New York Musical Theatre Festival

The New York Musical Festival (NYMF) was an annual three-week summer festival which presented more than thirty new musicals at venues in New York City's midtown theater district. More than half of these productions are chosen by leading theater artists and producers through an open-submission, double-blind evaluation process; the remaining shows are invited to participate by the Festival's artistic staff. There were sixteen iterations of NYMF in total, one every year from 2004 to 2019.

New York Musical Festival
LocationNew York City
Founded2004
Type of play(s)Musical
Websitewww.nymf.org

The festival premiered over 447 musicals, which have featured the work of over 8,000 artists and have been attended by 300,000 theatergoers. Over 100 NYMF shows have gone on to further productions, with NYMF alumni productions having been produced in all fifty U.S. states and in 27 countries worldwide, having been seen by approximately four million people.[1] Over twenty NYMF shows have had cast albums recorded.

History

In addition to full productions, NYMF presents a wide range of special events, readings and concerts of new music, educational seminars, explorations of musicals in TV and film, and unusual collaborations with other New York-based arts organizations. In 2011, The Festival introduced NYMF meets NYMIF, partnering with the New York Musical Improv Festival in a weekly series in which NYMF performers were paired with performers from the Magnet Theater to create completely improvised musicals.[2]

In 2005, the Festival featured a series of co-productions with the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater exploring the nexus of improvisation and musical theater.[1] NYMF has also partnered with The Paley Center each season to present special screenings of Musicals on Television.[3]

Also in 2005, the New York Musical Theatre Festival received the 21st Jujamcyn Theaters Award, a $100,000 prize given to a not-for-profit institution that has made an "outstanding contribution to the development of creative talent for the theatre."[4]

NYMF also featured a Dance Series, celebrating the fusion of musical theatre and dance. Each series included one new musical commissioned by the Festival: Common Grounds (2006), Platforms (2007), Wild About Harry (2008), and Andy Warhol Was Right (2009).[1]

During the off season, NYMF produced a number of concerts, from large star-studded evenings like "The Unauthorized Musicology of Ben Folds", to intimate events like a salon with composer Duncan Sheik. It also operated a year-round writer service program, The Next Link Project, which provided dramaturgical, professional, entrepreneurial and financial support to help writers bring their musicals to fruition as fully staged productions. The Next Link Project culminated with twelve writing teams each year receiving subsidized productions in NYMF's fall Festival.[5]

On July 17, 2008, the musical title of show became the first show to transfer from the New York Musical Theatre Festival to a commercial Broadway production when it opened at the Lyceum Theatre. The show closed October 12, 2008 after playing 13 previews and 102 performances. It was produced by Kevin McCollum, the producer of Rent and Avenue Q, as well as Roy Miller, producer of Drowsy Chaperone, the Vineyard Theatre, Laura Camien and Kris Stewart, founder emeritus of the New York Musical Theatre Festival.[6]

In 2009, Next To Normal became the second show to transfer from the New York Musical Theatre Festival to a commercial Broadway production. It became a smash hit at the Booth Theatre, winning 3 Tony Awards including Best Score and Best Leading Actress In A Musical.[7] "Next To Normal" went on to win the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, only the ninth musical to be so honored in the history of that award.[8]

Also in 2009, NYMF began a partnership with the Daegu International Musical Theatre Festival (DIMF), which shares its dedication to new musicals and new artists. The partnership includes a production exchange, which began with the hit Korean production of My Scary Girl at NYMF, and continued in the Summer of 2010 with the 2009 NYMF musical Academy at DIMF. NYMF's Korean production of Academy received awards for Best Musical and Best Supporting Actor at the annual Daegu Musical Theater Awards.[9]

In 2013, NYMF won a Special Drama Desk Award "for a decade of creating and nurturing new musical theater, ensuring the future of this essential art form."[10]

Nerds: A Musical Software Satire, from NYMF 2005, was meant to be the fourth Broadway transfer of a NYMF show when it opened at the Longacre Theatre in 2016. However, it lost a major investor a month before its scheduled opening, when the cast was already in rehearsal, and the opening was cancelled.[11]

On January 2, 2020, NYMF abruptly announced that it was shutting down, ceasing operations immediately.[12]


NYMF Awards for Excellence

At the end of every festival starting in 2006, a jury of Broadway professionals gave out awards for excellence to the deserving productions in that year's festival. There is also a "Best of Fest" award that the public votes for. 2013 was the only year where the public and the jury agreed on a best musical (Volleygirls).

The NYMF Awards do not serve as a good barometer for future success. Only one musical that won "Most Promising New Musical" has had an off-Broadway production: A Letter to Harvey Milk (NYMF '12). Two "Best of Fest" winners have been seen Off-Broadway: Unlock'd (NYMF '07) and Fat Camp (NYMF '09).

