The Theater Center's
Making It Happen
Festival of 15-Minute Musicals
Making It Happen: Festival of 15 Minute Musicals
The Theater Center is now accepting submissions for Making It Happen: 15 Minute Musicals, a new short musical festival giving writers, composers, lyricists, and creative teams the opportunity to present original musical theatre work on an Off-Broadway stage in the heart of Times Square.
Following the success of Making It Happen: Ten-Minute Play Festival, this new festival shifts the spotlight to musical theatre. We are looking for fully original 15-minute musicals of all styles, genres, and subject matter.
Selected musicals will perform at The Theater Center on one of three preliminary performance nights:
Wednesday, August 12
Wednesday, August 19
Wednesday, August 26
Each evening will feature three musicals. Audiences and judges will vote to determine one winner from each night. The three nightly winners will advance to the Finals on Wednesday, September 2, where one overall winner will receive a $5,000 prize.
Submission Deadline
Submissions are due by June 15.
What We’re Looking For
We are seeking short, original musical theatre pieces that can make a strong impression in 15 minutes or less.
All submitted material must be fully original, including book, music, and lyrics. Teams must have the rights to perform all submitted material.
Pieces should be simple, flexible, and festival-ready. Because the festival is designed for quick changeovers, shared resources, and acoustic performance, we strongly recommend a cast size of six performers or fewer.
Production Requirements
This is a non-union festival. All casts, creative teams, musicians, and production personnel must be non-union.
Selected teams will be responsible for providing their own:
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Cast
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Director
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Stage manager
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Music director
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Live musicians and/or accompanist
Live music is required. Tracks are not permitted.
No microphones will be used or provided. All musicals must be able to be performed acoustically in the space.
Productions should be minimal in design. Selected teams should plan for simple staging, limited technical needs, and an efficient setup and strike.
What Selected Teams Receive
Selected teams will receive:
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Performance space at The Theater Center
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Basic technical support
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Box office services
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Festival-wide marketing
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A technical rehearsal slot on the day of performance
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The opportunity to present original musical theatre work in front of a live New York audience
How the Festival Works
Each preliminary night will feature three 15-minute musicals. Audiences and judges will vote to determine one winner from each evening.
The winning musical from each preliminary night will return for the final performance on September 2. At the Finals, one overall winner will be selected to receive the $5,000 prize.
Important Dates
Submission Deadline: June 15
Preliminary Performance Night 1: Wednesday, August 12
Preliminary Performance Night 2: Wednesday, August 19
Preliminary Performance Night 3: Wednesday, August 26
Finals: Wednesday, September 2
Artists should only submit if they are available for at least one preliminary performance night and for the final performance on September 2.
Submit Your Musical
Applications are now open for Making It Happen: 15 Minute Musicals.
Submit your musical by June 15 for consideration.