New@NAMT: The Next Wave of Musical Theatre

National Alliance for Musical Theatre
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Performing Arts

New@NAMT: The Next Wave of Musical Theatre is a bite-sized series dedicated to spotlighting the emerging voices in musical theatre. Hosted by Jean-Paul Yovanoff in partnership with Musical Theatre Radio and a rotating cast of NAMT alumni writers, each episode features quick interviews providing a unique glimpse into the creative minds behind the next big musicals. Whether you’re a producer, theatre lover or even simply curious about the future of musical theatre, NEW@NAMT offers a front-row seat to a new generation of writers. namt.org & musicaltheatreradio.com

  1. 6d ago

    S6E6 Festival Preview: HOW TO PLAY THE CELLO (UNTIL YOU DON'T) Featuring NAMT Festival Writer BENJAMIN EMORY LARSON

    What happens when the thing that gives your life meaning is suddenly taken away? On this episode of NEW@NAMT, host Jean-Paul Yovanoff and co-host Skye Cone Ivey sit down with writer Benjamin Emory Larson to talk about How to Play the Cello (Until You Don’t), his one-woman musical loosely inspired by the life of legendary cellist Jacqueline du Pré—and one of eight musicals selected for NAMT’s 38th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Written for a single singer-actress who can ideally also play the cello, the show follows an artist whose extraordinary career is suddenly interrupted and asks what remains when identity, ambition and art itself are thrown into question. Benjamin talks about what drew him to du Pré’s story and how he set out to create a piece with a tiny stage footprint and a titanic emotional impact—one that moves through loss, anger, humor and ultimately a fight for joy. The conversation also digs into the musical’s classical-crossover score, performed with piano and cello and built from everything from dramatic original music and cinematic cello rock to classical works du Pré herself played and loved. Benjamin shares how those pieces are adapted and transformed to help tell the story rather than simply accompany it. He also traces the unlikely origin of the musical back to the pandemic, when the shutdown of live theatre forced him to confront his own relationship to art, loss and creative identity. Those experiences eventually found their way into a musical that asks not simply how an artist survives losing the thing they love—but how they find joy again afterward. One performer. One cello. A very small stage—and very big questions about who we are when the thing we love changes forever. How to Play the Cello (Until You Don’t)Book, Music & Lyrics by Benjamin Emory Larson The musical was previously developed at Theater Latté Da’s 2025 NEXT Festival, and Benjamin received Amas Musical Theatre’s Eric H. Weinberger Award for Emerging Librettists. Learn more about the 38th Annual Festival of New Musicals, October 22–23, 2026 at New World Stages, at namt.org/festival. Follow NAMT:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/namtpics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Musical Theatre Radio:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/musicaltheatreradio/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ More about HOW TO PLAY THE CELLO (UNTIL YOU DON'T): https://namt.org/musicals/how-to-play-the-cello-until-you-dont/ Find Ben: https://www.benemorylarson.com/

    S6E6 Festival Preview: HOW TO PLAY THE CELLO (UNTIL YOU DON'T) Featuring NAMT Festival Writer BENJAMIN EMORY LARSON

  2. 6d ago

    S6E5 Festival Preview: BLUDLINE: A HIP-HOP ODYSSEY Featuring NAMT Festival Writers FERMIN SUERO, JR. & PETE WHITE

