PITCH, PITCH, PITCH!

Audiences are getting ready to come back to the theatre. So producers are asking “What kind of musicals do they want to see?” You want their answer to be: A musical written by ME!

Imagine an opportunity to get a bunch of producers into a Zoom room, all at the same time, listening to you pitch your musical to them. New Musicals Inc. has created that very opportunity, just for you.

New Musicals Inc. has invited dozens of producers from Broadway and regional theatres, large and small, to join us for A MUSICAL THEATRE PITCH CONFERENCE.

Pitch Conference Schedule

Friday evening July 16 — NMI Executive Director Scott Guy will call upon his many years of experience in the world of television and Emmy nominations to give you insight into the pitching process, from the writers’ and producers’ perspective.

Saturday July 17 — You’ll try out your three-minute pitch on NMI staff for feedback who will help prepare you to meet producers.

Sunday July 18 — You will pitch to an intimate, friendly group of producers, who will give constructive and specific feedback on improving your pitch.

Week of July 19-23 — During the week of July 19th, each participating team will be given two separate opportunities to pitch live to a wide group of industry professionals. There will be a morning and an afternoon pitch session from Monday to Friday during the week. Participating teams will be pre-assigned to specific sessions.

After the conference — As part of the entire process, all participating teams will be given the opportunity to create a web page on the NMI website (facilitated by NMI staff) that will include a logo, demo sound file, description and other information about their show (including links to outside websites/materials). These pages will be made available to all of the industry professionals who have taken part in the conference; as well as a much longer list of industry professionals across the country.

NOTE: A maximum of 60 participating writing teams will be able to sign up for the full conference. We are also accepting auditors for the conference who will not get to pitch live, but will still get the opportunity to have a webpage that will be circulated to the same list of industry professionals after the conference.

NMI Executive Director, Scott Guy, leading the Pitch Basics session via Zoom in 2020

NMI Executive Director, Scott Guy, leading the Pitch Basics session via Zoom in 2020

Pitch Conference Producing Panel

Here is a list of the producers who are currently signed on to take part in the Pitch Week (check the website for an updated list, as folks are joining in every day!)

  • Marleen Alhadeff (Producer, Junkyard Dog Productions)
  • Margot Astrachan (Owner, Margot Astrachan Production)
  • Michael Baron (Producing Artistic Director, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma)
  • Roger Bean (President, Steele Spring Stage Rights)
  • Jane Bergere (Producer, Jane Bergere Productions)
  • Victoria Bussert (Director, Music Theatre Program, Baldwin-Wallace University)
  • Cate Caplin (Director/Choreographer)
  • Sean Cercone (President, Broadway Licensing)
  • Kathy Evans (Founding Executive Director, Rhinebeck Writers Retreat)
  • Allison Fifield (Artistic Programs and Events Manager, Philadelphia Theatre Company)
  • Marco Gomez (Producer, DOMA Theatre Company)
  • Brandon Ivie (Associate Artistic Director, Village Theatre)
  • Michael Jackowitz (Founder/Managing Member, WitzEnd Productions)
  • Joshua Katzker (PiTCH Coordinator/Artistic Associate, The Rev Theatre Company)
  • Cody Lassen (Producer, Cody Lassen and Associates)
  • Roy Lightner (Artistic Consultant, Red Mountain Theatre)
  • Carolyn D. Miller (Co-Founder, Creative Endeavor Office)
  • Soren Moller (Creative Director / Producer / Partner at Monday Live)
  • Joey Monda (Partner, Sing Out Louise Productions)
  • Kevin Moore (Artistic Director, Human Race Theatre)
  • Kent Nicholson (Director of Musical Theatre, Playwrights Horizon)
  • Ann-Carol Pence (Co-Founder/Associate Producer, Aurora Theatre)
  • James A Rocco (Director, Theatrical Consultant, Writer)
  • Stuart Ross (Writer/Director/Producer (Forever Plaid, Fun with Dick and Jane))
  • Michael Rubinoff (Producer)
  • Blair Russell (Associate, Show Shepherd)
  • Jen Sandler (Associate Artistic Director, New York Theatre Barn)
  • Giovanna Sardelli (Director of New Works, TheatreWorks)
  • Matt Schicker (Founder and President, Show Shepherd)
  • Christopher Sepulveda (Producer, Apples and Oranges Arts)
  • Sara Skolnick (VP of Production, Stageworks Productions)
  • Johnna Tavianini (Associate Professor of Musical Theatre, Ball State University)

Here is some feedback from participants who took part in the 2020 Virtual Pitch Conference:

“I couldn’t believe the quality of producers that we had the opportunity to pitch our show to. They were some of the top producers in the industry. I’ll be back next year to pitch my next show!”

“The NMI team helped us strengthen our pitch and then gave us the opportunity to present our show to some of Broadway’s top producers. If you are developing a new musical, don’t miss this opportunity!”

“I not only learned an enormous amount about presenting a pitch, but a producer got in touch with me after my pitch, and wants to talk about the project!”

“I’ve been a librettist/lyricist for many years now, and the NMI Pitch Conference was one of the most valuable things I’ve ever done. The conference was a masterwork of efficiency and organization, and Elise and Scott’s generosity, intelligence, good-nature and expertise infused the experience. I look forward to participating in anything they do in the future.”

“I had some general ideas about how to pitch my musical before the conference, but the conference clarified them and made my pitch super-effective and reflective of what was uniquely appealing about our musical.”

The PITCH Conference weekend and Pitch Week are only $225 per writing team. Although the early registration deadline has passed, the MusicalWriters.com community is eligible to receive $50 off by using the code BIZ-INSIDER-2021 at checkout.

For more info, and to register, visit https://nmi.org/conference-agenda