Festival Creative Assistantship

For Emerging Leaders in Musical Theatre

Program Overview:

Now in its eighth year, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) Festival Creative Assistantship offers a distinctive opportunity for early-career professionals to participate as assistants in the development of new musicals. This program is dedicated to supporting the next generation of leaders in musical theatre by offering early-career theatre-makers the opportunity to be part of the NAMT Festival process from start to finish.

This year, the program will focus exclusively on Directing and Music departments. Each Festival musical will be matched with a Creative Assistant working in one of these two areas. The Creative Assistantship is facilitated by NAMT’s New Works Associate, and one assistant will be assigned to each of the participating projects in an intern capacity. Assistants will support their department’s creative team and will be included in creative conversations including casting, rehearsals and other preparations for the staged reading presentation.

Creative Assistants are expected to be present for all rehearsals, sound check and presentations for their assigned Festival musical in October in New York City. They will also conduct onstage interviews with their Festival Writers during the Fall Conference’s Meet the Writers Preview Event. The Creative Assistantship begins in late August, with rehearsals running October 12–22 and the Festival taking place October 23–24.

Key Dates:

• Applications Due: July 18
• Interviews: Week of July 21 & July 28
• Rehearsals (20 hours, schedule varies): October 12–22
• Sound Check: October 20 
• Fall Conference: October 21–22
• Festival: October 23–24

Creative Assistants are invited to virtual pre-production meetings beginning in August. However, Creative Assistants must be in person for rehearsals and Festival performances. Those dates vary per show assignment.

Program Goals:

This program aims to strengthen in-the-room learning opportunities that foster professional growth within the musical theatre industry, with a focus on historically underserved groups and specifically in the areas of Directing and Music.

• Each of the eight Festival shows will be matched with one Creative Assistant in either Directing or Music.
• Creative Assistants will gain first-hand exposure to the process of developing new musicals.
• Participants will learn from and assist experienced directors, writers and music directors.
• Creative Assistants will be invited to attend select NAMT Fall Conference panels, offering networking opportunities with industry leaders.
• All Creative Assistants must attend all rehearsals, sound check and Festival presentations in NYC.
• Creative Assistants will receive a $400 stipend and are responsible for their own travel and lodging in New York.

Process:

Creative Assistants begin with virtual pre-production meetings in late August, followed by in-person rehearsals and Festival activities in October. Rehearsals take place in Midtown Manhattan; Festival presentations are at New World Stages. This is a live, in-person event and attendance is required.

The NAMT Festival Creative Assistantship Program is committed to nurturing talent, promoting inclusion, and supporting equity in musical theatre by empowering emerging professionals through immersive and meaningful departmental experiences.

FAQ:

Who is eligible to apply for this program?
The program is open to early-career theatre-makers with a focus of directing or music directing. We encourage candidates to apply who also identify as early-career professionals of color, early-career professionals with disabilities, women early-career professionals, and LGBTQIA+ early-career professionals. Non-US citizens are welcome to apply.

What is expected of the Creative Assistants once they have been selected?
Creative Assistants are expected to work in an intern learning-meets-assistance capacity and to support the relevant department of that creative team. Once a Creative Assistant has been selected, they will be added to all creative conversations including casting and the other needs for a staged reading presentation. The majority of pre-Festival work is done via email and Zoom and there is a great deal to glean from observing these communications.

How will the final Creative Assistants be selected?
Once the applications have closed, the NAMT staff will review applications and schedule short interviews with semi-finalists. Interviews will be held the week of July 21 and July 28 and will be conducted by NAMT’s New Works Associate Skye Cone Ivey.

Who has participated in the NAMT Festival in the past?
Directors such as Stephen Brackett, Stafford Arima, Christopher Ashley, Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Sarna Lapine, Schele Williams, Victoria Bussert, Kent Nicholson, Peter Rothstein, May Adrales, Sherri Barber, Sam Buntrock, Marlo Hunter. Music Directors such as Andrea Grody, Patrick Sulken, Kurt Crowley, Anessa Marie, Lily Ling, Deborah Abramson. 

Do I have to be a member of NAMT to apply for this program?
No! This program is open to all early-career professionals with an interest in directing or music. We encourage candidates to apply who identify as BIPOC, a person with disabilities, a woman, and/or LGBTQIA+.

Festival Line Producer Residency Application 

Festival Line Producer Residency 

For Emerging Leaders in Musical Theatre

Program Overview: 

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) Festival Line Producer Residency offers an exceptional opportunity for early to mid-career professionals to engage in the production aspects of new musical development. This part-time position reports to the NAMT New Works Director and Festival Producers for the 37th Annual Festival of New Musicals, scheduled for October 23-24, 2025. The contract will commence in early August and end on November 3, 2025, or upon completion of the assigned duties. This is a temporary contract role with no benefits. The Line Producer Residency aims to foster the professional growth of individuals from historically underserved groups in the theatre field. 

