🎭 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 are joined by Sadie Shapiro to hear more about her song “The Way Iamb”. Alongside co-host Faye Chiao, Sadie dives into the process of writing her winning song, her personal monthly songwriting challenge, and what she learned from bringing her song to life at Winners Weekend.

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 “The Way Iamb” from the Winning Concert: https://youtu.be/N4Lo9Sze38Q?si=jlZ9TAklwkE-rxf5

🎭 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 our first episode of this Season, we talk to Gwen Doerfler, a two-time winner of the Songwriting Challenge, about her song “Older” from her musical 25. Alongside co-host Dylan Glatthorn, Gwen reflects on the inspiration behind her winning song, her experience collaborating with mentors and performers during 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 “Older” from the Winning Concert: ⁠https://youtu.be/8orf2ly1DZw?si=FbvE8vIqe9UvdrFM

On this special edition episode of New@NAMT: Live! we're bringing you to Songwriters Showcase at the 37th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Host Jean-Paul Yovanoff is joined by new works alumni of the Festival of New Musicals, Frank Young Fund for New Musicals & Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students.

🩵 But first: a few inspiring words from NAMT's New Works Director, Frankie Dailey.

🎙️Timothy Huang (Festival Writer, 2015) shares his thoughts on the importance of mentorship and "Just Another Sunday" from his musical Birthright with Dylan Glatthorn on keys and Sean Berry on guitar.

🎙️Tabitha Moore (Winner, 2024 Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students) shares her experience at Winners Weekend and "A Connection" from her musical Cherry, performed by Latoya Edwards with Dylan Glatthorn on keys.

🎙️Andrew Strano and Yuriko Shibata, the writers of Kusama (Grantee, 2025 Writers Residency Grant of the Frank Young Fund for New Musicals) alongside Tom Morrissey,the Founding Producing Artistic Director of Theatre Now New York speak about developing their musical with the support of the Frank Young Fund for New Musicals. They share a song from Kusama performed by Evan Michael Smith with Dylan Glatthorn on keys.

✨ Plus: a special announcement from TImothy Huang!

Follow NAMT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/namtpics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Musical Theatre Radio:

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For more information on the Annual Festival of New Musicals visit: https://namt.org/festivals/

For more information on the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students visit: ⁠https://namt.org/challenge/

For more information on the Frank Young Fund for New Musicals visit: ⁠⁠https://namt.org/fyfnm/

NEW@NAMT: Love Is Dead – Featuring Jeff Luppino-Esposito & Brett Ryback

We’re closing out Season 3 of NEW@NAMT with a hilarious—and slightly haunted—new musical. In this episode, hosts Jean-Paul Yovanoff and Adam Immerwahr talk with writing team Jeff Luppino-Esposito & Brett Ryback about their musical Love Is Dead, a romantic comedy about a heartbroken woman and the sexy ghost who just might haunt her back to life.

🎙️ Jeff and Brett share how they met at the concessions stand of New World Stages (really), how their quirky pop-forward score draws from both Ben Folds and Alan Menken, and why they believe musical comedy can be just as emotionally resonant as drama—especially when there’s a Sony Discman puppet involved.

✨ Plus: how In Strange Woods and This Used to Be a Disco paved the way for their musical-theatre-meets-rom-com sensibility, what they’ve learned about writing for modern audiences, and what’s next for Love Is Dead after its Festival debut.

Three actors. One ghost. Infinite laughs.

Follow NAMT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/namtpics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Musical Theatre Radio:

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More about LOVE IS DEAD:

⁠https://namt.org/musicals/love-is-dead/⁠

Follow Brett:

https://www.instagram.com/btryback/

Follow Jeff:

https://www.instagram.com/jeffluppinoesposito/

NEW@NAMT: The Next Wave of Musical Theatre Writers – Featuring Selda Sahin, Autumn Reeser & Derek Gregor (PARTICLE)
📘 Book by Selda Sahin, Autumn Reeser & Derek Gregor
🎵 Music by Derek Gregor
✍️ Lyrics by Selda Sahin

On this episode of NEW@NAMT, host Jean-Paul Yovanoff and returning co-host Dev Bondarin dive into the boundary-breaking new musical PARTICLE with creators Selda Sahin, Autumn Reeser, and Derek Gregor — a multidimensional coming-of-age story set in the high-stakes world of elite online gaming.

