(NEW YORK, NY) -- National Alliance for Musical Theatre (Betsy King Militello, Executive Director) has announced the keynote speakers and Conference Agenda for the Fall Conference titled "New Musicals on the Horizon," which takes place on Tuesday, October 24 and Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at NYC's Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street).
One of the most important musical theatre networking events of the year, the NAMT Fall Conference, “New Musicals on the Horizon,” explores the most pressing issues around new work production and development, as well as the state of the industry more broadly. Just as importantly, it provides a community for leaders of theatres from all over the country and the world to share best practices, brainstorm and support one another.
"At the heart of NAMT is a relentless pursuit of innovation," states Betsy King Militello. "Every year, the NAMT community breaks new ground, ensuring that musical theatre remains a vibrant, relevant and evolving art form for future generations. Through the collaborations at NAMT’s Fall events, we are not just seeing the future of musical theatre, but also actively shaping it."
The 2023 Fall Conference, hosted by Signature Theater at the Pershing Square Signature Center, will feature Michael Kaiser (Chairman of the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland) in a keynote conversation with NAMT’s Board President Kwofe Coleman (The Muny, MO), and a second keynote speaker on day two to be announced. Other Fall Conference sessions include: “The State of the Industry,” a panel featuring leaders from theatres across the country; “Models of New Work Development,” an exploration of how to continue supporting new musicals during difficult times; and “Accessibility for All,” an examination of what all audiences need to attend a musical, and much more!
Conference attendees will also get a sneak peek of the 35th Annual Festival of New Musicals at a special Meet-the-Writers panel, and have many opportunities for networking and real connection over breakfasts & lunches as well as a member-favorite cocktail party at Broadway mainstay Glass House Tavern. Most Conference sessions will also be livestreamed for members who are unable to join us in person.
The 2023 Fall Conference is open to NAMT members and sponsors only and is available in-person and in-part online. For more about the benefits of membership, all of NAMT’s programs and services, and joining NAMT as a theatrical producer or producing/presenting organization, visit namt.org/member.
Other speakers and panelists for the 2023 Fall Conference include: Michael Baron, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma (OK); Melissa Bencic, Bravo Academy (ON); Marsha S. Brooks, Brooks & Distler (NY); Debby Buchholz, La Jolla Playhouse (CA) Ben Cameron (MN); Jim Colleran, Concord Theatricals (NY); Victoria Detres, RISE Theatre (NY); Michael Detroit, Playhouse on the Square (TN); Sharon Fallon, Sharon Fallon Productions (NY); Mark Fleischer, Pittsburgh CLO (PA); Kate Galvin, Constellation Stage & Screen (IN); Gabe Gloden, Constellation Stage & Screen (IN); Neil Gooding, Neil Gooding Productions (NY); Steven Gross, Temple Theaters (PA); Hillary Hart, Theatre Under The Stars (TX); Alisa Hauser, Florida State College of Music (FL); Branden Huldeen, Barrington Stage Company (MA); Adam Hyndman, RISE Theatre (NY); Jennifer Jaquess, Red Mountain Theatre Company (AL); Bradford Kenney, Ogunquit Playhouse (ME); Eric Keen-Louie, La Jolla Playhouse (CA); Karen Kowgios, Withum Smith+Brown, PC; Victoria Lang; Broadway & Beyond Theatricals (NYC); Martin Miller, McCarter Theatre Center (NJ); Eric Nelson, TRG Arts (CO); Christine O’Grady Roberts; Ann-Carol Pence, Aurora Theatre (GA); Jim Reynolds, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma (OK); Emily N. Wells, The Human Race Theatre Company (OH), Blair Russell, Blair Russell Productions (NYC); Douglas Senecal, Musical Theatre West (CA); Kate Supleve, The Musical Stage Company (ON); Jay Woods, The 5th Avenue Theatre (WA); Kathleen Wrinn, Syracuse University (NY), and more to be announced.
The National Alliance for Musical Theatre, founded in 1985, is a not-for-profit organization serving the musical theatre community. Its mission is to be a catalyst for nurturing musical theatre development, production, innovation and collaboration. Their 220+ organizational members and 60 individual members, located throughout 33 states and eight countries abroad, are some of the leading producers of musical theatre in the world and include theatres, presenting organizations, higher education programs and individual producers. Among the 284 musicals launched by NAMT's Annual Festival of New Musicals are Lizard Boy, Interstate, Lempicka, Darling Grenadine, Gun & Powder, Benny & Joon, Come From Away, The Drowsy Chaperone, HONK!, It Shoulda Been You, Ordinary Days, Striking 12 and Thoroughly Modern Millie, among many others, representing 525 writers.
The 2023 Fall Conference is overseen by NAMT Member Services Director Adam Grosswirth, with a committee of NAMT members comprised of the Educational Resources Committee, chaired by Mark Fleischer, Pittsburgh CLO (PA); with Kate Galvin, Constellation Stage & Screen (IN); Susanna Gellert, Weston Theater Company (VT); Dan Murphy, Broadway Rose Theatre (OR); and the 2023 Fall Conference Committee: David Byrd, Goodspeed Musicals (CT); Neil Gooding (NY); Branden Huldeen, Barrington Stage Company (MA); Kate Supleve, The Musical Stage Company (ON); and Jay Woods, The 5th Avenue Theatre (WA).
The 2023 Fall Conference and 35th Annual Festival of New Musicals are made possible thanks to the generous support of sponsors. Presenting Sponsor: Concord Theatricals; Platinum Sponsor: Theatrical Rights Worldwide; Producing Sponsors: Broadway Licensing, National Foundation for Musical Theatre, Pearl Studios and PRG Arts; Gold Sponsors: The 5th Avenue Theatre, Barbara Whitman Productions, Break-Away Tours, Disney Theatrical Group, Goodspeed Musicals, The Hollywood Pantages, The Muny, Music Theatre International, Ogunquit Playhouse, Theatre Under the Stars and Universal Theatrical Group; Silver Sponsors: Paper Mill Playhouse, Spektrix and TRG Arts; Partners: Junkyard Dog Productions and McCoy Rigby Entertainment; Gold Exhibitors: Cinevative, Clarkson Davis Arts and Vatic; and Exhibitors: 321 Theatrical Management and Live Design Group.
NAMT thanks the following foundations, government agencies and organizations for their ongoing support: The Alhadeff Family Charitable Fund, The Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York Access Micro-Grant/New York Creative Spaces Grant, ASCAP Foundation Irving Caesar Fund, BMI Foundation, The Capdevilla/Gillespie Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, The Hollywood Pantages, Lucille Lortel Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, The Rodgers and Hammerstein Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, The Ted Snowdon Foundation and Anonymous donors.