Program Goals:

This program is designed to cultivate professional development within the production aspects of musical theatre. The primary goals are as follows:

• Front Row Experience: Line Producers will gain invaluable first-hand exposure to the production process of new musicals, working closely with Festival Producers, the General Manager and creative teams.
• Skill Development: Participants will immerse themselves in the techniques and best practices employed by experienced producers, learning to manage the logistical and administrative needs of theatrical productions. By participating in all aspects of the Festival, including pre-production, rehearsals and performances, Line Producers will enhance their ability to balance multiple schedules, work under pressure and communicate effectively in high-stakes environments.
• Networking Opportunities: Line Producers will attend (as time allows) select NAMT Fall Conference panels, enabling them to network with industry leaders and peers from around the globe. NAMT will also facilitate show-seeing experiences and direct contact networking opportunities with Broadway Producers. The Festival is one of the largest networking and professional development events in the nation for the musical theatre field.
• Support and Mentorship: Line Producers will receive guidance and mentorship from seasoned professionals, fostering a supportive environment for growth and learning. Line Producers will also be given complimentary NAMT Membership for one year, allowing access to a host of member opportunities for networking and creative development.

Process: 

Each Line Producer will oversee the pre-production, rehearsal and performances for staged readings of four new musicals that will all share the same stage at New World Stages.

Pre-production Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Work closely with the Festival Producers & General Manager to ensure a great pre-production, rehearsal and presentation process. Act as liaison between creative teams on four assigned musicals and the Festival Producers & General Manager on any/all administrative and producing needs, including (but not limited to) cast onboarding, information collection, tracking paperwork, prompting artists and teams to complete tasks and ordinary rehearsal coordination requests.
• Attend all key dates in person, including, but not limited to: All Rehearsals (TBD, October 12-22), Site Visits, Festival Staff Meetings, Weekly Check-Ins, Official Festival Production Meetings (via Zoom), Festival Load-in (est. October 19), Sound Check (October 20), Performances (October 23 & 24), Load-out (Monday, October 27). 
• Keep up-to-date contact sheets, rehearsal schedules and a Festival-wide contact sheet.

Festival Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Assist Festival Producers & General Manager with load-in and load-out of Festival equipment.
• Serve as the venue coordinator for four productions/events in assigned venue. Act as the on-site contact for creative teams at Festival to confirm that entire teams are present, as well as ready to perform, in consultation with the Festival Producers & General Manager.
• Manage stage changeovers between presentations, and usher talent off/onstage while tracking and completing the setting up/breaking down of equipment.
• Attend a Post-Festival post-mortem meeting.

Required Skills:

• Knowledge of standard AEA staged reading guidelines and policies.
• Experience balancing multiple schedules for concurrent events.
• Flexible schedule October 10-30th.
• Working well under pressure. Strong communication skills. Maturity and professionalism to represent NAMT to well-known or high-profile artists.
• Willingness to get your hands dirty and pitch in when needed. Ability to lift equipment up to 50 lbs and walk up to 100 ft unassisted, as needed.
• Savvy with online communication forums via Google Docs, Airtable, Zoom, Slack, as well as other methods that may be necessary (WhatsApp, texting, etc) and readily available with planning to communicate as necessary using any of the above.

Compensation: 

Fee: Line Producers will be paid a $2,000 fee and will not receive social security and unemployment insurance benefits. No health benefits or paid time-off are included. Payment will be issued $500.00 upon signing the contract, $500.00 on September 1, $500.00 on October 1 and $500.00 upon completion of the Festival and post-mortem meeting.

Membership: Line Producers will receive a complimentary one-year Individual Associate Membership to the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (value: $490). Associate Membership is a limited personal membership designed for individual theatre professionals who do not meet criteria for organizational membership (i.e. agents, casting directors, investors, musical theatre writers whose work has been produced by professional producing organizations or published by professional publishers/licensing houses, press and other theatre professionals) at the discretion of the Membership Committee and Board of Directors. Line Producers may utilize their Individual Associate Membership to the fullest extent.

Spring Readings & Industry Events: Line Producers will also be invited to join and represent NAMT at industry events in the winter and spring including readings, workshops, presentations, networking events and more. 

FAQ:

Who is eligible to apply for this program?
 The program is open to theatre-makers with a focus in producing. We encourage candidates to apply who identify as professionals of color, professionals with disabilities, women professionals, and LGBTQIA+ professionals. Non-US citizens are welcome to apply.

Do I need to live in New York City? 
While most of the pre-production work takes place online, Line Producers must be able to be on the ground in New York City from October 10th until October 28th. NAMT does not provide travel or housing assistance for Festival participants.

How will the final Line Producers be selected?
 Once the applications have closed, NAMT staff will review applications and schedule short interviews with semi-finalists. Interviews will be held at the end of July and will be conducted by NAMT’s Festival Producers. 

Do I have to be a member of NAMT to apply for this program? 
No! This program is open to all early to mid-career professionals with an interest in producing.