    What happens when Homer’s Odyssey gets the energy of a Hip-Hop music video? On this episode of NEW@NAMT, host Jean-Paul Yovanoff and co-host Skye Cone Ivey sit down with writers Fermin Suero Jr. and Pete White to talk about BLUDLINE: A Hip-Hop Odyssey, their new musical reimagining of Homer’s epic through live Hip-Hop and R&B—and one of eight musicals selected for NAMT’s 38th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Odysseus battles monsters and temptations on his journey home while his son, Telemachus, struggles to find his own identity in the shadow of a legendary father. Fermin and Pete share how a desire to bring trap music and contemporary Hip-Hop culture into musical theatre became the starting point for their collaboration, and why The Odyssey turned out to be the perfect vehicle. What began as a musical inspired by Fermin’s own experiences growing up in New Jersey evolved into an epic story with bigger dramatic stakes—beginning with the image of Odysseus celebrating victory in the Trojan War with the swagger and energy of a Hip-Hop video. The conversation also digs into the writers’ decision to place Odysseus and Telemachus on parallel journeys, using the father-son relationship to explore how ideas about masculinity, violence and power can be passed from one generation to the next. NAMT Festival Consultant Kathleen Wrinn joins the conversation to talk about what made BLUDLINE stand out during this year’s Festival selection process and what she sees in the musical’s future. Fermin and Pete also look back on a development journey that includes the Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, Pipeline Arts Foundation, Drama Club Camp and the 2026 Richard Rodgers Award, while looking ahead to the next stage of the piece. An ancient epic. A modern sound. Fathers, sons, monsters—and the cycles we inherit. BLUDLINE: A Hip-Hop OdysseyBook, Music & Lyrics by Fermin Suero Jr. & Pete White A five-track BLUDLINE mixtape EP is available now through Joy Machine Records, featuring performers including Okieriete Onaodowan, Daniel J. Watts, Alaman Diadhiou and Phil Richardson. Follow NAMT:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/namtpics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Musical Theatre Radio:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/musicaltheatreradio/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ More about BLUDLINE: A HIP-HOP ODYSSEY: https://namt.org/musicals/bludline-a-hip-hop-odyssey/ Follow Fermin: https://www.instagram.com/ferminsuerojr/ Follow Pete: https://www.instagram.com/petewhitesongs/ Follow BLUDLINE: A HIP-HOP ODYSSEY: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/bgipthemusical/⁠

    S6E5 Festival Preview: BLUDLINE: A HIP-HOP ODYSSEY Featuring NAMT Festival Writers FERMIN SUERO, JR. & PETE WHITE

  3. Sep 22

    S6E4 Festival Preview: BLACK GIRL IN PARIS Featuring NAMT Festival Writers ARIDY NOX & JACINTH GREYWOODE

    What might freedom have looked like for Sally Hemings in revolutionary Paris? On this episode of NEW@NAMT, host Jean-Paul Yovanoff and co-host Skye Cone Ivey sit down with writers AriDy Nox and Jacinth Greywoode to talk about Black Girl in Paris, their new musical about Sally Hemings—and one of eight musicals selected for NAMT’s 38th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Described as “a musical within a folktale within a ritual,” Black Girl in Paris follows a fourteen-year-old Sally Hemings as she arrives in France with the French Revolution approaching and confronts questions of autonomy, survival and just how much she may have to give up for a chance at freedom. It’s a story that tackles difficult history through a theatrical language grounded in ritual—and a score the writers describe as stubbornly joyful. AriDy and Jacinth share how the musical began with an argument about Sally Hemings and autonomy, the research that followed and the discoveries that transformed the piece along the way. They also dig into the unusual structure of the musical, their approach to balancing biting commentary with humor and joy, and what years of development—from The Civilians and Monticello to Playwrights Horizons, Rhinebeck Writers Retreat and Theater Latté Da’s NEXT Festival—have taught them about the story. NAMT Festival Consultant Elissa Adams joins the conversation following the team’s recent work together at the NEXT Festival to talk about the discoveries they’re bringing into NAMT and what might come next for the musical. History, folklore, ritual and a stubbornly joyous score—all asking one enormous question: Do we live free? Black Girl in ParisBook & Lyrics by AriDy NoxMusic by Jacinth Greywoode Learn more about the 38th Annual Festival of New Musicals, October 22–23, 2026 at New World Stages, at namt.org/festival. Follow NAMT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/namtpics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Musical Theatre Radio:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/musicaltheatreradio/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ More about BLACK GIRL IN PARIS: https://namt.org/musicals/black-girl-in-paris/ Follow AriDy: https://www.instagram.com/aridydescribesstuff/ Follow Jacinth: https://www.instagram.com/j.greywoode/ Follow BLACK GIRL IN PARIS: https://www.instagram.com/bgipthemusical/ Read AriDy's Substack "WildThoughts: A Moonletter": https://substack.com/@wildthoughtsamoonletter

