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. Oct 6

    S6E8 Festival Preview: THE (DISASTER) MARATHON OF 1904 Featuring NAMT Festival Writers TYLER JOSEPH ELLIS, JACOB RYAN SMITH & DANIEL MERTZLUFFT

    What if one of the strangest events in history was already basically a musical comedy? On this episode of NEW@NAMT, host Jean-Paul Yovanoff and co-host Skye Cone Ivey sit down with writers Tyler Joseph Ellis, Jacob Ryan Smith and Daniel Mertzlufft to talk about The (Disaster) Marathon of 1904, their new musical inspired by the very real—and deeply unbelievable—marathon at the 1904 St. Louis Olympics. Told by Pheidippides, the ancient Greek runner whose legend gave the marathon its name, the show turns an already chaotic race into a story of epic and ridiculous proportions, packed with humor, heart and, naturally, “sole.” The writers share how the musical began with a screenshot of a Tumblr post chronicling the bizarre events of the 1904 race, and how a project designed, in part, to make each other laugh grew into a full-scale new musical. They also dig into how comedy drives their writing process and why this particular piece of Olympic history felt almost too strange not to put onstage. The conversation also gets into the practical question at the heart of any musical about a marathon: how do you actually stage all that running? Tyler, Jacob and Daniel talk about the theatrical possibilities of the piece, as well as their approach to casting—the musical’s nine male characters are intentionally written to be played by performers of various genders and vocal types. NAMT Festival Consultant Braley Degenhart joins the conversation to talk about why the show stood out during this year’s Festival selection process and what she hopes lies ahead. The writers also trace the musical’s rapid development from New Musicals Lab at Christopher Newport University to a Broadway Shark Tank win, the Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Grove at Goodspeed and an industry reading through New Next Now. An Olympic disaster. Nine runners. One gloriously ridiculous race. The (Disaster) Marathon of 1904Book by Tyler Joseph EllisMusic & Lyrics by Jacob Ryan Smith & Daniel Mertzlufft 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 (DISASTER) MARATHON OF 1904: https://namt.org/musicals/the-disaster-marathon-of-1904/ Follow THE (DISASTER) MARATHON OF 1904: https://www.instagram.com/disastermarathonmusical/ Follow Tyler: https://www.instagram.com/tylerjosephellis/ Follow Jacob: https://www.instagram.com/jakesmithsings/ Follow Daniel: https://www.instagram.com/danieljmertzlufft/

    S6E8 Festival Preview: THE (DISASTER) MARATHON OF 1904 Featuring NAMT Festival Writers TYLER JOSEPH ELLIS, JACOB RYAN SMITH & DANIEL MERTZLUFFT

  2. Oct 6

    S6E7 Festival Preview: SUNWATCHER Featuring NAMT Festival Writer ISABELLA DAWIS

    How do you turn the movement of the sun into musical theatre? On this episode of NEW@NAMT, host Jean-Paul Yovanoff and co-host Skye Cone Ivey sit down with writer Isabella Dawis to talk about Sunwatcher, the new musical she created with composer Tidtaya Sinutoke—and one of eight musicals selected for NAMT’s 38th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Set in wartime Tokyo, the show tells the story of Japanese astronomer Hisako Koyama, whose decades of painstaking sunspot observations became an extraordinary contribution to solar science. Isabella talks about why Koyama’s story demanded to be told, the importance of placing an Asian woman scientist at the center of an epic musical, and the radical power of simply paying attention. A self-taught astronomer, Koyama spent 40 years documenting the sun and produced more than 10,000 hand-drawn observations—work that would later place her among the most important sunspot observers in history. The conversation also dives into the musical’s inventive score, built around electronic live looping and taiko drumming. As Isabella puts it, “our score loops because the sun does”: voices and musical phrases accumulate and repeat in patterns inspired by the sun’s own cycles, turning solar science into theatrical language. Sunwatcher moves between 1940s Tokyo, the surface of the sun and the mythic world of the sun goddess Amaterasu, brought to life by an ensemble of five Asian women and a movement vocabulary inspired in part by Japanese Noh theatre. Isabella shares how history, mythology, science and representation all became part of the same theatrical world. One woman looked at the sun every day—and changed how we understand it. SunwatcherBook, Lyrics & Additional Music by Isabella DawisMusic by Tidtaya Sinutoke The musical has been developed through organizations including Musical Theatre Factory, Berkeley Rep’s The Ground Floor, Goodspeed Musicals, The Civilians, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater and others, and was named a finalist for both the Richard Rodgers Award and the O’Neill NMTC in 2025. 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 SUNWATCHER: https://namt.org/musicals/sunwatcher/ Follow Isabella: https://www.instagram.com/isabelladawis/

    S6E7 Festival Preview: SUNWATCHER Featuring NAMT Festival Writer ISABELLA DAWIS

  3. Sep 29

    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

  4. Sep 29

    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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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
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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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