We’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions for your convenience below. However, if you would prefer to speak directly to a member of our literary staff, you’re more than welcome. Please note, the Literary Office will be remote for the application and selection process. We highly recommend you send us an email at litoffice@theoneill.org rather than calling our offices.

 

Can you tell me more about the selection process?

 

The National Music Theater Conference expects approximately 300-400 scripts each season, all received and reviewed through our open submissions process this fall. In the initial round of consideration, the first 30 pages and five demo tracks of each musical are carefully considered with attention and appreciation. Full scripts and additional demo tracks (if available) will be requested for the second round of consideration on a rolling basis via email, at which point each team will have 72 hours to provide them. Please know that we endeavor to respond to all inquiries and applications in a timely fashion.

 

Who will read and listen to my work?

 

The National Music Theater Conference proudly hosts a select pool of readers and reviewers. All industry professionals in the world of music theater, our readers include directors, writers, composers, dramaturgs, and other artistic professionals. Final conference selections are made by NMTC Artistic Director Alexander Gemignani. To learn more, please view our full list below under "NMTC Readers."

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My submission is listed as “Accepted” or “Completed” on Submittable. What does that mean?

 

When your NMTC application is listed as either “Accepted” or “Completed” on Submittable, it means that your application has been successfully submitted and accepted for review by the O’Neill literary office. If your script is accepted for development in our upcoming summer Conference, you will hear from us directly via email no later than April 2025.

 

When can I expect to hear back from you?

 

Invitations to participate in the second round of consideration for NMTC will be extended on a rolling basis starting in mid-November. By April, every applicant will be notified of their status.

 

What does the National Music Theater Conference residency at the O’Neill entail?

 

The National Music Theater Conference offers each piece selected for development a two-week workshop, culminating in three public script-in-hand staged readings. These workshops are wholly artist-driven and staffed with industry-leading directors, dramaturgs, music directors, musicians, actors, and designers. Artists are welcome to revise, rework, and rewrite as much or as little as they like while in residence with us. We welcome experimentation with book and music alike.

 

Residencies include full room and board, as well as a stipend. Artists in residence are welcome to attend the rehearsals, readings, and presentations of their peers' work, as well as their own. We’ve found that one of the most valuable elements of an O’Neill summer is its strong community of fellow writers, artists, and theater-makers, which endures long after the conferences have drawn to a close.

 

Who is eligible to apply?

 

As long as you are at least 18 years of age and have the right to work in the United States of America, you are more than welcome to apply. To that end, you do not need an agent or other professional representation to submit an application to the National Music Theater Conference — or any open submissions process hosted by the O’Neill.

 

Do you accept work from international writers?

 

Yes. NMTC gladly accepts — and has developed — work by artists from around the globe. We’ll only note that the script submitted must be accessible to English-speaking readers. To participate in the National Music Theater Conference, international writers must have the right to work in the United States. Unfortunately, our small staff size precludes the O’Neill from assisting with visa applications; however, previous applicants have found the resources on the U.S. Department of State's website useful.

 

My play has music in it, but I don’t consider it a “musical.” Should I submit it to the National Playwrights Conference or the National Music Theater Conference?

 

Our rule of thumb is: If developing the musical world of the play is your primary developmental goal, it's a better fit for the National Music Theater Conference—which provides exceptional support for the growth and development of music, lyrics, book, and the integration thereof. Conversely, we find that many applicants who characterize their work as a "play with music" ultimately feel that the National Playwrights Conference is a better fit for their work. For more information about the National Playwrights Conference and its application process, please visit the NPC webpage linked here.

 

When you say that submissions must not have had a “professional production” prior to July 31, 2024, what exactly do you mean? (Or, “I had a developmental opportunity with X, Y, Z, qualities. Is my piece still eligible?”)

 

Your submission must not have had a professional production, or be licensed or optioned to have a professional production, prior to July 31, 2025. For our purposes, a “professional production” means that all artists were appropriately compensated and design elements were in place. A few notes:

 

• If your piece had a reading, staged reading, or workshop—or if scripts were still in your actors’ hands at the time of the performance—we do not consider that a “professional production.” However, you are required to share the play’s full development history on your NMTC application, which includes any previous readings, staged readings, or workshops. 

• If your piece was produced by a college or university theater, we do not consider that a “professional production.”

• If your piece was fully produced, but the artists were not compensated, we do not consider that a “professional production.”

• If your piece was produced, but the production lacked significant and necessary theatrical elements—a Zoom reading, stage lighting, projections, or puppets, for instance—we do not consider that a “professional production.”

 

If your musical receives a workshop, reading, staged reading, or is optioned for a professional production after you submit your application, please inform the literary office via email at litoffice@theoneill.org as soon as possible. Failure to disclose additional development could affect your application’s standing. 

 

I’ve already had a staged reading or developmental workshop of my musical. Am I still eligible to apply?

 

Yes. If your piece has had a staged reading or workshop presentation, it is still eligible for consideration at NMTC. Only pieces that have received a full professional production are ineligible to apply. Please note that you will be asked to provide a full developmental history of your piece on the NMTC application. If your play receives a workshop, reading, staged reading, or is optioned after submitting your application, please inform the literary office via email at litoffice@theoneill.org as soon as possible. Review the FAQ above for more details about this eligibility requirement.

 

My piece is music-driven, but I’m not sure that it’s a “musical.” Can I apply?