    S6E4 Festival Preview: BLACK GIRL IN PARIS Featuring NAMT Festival Writers ARIDY NOX & JACINTH GREYWOODE

  4. Sep 22

    S6E3 Festival Preview: FOUAD OF NAZARETH Featuring NAMT Festival Writer FOUAD DAKWAR

    What happens when a Palestinian New Yorker’s summer-camp story becomes an Arabic-infused pop-punk musical? On this episode of NEW@NAMT, host Jean-Paul Yovanoff and co-host Skye Cone Ivey sit down with writer Fouad Dakwar to talk about Fouad of Nazareth, his semi-autobiographical new musical—and one of eight musicals selected for NAMT’s 38th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Based on a true story, the show follows a teenage Palestinian New Yorker traveling to his ancestral homeland of Nazareth for…summer camp. Fouad shares the unlikely origin story behind the musical: notes he took while actually attending camp in Nazareth, rediscovered a decade later when graduate school pushed him toward writing autobiographically for the first time. He also digs into the show’s distinctive Arabic-infused pop-punk sound, born from growing up with the music of Fairuz alongside Linkin Park, Green Day and Fall Out Boy. The conversation explores why dark comedy and music became Fouad’s way into a complicated story of culture, identity and belonging, and how humor can create space for conversations that might otherwise feel impossible. Fouad also talks about what he hopes audiences encounter through the piece: catchy songs and big laughs, but also a fuller sense of Palestinian humanity. NAMT Festival Consultants Adam Immerwahr and Joe Barros join the conversation to talk about what drew them to the musical and its path toward the Festival. Fouad also looks back on development through Berklee NYC, Noor Theatre, Joe’s Pub, Goodspeed Musicals, Ars Nova and New York Theatre Workshop, and ahead toward his hopes for a full production—and, eventually, a screen adaptation. A true story. A summer camp. An Arabic-infused pop-punk score. And a whole lot of complicated identity. Fouad of NazarethBook, Music & Lyrics by Fouad Dakwar Songs from Fouad of Nazareth are available now on major streaming platforms. Learn more about the 38th Annual Festival of New Musicals, October 22–23, 2026 at New World Stages, at namt.org/festival. Follow NAMT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/namtpics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Musical Theatre Radio:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/musicaltheatreradio/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ More about FOUAD OF NAZARETH: ⁠https://namt.org/musicals/fouad-of-nazareth/ Follow Fouad: https://www.instagram.com/notfouad/ Follow FOUAD OF NAZARETH: https://www.instagram.com/fouadofnazareth/

    S6E3 Festival Preview: FOUAD OF NAZARETH Featuring NAMT Festival Writer FOUAD DAKWAR

  5. Sep 15

    S6E2 Festival Preview: LOVE OF A LIFETIME Featuring NAMT Festival Writer LARA FILIP

