What is Stages?
(For complete details on Stages, download the What is Stages PDF )

Each summer, Theatre Building Chicago presents Stages, a weekend festival of new musicals in progress. The 15th annual festival of new musicals in progress will be presented August 15, 16, and 17, 2008. Aficionados of new musicals will thrill to eight new works, plus special events! We'll even throw in a Sunday brunch for fun!
(click here to view Stages 2007)

Stages takes place in the three-theatre complex of Theatre Building Chicago (1225 W Belmont) in Chicago. Festival attendees include producers, directors, writers, composers, and musical theatre aficionados from all over the country. One audience member called it "a religious retreat for musical theatre lovers." Stages is an opportunity for authors and composers to see and hear their work interpreted by a production team and performed for an audience. It is also an opportunity for producers and directors to assess new musicals and musical theatre talent. Now is your opportunity to make plans for Stages 2008, scheduled for August 15, 16 and 17, 2008.

New musicals can be submitted by producers, theatres, agents, or writers. We actively encourage theatres and producers to submit and sponsor new musicals that they are developing. Theatre Building Chicago's goal is to help producers and collaborators to take a more objective look at new musicals in the early stages of development.

There are only three requirements for selection for Stages 2008: the application must be accompanied by a recommendation from a theatre professional, or submitted by authors associated with one of the professional training programs listed on the application form; the authors must agree to attend Stages 2008 if their piece is selected; and the authors must agree to give program credit to Theatre Building Chicago acknowledging festival participation for any future production. That’s it. There are no other encumbrances or rights restrictions placed on any entry, separate from any that the authors may have on their own. Also, there are no entry fees.

Applications for Stages 2008 can be obtained from the following locations:

Theatre Building Chicago

1225 W. Belmont Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
Contact: John Sparks 773/929-7367 ext.222

The Academy for New Musical Theatre

5628 Vineland Avenue
North Hollywood, CA 91601
Contact Scott Guy: 818-506-8500

ASCAP

One Lincoln Plaza
New York, NY 10023
Contact: Michael Kerker 212/621-6234

BMI Foundation

320 West 57th St.
New York, NY 10019
Contact: Jean Banks 212/586-2000

(Stages 2006 presentation of Studio: Book, Music and Lyrics by Charles Strouse)

How is Stages 2008 structured?

(Stages 2006 presentation of Beach Wars: Book and Lyrics by Nan Hoffman* and Laurel Haines*, Music by Howard Pfeifer*)

Stages 2008 will present new musicals in different stages of development - Concert Readings, Staged Readings and Studio Presentations. Theatre Building Chicago staff and other theatre professionals from across the country evaluate the new works submitted for the Stages festival. The readers consider musical shows of all lengths, topics, styles and size. Very short pieces, one-acts and full-length shows, operas, “pop” operas, standard book musicals, and experimental pieces are welcome. The Stages 2008 Timetable: Monday, October 1, 2007 - Deadline for Round One submissions. There can be no exceptions to this deadline. Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Please see the Application requirements below. December 17, 2007 - First Round cut announced. Approximately 30 teams of writers will be invited to submit full scripts and scores for Round Two. January 18, 2008 - Deadline for Round Two Submissions. Again, there will be no exceptions to this deadline. March 14, 2008 - Authors of selected shows invited to sign agreements. March 24, 2008 - Final selections announced to the public. August 15, 16, and 17 – Stages 2008 Performances

How are New Musicals Entered in Stages 2008?

Applicants for Stages 2008 must submit the following materials by
Monday, October 1, 2007:

• Completed Stages 2008 application form
• 4 copies of a synopsis of musical (two pages maximum)
• 4 copies of a sample book scene (three pages maximum)
• 4 cassette recordings (or CD’s) of three songs from the work and one piano/vocal score (not a lead sheet) for the same three songs
• Letter of recommendation from a theatre professional
  

  Members of the following programs DO NOT NEED a letter of recommendation:

  • The BMI-Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop
  • The NYU/Tisch MFA Musical Theatre Writing Program
  • The Academy for New Musical Theatre in Los Angeles
  • Mercury Musical Developments in London (Professional Writer Associates only)
  • Theatre Building Chicago Writers’ Workshop
  • ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Workshop Participant
    
• Letter stating proof of rights (if work is based on a source not in public domain or is not an original idea)
• Resumes of all authors

Please send all applications to:

John Sparks
Theatre Building Chicago
1225 W. Belmont Avenue
Chicago IL 60657

• Please note: Materials will not be returned. All materials are destroyed after being rated. Please prepare the package so that it contains 4 separate envelopes. Three envelopes will contain the synopsis, the sample scene and the recording. One envelope will contain these items as well as a completed Stages 2008 application form, a letter of recommendation (if required in your case), a letter stating proof of rights and the resumes of the authors.

What is Stages 2008 (56 KB PDF) Stages 2007 Brochure (320 KB PDF) Stages 2008 Application (72 KB PDF) note: requires Adobe® Reader® to view. Download it Free

(Stages 2006 presentation of The Nervous Set: Book by Jay Landesman with revisions by Tim Treanor and Lorraine Treanor, Music by Tommy Wolf with additional music by Simon Wallace, Lyrics by Fran Landesman)

*denotes alumni, Theatre Building Chicago Musical Theatre Writers Workshop member
(Stages Festival photo credit: Paul Grigonis ©2006 p+gdesign)