Submissions Open November 1 for The PiTCH 2019:
The Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival’s New Works Series
AUBURN, NY – (Oct. 22, 2018) On November 1st, The Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, headquartered in Auburn, N.Y., will begin accepting submissions for new musicals in all stages of development to be considered for the 2019 season of The PiTCH. The PiTCH is a new works series offering residency and retreat for creative teams, and the opportunity to develop and “pitch” their new musical to engaged and enthusiastic audiences. Teams benefit from dialogue and feedback immediately following their “pitch.” Submission deadline is Nov. 30, 2018. 
For submission requirements and details on how you can be part of the 2019 season of The PiTCH, visit here.
The PiTCH 2019 season runs from July 17 – August 16 in the elegant and intimate Carriage House Theater, an 80-seat cabaret-style venue in a converted carriage house behind the CayugaMuseum in downtown Auburn. On three evenings at the conclusion of their week-long residency, creative teams present 45-60 minutes of material from their new musical in development. Each presentation is then followed by a moderated discussion between creative team and audience.
Creative teams chosen to participate are provided roundtrip travel, housing, dedicated staff, marketing, an intimate venue, and the beautiful backdrop of the Finger Lakes to immerse in their writing and development process.
“The Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival is proud to be a hub for artists.” says Brett Smock, Producing Artistic Director of the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival. “Our staff and our community welcome our writers and their emerging musicals into the Festival family each summer, as we provide space and time and resources to our gifted teams and ultimately, to the art of musical theatre writing. Unless we invest in the process, there can be no product. And as such, we are thrilled to once again open submissions for The PiTCH 2019!”
In its first seven seasons, The PiTCH has been a development platform for the creative teams of 64 new musicals. Many PiTCH alumni have moved on to have their works presented and produced on Broadway and at a wide variety of theatres and festivals around the country, including the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival itself.
Irene Sankoff and David Hein, Tony-nominated writers of the Broadway hit Come From Away, participated in 2013 (Mitzvah) and said the audience feedback gave them “more than we could have ever hoped for.” Country songwriter JT Harding (“Smile” by Uncle Kracker, “Sangria” by Blake Shelton, “Different For Girls” by Dierks Bentley and more) wrote the music and lyrics for Music City, USA, which was part of the 2016 season. He echoed these sentiments stating The PiTCH was, “Better than I imagined….Having an audience was invaluable.” Matte O’Brien (Book & Lyrics, Anne of Green Gables: A New Folk Rock Musical, 2017)said, “the opportunity to work in such an artistically nurturing environment and with a creative staff that was so supportive and kind was really special.” 2018/19 Dramatists Guild Foundation Fellow Zack Zadek (Deathless, 2016 & [Untitled War of the Worlds Project], 2018) said, “Having had the opportunity twice now, I can’t imagine not developing a new musical at The PiTCH.”
About Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival
Four hours from New York City and situated between Syracuse, Rochester and Ithaca, the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival is one of the largest producing musical theatre organizations in New York state, outside of New York City. The Festival is headquartered in the town of Auburn, NY – set in the picturesque Finger Lakes wine region of Central New York – and operates on multiple stages. Named in 2017 as one of the “Top 15 Must See Summer Theater Festivals” by The New York Times, the organization is currently celebrating its 60thAnniversary season and continues to provide top-notch education and entertainment to over 60,000 patrons each season and is routinely recognized by industry press for its artistry and execution.
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