    What if your favorite holiday movie became a musical—and you were the one stuck inside it? On this episode of NEW@NAMT, host Jean-Paul Yovanoff and co-host Skye Cone Ivey sit down with writer Lara Filipto talk about Love of a Lifetime, her original musical love letter to the wonderfully predictable world of TV holiday movies—and one of eight musicals selected for NAMT’s 38th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Think Christmas-carol-inspired music, meet-cutes, big feelings and a leading lady just trying to survive the holiday season.  Lara shares how a holiday movie hyper-fixation sparked the idea for the show, why the familiar formulas of the genre can be both comforting and surprisingly emotional, and how she set out to create something that works as both parody and genuine love letter. She also talks about writing a score filled with the kind of memorable, hummable songs she hopes can live beyond the musical itself.  The conversation also explores Lara’s life as a multi-hyphenate artist, the joy at the center of Love of a Lifetime, and her desire to create exciting new roles for women over 40 while building a show that can work for producers, performers and audiences at every scale. NAMT Festival Consultant Alisa Hauser joins the conversation to share why the musical stood out during this year’s Festival selection process and what she hopes comes next for the piece.  A holiday movie parody with a lot of heart, an original score and just enough existential dread. Love of a LifetimeBook, Music & Lyrics by Lara Filip Learn more about the 38th Annual Festival of New Musicals, October 22–23, 2026 at New World Stages, at namt.org/festival. Follow NAMT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/namtpics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Musical Theatre Radio:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/musicaltheatreradio/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ More about LOVE OF A LIFETIME: https://namt.org/musicals/love-of-a-lifetime/ Follow Lara: https://www.instagram.com/larafilipmusic/ Follow LOVE OF A LIFETIME: https://www.instagram.com/lol_themusical

    S6E2 Festival Preview: LOVE OF A LIFETIME Featuring NAMT Festival Writer LARA FILIP

  6. Sep 15

    S6E1 Festival Preview: THE RAMAYAN Featuring NAMT Festival Writer MANIK CHOKSI

    What happens when one of the world’s great ancient epics becomes a contemporary musical—and a concept record? On this episode of NEW@NAMT, host Jean-Paul Yovanoff and co-host Skye Cone Ivey sit down with writer Manik Choksi to talk about The Ramayan, his new musical adaptation of India’s treasured ancient epic and one of eight musicals selected for NAMT’s 38th Annual Festival of New Musicals.  Manik shares what first drew him to The Ramayan as a child, why he wants to bring the story into the “Temple of American Myths,” and how he found a theatrical language for the epic through the idea of a live concert and concept record. The conversation also digs into a deeply personal writing process—from songs written during his daughter’s naps and pre-dawn hours to the way family conversations have continued to shape his understanding of the story.  They’re joined by NAMT Festival Consultants Sonia Desai and Tad Fujioka, who talk about why The Ramayan stood out during the Festival selection process and what they see in its future. Manik also looks back on the musical’s development with Ars Nova and Clubbed Thumb and ahead to what audiences can expect when The Ramayan arrives at the NAMT Festival this October.  A familiar epic for billions of people. A new musical for American stages. The RamayanBook, Music & Lyrics by Manik Choksi Learn more about the 38th Annual Festival of New Musicals, October 22–23, 2026 at New World Stages, at namt.org/festival. Follow NAMT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/namtpics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Musical Theatre Radio:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/musicaltheatreradio/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ More about THE RAMAYAN: https://namt.org/musicals/the-ramayan/ Follow Manik: https://www.instagram.com/manikchoksi/

