Established in 2009, the Yale Institute for Musical Theatre is a program of Yale’s Binger Center for New Theatre that bridges the gap between training and the professional world for emerging composers, book writers, and lyricists. The Institute seeks distinctive and original music theatre works to be developed in an intensive two-week summer lab at Yale School of Drama. The Institute matches the authors of the selected works with collaborators, including professional directors and music directors, as well as a company of actors and singers that includes professionals and current Yale students. The lab culminates with open rehearsal readings of each project, presented as part of New Haven’s International Festival of Arts & Ideas.
The two-week alumni residency, introduced in 2015, provides a safe, “away from home,” intensive environment for a writing team to work on a project already in development. The alumni residency is for authors only, one of whom must be a past Institute participant. The team is invited to all company events, but there is no rehearsal or public presentation of their work.
Eligibility:
- The Yale Institute for Music Theatre accepts applications for projects at various stages of development but focuses on work that is ready to be explored musically and dramatically with performers and directors. Submissions cannot have had a professional production.
- Book musicals and other imaginative music theatre projects are welcome. Only composers, book writers, or lyricists who are current graduate students; or who have graduated from an accredited degree-granting institution (undergraduate or graduate) no earlier than May 2010; or who are current Yale students (undergraduate or graduate) are eligible to apply.
- Applicants may only submit one work for consideration. At least one collaborator must meet the above requirements for the submission to be eligible. Past Institute participants are welcome to apply, provided they still meet the program’s eligibility requirements.
- Participants must be available for the full duration of the lab. Each member of the writing team will receive an honorarium of $1,200, as well as round-trip transportation and accommodation.
What to submit: All submissions must include each of the following, and all documents (with the exception of music recordings) must be uploaded as PDFs:
1. APPLICANT BIO: a BIOGRAPHY or resume of no more than one page, for each creative artist;
2. SYNOPSIS/SONG LIST/SCRIPT/SHEET MUSIC:
- a SYNOPSIS of no more than one page, with a list of characters and instrumentation;
- a SONG LIST;
- a SCRIPT with lyrics or a full libretto;
- SHEET MUSIC for a minimum of five songs;
3. MUSIC RECORDINGS: a sample of at least 20 minutes of music. The sample must include the five songs for which sheet music is submitted. Piano and vocals are sufficient, and a composer’s demo is acceptable though not preferred. Studio demos are not necessary. Music recording files must be clearly labeled and uploaded in sequence. All submitted recordings must be clearly noted on the song list and in the script. Any scripts not notated will be ineligible for consideration.
4. DEVELOPMENT HISTORY AND GOALS: a brief description of the work’s history and what the creative team hopes to achieve from the development process at the Institute;
5. RIGHTS STATEMENT: proof of fully secured rights if the proposed project is an adaptation of an existing work that is not in the public domain;
6. SIGNATURE: an electronic signature from the Lead Applicant on behalf of all Co-Applicants (composer, book writer, lyricist).
How to apply: Submissions can be made via their online form. All applicants will be notified of selection by March 31, 2016.
Deadline: 8 January 2016 at 11:59 PM (EST)
Source: @RachelBublitz
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