Year "Best of Fest" Audience Prize Most Promising New Musical Theater for the American Musical Prize Excellence in Writing (Music) Excellence in Writing (Lyrics) Excellence in Writing (Book) Excellence in Direction Excellence in Choreography Excellence in Overall Design Outstanding Orchestrations Outstanding Ensemble Performance
2019[13] Show: Overture

Concert: The Oldenburg Suite

Reading: Mississippi

 Leaving Eden Buried Leaving Eden Buried Till Flying Lessons Leaving Eden Flying Lessons
2018[14] Show: An American Hero

Concert: Fatty Fatty No Friends

Reading: Legacy

 Between the Sea and Sky Between the Sea and Sky Interstate Peter, Who? Between the Sea and Sky Emojiland Between the Sea and Sky Sonata 1962 Between the Sea and Sky AND Emojiland
2017[15]Show: Errol and Fidel

Concert: Dorian Gray

 Generation Me Freedom RidersGeoramaGeneration MeGeoramaErrol and FidelGeorama Errol and FidelGeneration Me
2016[16]Show: Children of Salt

Concert: Illa! A Hip Hop Musical

 Newton's Cradle Dust Can't Kill Me Newton's Cradle Eh Dah? Questions for my FatherNewton's Cradle Nickel Mines A Scythe of Time Dust Can't Kill Me Dust Can't Kill Me
2015[17]The Calico BuffaloSongs for the FallenThe CobalteansThe CobalteansThe CobalteansClaudio QuestWhat Do Critics Know?Claudio QuestAcappellaAcappella
2014[18]Cloned!Academia NutsThe GigThe GigBayonets of AngstAcademia NutsPropaganda! The Musical AND The Mapmaker's Opera (tie)The Snow QueenThe GigBayonets of Angst
2013[19]VolleygirlsVolleygirlsCrossing SwordsJulian PoGary Goldfarb: Master EscapistCrossing SwordsCrossing SwordsCastle WalkThe Awakening of Angel DeLunaThe Awakening of Angel DeLunaVolleygirls
2012[20]Baby CaseA Letter to Harvey MilkStuckBaby CaseBaby Case AND A Letter to Harvey Milk (tie)A Letter to Harvey MilkBaby CasePrison DancerLe Cabaret GrimmForevermanPrison Dancer
2011[21]Crazy, Just Like MeJane Austen’s Pride and PrejudiceKiki BabyCentral Avenue BreakdownDate of a LifetimeJane Austen’s Pride and PrejudiceJane Austen’s Pride and PrejudiceCentral Avenue BreakdownPride and PrejudiceCentral Avenue BreakdownThis One Girl's Story
2010[22]Things As They AreMy Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan WeddingI Got FiredTrailsFrog KissMy Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan WeddingMy Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan WeddingPetrouchkaShine!Without You[note 1]Fellowship! AND The Most Ridiculous Thing You Ever Hoid (tie)
2009[23]Fat CampMy Scary GirlUnder FireAcademyJudas & MeFucking Up EverythingHurricaneFat CampHurricaneAcademy
2008[24]Idaho!Bonnie & Clyde: A FolktaleThe Jerusalem SyndromeBonnie & ClydeCollege: The MusicalLove JerryIdaho!Ward 9Idaho!Love Jerry
2007[25]Unlock'dThe Boy in the BathroomSherlock Holmes (The Early Years)The Yellow WoodSuch Good FriendsThe Boy in the BathroomSuch Good FriendsPlatformsThe Boy in the BathroomGoing Down Swingin'
2006[26]Smoking BloombergKingdomRiver's EndHave a Nice LifeThree SidesDesperate Measures AND Gutenberg! The Musical! (tie)Common Grounds[note 2]Journey to the WestHave a Nice Life

References
  1. , The Official Site of The New York Musical Theatre Festival.
  2. Desk, BWW News. "CYCLOPS, BIG BANK, et al. Set for 2011 NYMF; Full Line-Up Announced!". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  3. , The Paley Center's Musicals on Television Series.
  4. , Playbill Article on the 22nd Jujamcyn Award referencing prior winners.
  5. , The Internet Broadway Database entry for Title of Show's Broadway production.
  6. , Internet Broadway Database page for Next to Normal.
  7. , The Pulitzer Committee's announcement of the 2010 Prize for Drama.
  8. , Theatermania article on the Daegu production of Academy.
  9. NYMF News Announcement About the Special Drama Desk Award]]
  10. Cox, Gordon (2016-03-08). "Steve Jobs-Bill Gates Musical 'Nerds' Nixes Broadway Run". Variety. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  11. Desk, BWW News. "NYMF To Shut Down After Fifteen Seasons". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  12. Hetrick, Adam (2019-08-06). "Leaving Eden Wins 2019 NYMF Award for Best Musical". Playbill. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  13. McPhee, Ryan (2018-08-06). "New York Musical Festival Names 2018 Award for Excellence Winners". Playbill. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  14. "THE NEW YORK MUSICAL FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2017 WINNERS FOR THE NYMF AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE". NYMF.org. August 6, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  15. Rickwald, Bethany (August 8, 2016). "Lesli Margherita, Victoria Clark, and More Win 2016 New York Musical Festival Awards". Theatermania. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  16. 2015 Awards
  17. 2014 Awards
  18. 2013 Awards
  19. 2012 Awards
  20. 2011 Awards
  21. 2010 Awards
  22. 2009 Awards
  23. 2008 Awards
  24. 2007 Awards
  25. 2006 Awards

Notes
  1. 2010 was the first year to give an award for Outstanding Orchestrations.
  2. In 2006, there was one award given for Excellence in Direction and Choreography.
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