 

NMTC proudly supports the development of all styles and genres of music theater, including song-cycles, operas, and experimental works. Please note, however, that because our process centers on writing and developing all elements of the project — book, music, and lyrics — pieces without original music, like "jukebox" or "catalog" musicals, are not eligible for submission.

 

Can I submit a work that I have previously submitted?

 

Yes. Though we would prefer to spend time with your latest work, we do accept scripts that have been previously submitted to the National Music Theater Conference. We do ask, however, that the work has been significantly revised — which tends to mean that substantial changes to the story and its telling have been made since it was last shared with us.

 

Do you accept adaptations?

 

Yes. We do accept adaptations, provided that the rights to any material not in the public domain have been granted to you in writing. Proof of rights and a copy of the release must be submitted to the O’Neill through the NMTC application form along with your other application materials.

 

Can I submit more than one piece?

 

Yes.

 

Does the text of my script sample need to be formatted in any specific way?

 

No. We recognize that music theater encompasses a multiplicity of styles and forms, and we trust that your book will be formatted in the way that best communicates your vision. Please note that your title page, character breakdown, and any other introductory front matter will not count against the 30-page limit. We encourage you to include them in your script sample.

 

I don’t have a script or libretto yet because my piece is sung-through. Can I submit the first 30 pages of the score instead?

 

No. We are unable to accept excerpts from the score in lieu of the 30-page script/book/libretto sample.

 

What kind of quality is expected of the demo tracks?

 

The most important thing about your demos is that we can understand the lyrics. We recognize that every project shared with us is in a different stage of development, and understand that production quality will vary widely. Accordingly, we have received everything from solo composers singing their own work to concert recordings from previous workshops; from single pianos to multiple instruments (real or synthesized); from home studios to professional studio suites. We only require that the songs are submitted in the order that they appear in the script, even if they fall outside of the first 30 pages.

 

How many demo tracks should I submit? (Are you sure I can’t submit more than five?)

 

Please include no more than five songs in show order. You may submit fewer than five songs if you would prefer. Should your piece advance to the second round of consideration, you will be invited to share the rest of your tracks with us.

 

Do the five selected songs have to be in consecutive order?

 

No. While we ask that the songs are listed in show order, they do not have to be consecutive. For example, you may choose to share with us the first two songs of the piece, two songs from the middle, and then the finale.

 

Do the five selected songs have to fall within the first 30 pages of the script?

 

No. While the songs must be listed in show order, you are welcome to submit tracks that fall outside of the first 30 pages of the script.

 

Can I submit a video recording?

 

If you feel that your demo tracks are better represented by video, you are welcome to submit video recordings of one or two selected songs—but please bear in mind that these videos are meant to supplement the audio files of your five demos, not replace them. Please do not send us a video recording of your full submission in performance.

 

Do I need to submit the score along with my application?

 

No. The materials requested in the NMTC application guidelines are sufficient.

 

What should my synopsis look like?

 

Your synopsis should be 150 to 500 words, but no more than that. This should be a clear overview of your piece that outlines its basic plot. Remember that the reader will only have access to the first 30 pages of your script, so please don’t fret about spoilers.

 

What should my character breakdown look like?

 

Please list character name, vocal/instrumental requirements, any doubling schemes should they occur, and any traits that you deem necessary for casting, These traits could include but are not limited to age, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, ability, etc. Beyond that, any information or notes that you wish to share about your characters is welcome, but not necessary.

 

What should I include in my developmental goals?

 

This is an opportunity for you to describe how the resources offered by the National Music Theater Conference can further the development of your musical. As a reminder, the O’Neill provides selected writing teams with a director, dramaturg, music director, musicians, and a professional equity cast. In addition to your dedicated rehearsal weeks and public readings, you’ll have access to housing, writing spaces, and library resources on the O’Neill’s seaside campus. Here are some tips to get you started:

• Let us know how these resources can best serve your process and particular piece. Do you hope to examine a specific character arc with the help of a dramaturg? Are you curious about how the ending of your piece lands on an audience? What are you hoping to explore musically? These goals are shared with our readers and help them understand how you speak about your work and process as a writer.

• Your “Developmental Goals” should be about a page in length, but a little longer or shorter is fine, too. There are no formatting requirements for this section, so you are welcome to include a bullet point list, a narrative with multiple paragraphs, visual elements, charts, etc…

• Bear in mind that this is an opportunity to engage with your readers about the material that they have just read—so there’s no need to include a blow-by-blow account of the plot or worry about spoilers.

• We’ll only note that the more specific you can be about your goals, the better: we find that the more successful developmental goals address every formal element of the piece, including book, music, and lyrics. Please feel free to include any relevant notes about the developmental history of your piece here, too.

 

How do I pay the application fee?

 

You will be guided through the payment process step-by-step as you finalize your online application. We are glad to accept both debit and credit cards. If you run into any issues regarding the acceptance of your payment, please contact support@submittable.com.

 

How do I make a PDF of my script?

 

We are only able to accept script samples in PDF format. Fortunately, the vast majority of word processors— including Microsoft Word, Final Draft, GoogleDocs, and Pages — will allow you to convert your document to a PDF by clicking on the tab, “Save as PDF.” Once you have done so, simply upload the new PDF of your script as directed on our online application form.

 

Can I expect feedback on my submission?

 

Unfortunately, our small staff size and the sheer number of applications we receive precludes us from giving individual feedback on submissions to the National Music Theater Conference.

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If you have any other questions, please reach out to the O'Neill literary office via email at litoffice@theoneill.org.