What is NWNV?

Now in its fifth year, New Works/New Voices (NWNV) is an initiative at the Syracuse University Department of Drama created to support the development of musicals by writers and composers whose perspectives have been historically underrepresented in the musical theater canon.

Each year, one musical is selected to receive a 3-week developmental reading in the Spring semester, directed and music directed by SU Drama faculty and performed by SU Drama BFA students.

The writing team will be in residence during weeks 2 and 3 of the rehearsal process (travel and lodging provided) and will participate virtually in the evenings during week 1. NWNV 2026 will take place in April 2026, with the team in residence in Syracuse from 4/12/26 - 4/26/26.

For submission guidelines and information, please see below. For more info. about the Syracuse University Department of Drama, please click here.

Questions? Please email Kathleen Wrinn, Artistic Director of NWNV and Assistant Professor of Musical Theater at SU Drama (kawrinn@syr.edu).

NWNV Submission Guidelines

NWNV is open to any writers and composers who feel their perspectives have been historically underrepresented in the musical theater canon.

All creative team members must be 18 years of age or older. Applicants may submit more than one musical work for consideration and may re-apply with works submitted in previous years, along with an explanation of what development and/or changes have occurred since the prior submission.

Submission materials include:

• BRIEF SYNOPSIS (< 1 page) of your musical (PDF);

• CHARACTER BREAKDOWN, including short descriptions of each character (PDF);

• FIRST 10-15 PAGES of the libretto (PDF);

• AUDIO DEMOS of THREE (3) SONGS from your musical (MP3s);

• SHEET MUSIC (or lead sheets) for your three (3) demo songs (PDF);

• Brief descriptions (1-3 sentences each) of the DRAMATIC CONTEXT for each song (PDF);

• LYRIC SHEETS for any demo songs not included in the first 10-15 libretto pages (PDF);

• CREATIVE TEAM BIOS (250 words max.) for each team member (PDF);

• SHORT STATEMENT (< 1 page) as to why you feel your musical should be included in an initiative aimed at amplifying the voices of writers and composers whose perspectives have been historically underrepresented in the musical theater canon (PDF);

• [If Applicable: COPYRIGHT CLEARANCE, or if under option, a LETTER FROM THE OPTION HOLDER giving permission for entry.]

Submissions for NWNV 2026 are now open! All submissions are due by July 1, 2025 at 11:59pm EST. Semi-finalists and finalists will contacted for additional materials in late summer/early fall.

Please click here to submit your musical work for consideration.

Questions? Please email Kathleen Wrinn, Artistic Director of NWNV and Assistant Professor of Musical Theater at SU Drama (kawrinn@syr.edu).

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