At the center of PARTICLE are 17-year-old twins, Cora and Seth, whose paths diverge as Cora rises through the Interglow championship ranks and Seth struggles with being left behind. Through a lens of quantum physics, gaming avatars, and a synth-driven score, PARTICLE explores what it means to stay connected across digital and emotional realms — and the transcendent power of love.

💡 Written over Zoom during the pandemic and inspired by both online culture and real-life sibling bonds, PARTICLE offers a heartfelt, genre-defying look at identity, grief, and the possibilities of virtual worlds. The musical has been developed with Michigan State University, Nazareth College, Missouri State, and Broadway Unlocked.

Follow NAMT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/namtpics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Musical Theatre Radio:

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More about Particle:

⁠https://namt.org/musicals/particle/⁠

Follow Autumn:

https://www.instagram.com/autumn_reeser/

Follow Selda & Derek:

https://www.instagram.com/seldaandderek/

NEW@NAMT: The Next Wave of Musical Theatre Writers – Featuring Jaime Lozano & Tommy Newman (ROJA)
🎭 Book, Music & Lyrics by Jaime Lozano & Tommy Newman

This week on NEW@NAMT, host Jean-Paul Yovanoff and co-host Jen Bender talk with composer/lyricist duo Jaime Lozano and Tommy Newman about their magical new musical ROJA, a reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood steeped in the rich folklore, sounds, and soul of Northern Mexico.

In this nuevo musical, 14-year-old Roja embarks on a miraculous desert journey after rescuing a mischievous, magical coyote who offers her the chance to see her father again. 💫 Inspired by Mexican folk music and Mestizo storytelling, ROJA is a heartfelt coming-of-age story about family, transformation, and the power of myth — crafted by two fathers who are also longtime collaborators.

🎶 Jaime and Tommy reflect on their artistic partnership (which began in 2009), their shared desire to celebrate joyful Latine narratives, and how ROJA evolved from a series of late-night texts into a shape-shifting musical that blends theatricality, campfire intimacy, and acoustic soul.

ROJA has been developed with the Forestburgh Playhouse, The New Group, Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, and supported by the Pipeline Arts Foundation. The creators are now seeking producing partners who believe in telling Latine stories with joy, depth, and cultural authenticity.

Follow NAMT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/namtpics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Musical Theatre Radio:

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More about ROJA:

https://namt.org/musicals/roja/

Follow Jaime:

https://www.instagram.com/jaimelozano/

Follow Tommy:

https://www.instagram.com/tommynewmanmusic/

NEW@NAMT: The Next Wave of Musical Theatre Writers – Featuring Karen Hartman, Jenny Giering & Adam Gwon (Alice Bliss)
📖 Book by Karen Hartman | 🎶 Music by Jenny Giering | ✍️ Lyrics by Adam Gwon
Based on the novel by Laura Harrington

What happens when a teenage girl tries to hold her world together while her father is deployed to war? In this episode of NEW@NAMT, host Jean-Paul Yovanoff is joined by co-hosts Elissa Adams and Liz Ulmer to welcome the writers of Alice Bliss, a heart-stopping and surprisingly funny new musical about family, resilience, and growing up on the edge of a war no one asked for.

Set in 2007 in upstate New York, Alice Bliss follows 15-year-old Alice as she juggles school, first love, and deepening family tension after her father is deployed to Iraq. Her quiet rebellion? Trying to be perfect—so maybe, just maybe, she can keep him safe. 💔

🎶 Writers Karen Hartman, Jenny Giering, and Adam Gwon discuss the rich development journey of the piece, from its origins as a cut character in another musical (Crossing Brooklyn) to a one-woman show (Alice Unwrapped), to Laura Harrington’s acclaimed novel, and finally to this hauntingly intimate musical. Together, they explore themes of loss, agency, and the often-unseen toll war takes on women and girls left behind.

With a harmonic score and a cast of characters ranging from a Civil War-obsessed little sister to a trio of women who embody a community forever changed by conflict, Alice Bliss is a story for anyone who has ever waited, wondered, or carried the weight of someone else’s battle.

👀 Developed with support from Playwrights Horizons, Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, and more, Alice Bliss is now looking for its world premiere—ideally in a community with strong ties to military families who may see themselves reflected in this deeply human story.

Follow NAMT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/namtpics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Musical Theatre Radio:

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More about ALICE BLISS:

https://namt.org/musicals/alice-bliss/

Follow Adam:

https://www.instagram.com/gwonster/

Follow Jenny:

https://www.instagram.com/jennylynngiering/

Follow Karen:

https://www.instagram.com/itskarenhartman/