    S6E1 Festival Preview: THE RAMAYAN Featuring NAMT Festival Writer MANIK CHOKSI

  7. Apr 7

    S5E8 Challenge Winners: SYDNEY GRAY with Guest Host JAIME LOZANO

    🎭 Welcome to NEW@NAMT: The Next Wave of Musical Theatre Writers! This season, we’re thrilled to bring you NEW@NAMT Season 5, featuring the talented winners of the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students presented by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), in partnership with the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT), Concord Theatricals, Disney Theatrical Productions, the NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation and the Biller Family Foundation. Each episode takes you inside the creative process with these inspiring young songwriters as they share their original songs, stories, and experiences from Winners Weekend in New York City, where their work was fully orchestrated and performed live by Broadway professionals. Join host Jean-Paul Yovanoff from Musical Theatre Radio, alongside a rotating cast of Songwriting Challenge Program Mentors, Orchestrators and Artists as guest co-hosts. Together, they guide conversations with these emerging voices, providing insight into the future of musical theatre. 🎶 In the final episode of this season, we talk to Sydney Gray a two-time winner of the Songwriting Challenge, about her song “Fall” from her musical Anavaly. Alongside co-host Jaime Lozano, Sydney shares how she approached Winners Weekend a second time around, how she interprets feedback, and offers advice for current participants of the Musical Theatre Songwriting Challenge for High School Students.  Whether you're a producer, a theatre lover, or simply curious about the next generation of musical theatre creators, NEW@NAMT gives you a front-row seat to the future of musical theatre. It’s time to lower the lights, raise the curtain, and LX1 Go! 🎭 Follow NAMT: ⁠https://linktr.ee/namtpics⁠ Follow Musical Theatre Radio: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/musicaltheatreradio/⁠ More about NAMT: ⁠https://namt.org/⁠ More about Musical Theatre Radio: ⁠https://www.musicaltheatreradio.com/⁠ For more information on the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge, visit ⁠https://namt.org/challenge/⁠ Watch Challenge Accepted! Featuring the Winning Songs: ⁠https://youtu.be/sgVucNmcEnQ?si=XYWEpexOwqhHwjjZ  Watch “Fall” from the Winning Concert: https://youtu.be/Fm7KWdrliug?si=WZ81Sx1v2gUyAQ4d

    S5E8 Challenge Winners: SYDNEY GRAY with Guest Host JAIME LOZANO

  8. Apr 7

    S5E7 Challenge Winners: ELAINA STUPPLER with Guest Host AMANDA FREEDMAN

    🎭 Welcome to NEW@NAMT: The Next Wave of Musical Theatre Writers! This season, we’re thrilled to bring you NEW@NAMT Season 5, featuring the talented winners of the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students presented by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), in partnership with the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT), Concord Theatricals, Disney Theatrical Productions, the NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation and the Biller Family Foundation. Each episode takes you inside the creative process with these inspiring young songwriters as they share their original songs, stories, and experiences from Winners Weekend in New York City, where their work was fully orchestrated and performed live by Broadway professionals. Join host Jean-Paul Yovanoff from Musical Theatre Radio, alongside a rotating cast of Songwriting Challenge Program Mentors, Orchestrators and Artists as guest co-hosts. Together, they guide conversations with these emerging voices, providing insight into the future of musical theatre. 🎶 In this episode, we chat with Elaina Stuppler about her song “Second Chances”. Alongside co-host and NAMT Program Assistant, Amanda Freedman, Elaina shares about the real-life person that inspired her song, working with professionals over Winners Weekend, and offers advice for current participants of the Musical Theatre Songwriting Challenge for High School Students.  Whether you're a producer, a theatre lover, or simply curious about the next generation of musical theatre creators, NEW@NAMT gives you a front-row seat to the future of musical theatre. It’s time to lower the lights, raise the curtain, and LX1 Go! 🎭 Follow NAMT: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/namtpics⁠⁠ Follow Musical Theatre Radio: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/musicaltheatreradio/⁠⁠ More about NAMT: ⁠⁠https://namt.org/⁠⁠ More about Musical Theatre Radio: ⁠⁠https://www.musicaltheatreradio.com/⁠⁠ For more information on the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge, visit ⁠⁠https://namt.org/challenge/⁠⁠ Watch Challenge Accepted! Featuring the Winning Songs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/sgVucNmcEnQ?si=XYWEpexOwqhHwjjZ⁠⁠ ⁠ Watch “Fall” from the Winning Concert: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeX-qsy_2lU&t=27s

    S5E7 Challenge Winners: ELAINA STUPPLER with Guest Host AMANDA FREEDMAN
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

New@NAMT: The Next Wave of Musical Theatre is a bite-sized series dedicated to spotlighting the emerging voices in musical theatre. Hosted by Jean-Paul Yovanoff in partnership with Musical Theatre Radio and a rotating cast of NAMT alumni writers, each episode features quick interviews providing a unique glimpse into the creative minds behind the next big musicals. Whether you’re a producer, theatre lover or even simply curious about the future of musical theatre, NEW@NAMT offers a front-row seat to a new generation of writers. namt.org & musicaltheatreradio.com

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