Following a fantastic 2011 workshop season, submissions are now open for the next round of opportunities and New Musicals Australia is encouraging writers and composers to make those final touches on scores and books. Submissions close on the 31st of May and all submissions are made via the New Musicals Australia website – www.newmusicals.com.au
New Musicals Australia has been founded to provide creators of new musicals with a series of professional workshopping opportunities that enable their work to be developed and publicly presented to high level musical theatre industry professionals and Sydney audiences. This model mirrors the successful processes witnessed in the US and UK.
“Following our successful launch and first round of submissions earlier in March during which we were introduced to some of the extraordinary undiscovered work, New Musicals Australia eagerly anticipates the second round of submissions and working with the wonderful undiscovered work we know is out there. In addition to the excitement of working with this wonderful new material, we look forward to once again involving the Australian musical theatre community and musical theatre fans,” said Director of New Musicals Australia, Kris Stewart.
New Musicals Australia has three key workshop initiatives suitable for new musical theatre works in different stages of development.
The Musical Snapshot presents a thirty minute extract of the musical in concert, alongside other new works, to a panel of industry professionals who offer immediate professional feedback. The works selected for the first round included La Creole (Nicholas Gentile, Julia Plummer and Cheryl Sawyer), Houdini- The Man From Beyond (Russell Bauer and Dr Bruce Dawe) and Showtrain (Andrew Worboys and Zvonko Jovicic). These works were presented to an industry panel including Peter Cousens, Kellie Dickerson Matthew Robinson, Neil Gooding, Peter Casey, Dennis Watkins, Kris Stewart and Anne-Maree McDonald.
The Developmental Reading allows a new work to be rehearsed and performed in concert and includes a five day rehearsal period that culminates in a presentation of the work on the sixth day. A Little Touch of Chaos, the third musical from talented duo James Millar and Peter Rutherford received a week of rehearsal and two staged readings, with a cast that included Marika Aubrey, David Berry, Andrew Bevis, James Bryers, Tamsin Carroll, Amelia Cormack, Michelle Doake, Josie Lane and TJ Power.
The Workshop Presentation involves a staged reading following a ten day workshop with professional performers and the collaboration of a director, choreographer and musical director. David Peake’s a.void, used the opportunity to explore a new side to music theatre through use of electronica and house music. The cast included Sam Anderson, Avigail Herman, Rob Mills, Kate Parry, Adam Rennie, and Nigel Turner Carroll.
In addition to the presentations and workshops, New Musicals Australia hosted Writers Forums and Industry Panels, allowing aspiring writers and composers the opportunity to discuss some of their experiences and queries with industry professionals. New Musicals Australia also made an appearance at the National Play Festival at Riverside Theatres, with a selection of songs from Handle With Care, Kells, 3 Weeks in Spring – The Gallipoli Story and A Woman’s Eyes.
New Musicals Australia is a project of Century Venues with the assistance of the Australian Government though the Australia Council, its arts founding and advisory body.
For more information on New Musicals Australia
www.newmusicals.com.au
