a void in opportunities for students who want to create musical theatre. “With Show Search,” he said, “we can begin to offer opportunities for up and coming talent to showcase their passion for musical theatre and the arts in a way that will reach thousands, speak to new audiences, and allow for prime exposure for these emerging musical playwrights.”

For more information, check the website.