Please note that the submission date has passed for this opportunity, and this document is online for reference to those writers whose work has been accepted. Keep checking back for updates and future submission opportunities.
Document detailing how to submit work for inclusion in
A STAGE KINDLY presents
"BRAVO"
A fantastic opportunity for writers of Musical Theatre to have their work staged in the heart of one of the worlds most important theatrical cities! Similar in format to our previous revues, "Bravo" will be a collection of show-stopping material from new musicals, both British and international, performed in an informal cabaret atmosphere at several prestigious venues in London by a talented cast of professional singers.
What writers should expect from A STAGE KINDLY
A STAGE KINDLY is a new Musical Theatre initiative, founded to encourage and develop new musical theatre writing. After several preliminary projects, the A STAGE KINDLY initiative was formed in August 2008, and launched that autumn with a successful revue of new material called "Debut". Further to the original run's acclaim, the revue was extended by a further half an hour of repertoire selected from more new musicals from both the UK and abroad. Called "Encore", it toured London and Brighton throughout March 2009.
We understand how hard it can be for writers to stage their own work, owing to the associated costs, and also the necessity of a broad network of professionals to support the project; and not least of all, because talented writers are not always talented producers, too - they are very different skills. That said, we absolutely recognise how important it is for writers of Musical Theatre to have their work exposed on stage, especially here in London owing to the city's prestige for being one of the most important world centres of theatre, and the concentration of industry professionals based here who could be potentially instrumental in the successful future of your work.
On behalf of people creating new Musical Theatre, A STAGE KINDLY aims to deal with the difficulties associated with getting their work on stage by providing a simple, friendly, and effective platform to expose their work. For a fraction of the price of staging your work yourself, we offer just that - we put it on stage for you! A STAGE KINDLY is quickly becoming recognised as a pioneer of original new work across the diverse genres of musical theatre.
What writers can expect from this current project, "Bravo", in a nutshell, is a chance to hear and see their work on stage a stone's throw away from the West End - musically directed by a professional and objective MD, promoted extensively, performed in central London for 4 performances by a cast of professional performers.
"Bravo" is a unique opportunity for a writer to assess their work objectively, and to see their work in the context of it being performed alongside their peers'. We have so far featured work both by writers just beginning their writing careers as well as work by established and award-winning writers.
Inclusion in "Bravo" is an invaluable platform to promote your work not only to an audience, but also to potential producers and backers. We invite on your behalf to the show our extensive and constantly updated database of relevant industry professionals. These include stage and screen production companies, literary agents, theatrical producers, agents, casting directors, theatrical companies, directors, etc. We also invite our vast mailing list of potential audience members, which is also regularly updated and also promote the show extensively both online and through a print campaign.
We will make a sound recording (most likely one studio recording and one or more mastered live recordings) and we will also video the show. We then distribute this footage worldwide through various internet channels including www.astagekindly.com. You are of course encouraged to use the footage we record of your material in the future promotion of your show!
Description of job/role
We are looking for writers and composers of original Musical Theatre who are looking for a platform to expose their existing works.
What is the fee?
There is an inclusion fee of £50 for each song included in the revue.
What do writers get in exchange?
The fee you pay to have your work included in "Bravo" will provide you with the following:
· Your work included in our New Writing revue "Standing Ovation"
· Your work brought to the attention of influential people across the industry
· Your music included in the sound recording of the revue, distributed online
· Your information included on our website www.astagekindly.com
· Your work included in the A STAGE KINDLY Library of New Musicals*
· Video footage of the show distributed online
· Two free tickets per accepted submission to see the show (Tickets otherwise sell at £10)
What applicants should submit
Each submission of a show must include the following:
· An audio CD of recordings/demos of the songs you would like us to consider (up to 10 songs per writing team)
· A brief text introducing each song you'd like us to consider, accompanying
· Lyric sheets to the songs in question
Please do not send sheet music with your application unless you don't have any recordings whatsoever of the songs you'd like to submit. If you are successful in your application, we will then ask you to provide a score (piano vocal or lead sheet) for those pieces which were chosen for inclusion. If your application is successful, you will be asked to send the following number of copies of sheet music for each song of yours in the revue:
· One copy for each vocalist singing the piece
· One copy for the pianist
· One copy for the A STAGE KINDLY library of New Musicals*
We actively encourage our cast members to keep the manuscript they're given to use in future auditions for other work - this is a great way to further expose your material within the industry!
NB: Inclusion in The A STAGE KINDLY Library of New Musicals is a great opportunity for further exposure - once a piece has been included in an A STAGE KINDLY revue, it is accepted into the catalogue of A STAGE KINDLY repertoire. It then stays part of the catalogue indefinitely; were we to ever perform it again in another revue, you would not have to pay a second fee for it again to be performed, recorded, or further exposed or promoted.
Amongst others, we are currently developing an alliance with the Musical Theatre degree course at Trinity College, London, whereby they select material for their students' repertoire classes and performances from the A STAGE KINDLY collection of New Musicals. Trinity's students perform as part of their course in industry showcases, and were they to sing your work, the unique exposure to industry professionals could potentially be very beneficial to your career.
Inclusion in the library could offer you exciting and prestigious opportunities unique to A STAGE KINDLY and its writers, though at your request we will always ask permission before doing anything with your work further to its inclusion in this revue. A STAGE KINDLY claims no rights over your work, and will never sell any recording of it for profit without first negotiating with you a royalty agreement. The primary purpose of the A STAGE KINDLY revues and the sound recordings are to garner your work more publicity and exposure, which is why we distribute them for free online - exposing your work to an unlimited worldwide audience of musical theatre enthusiasts.
Where should applications be sent?
Please send a covering letter to astagekindly@aol.com and then we will provide an address for you to send the requested material.
Please also note that only one representative of each show need submit work (e.g. if three people wrote the show together, please nominate only one correspondent to be our point of contact).
If you have any queries at all, please visit us online at www.astagekindly.com directing any enquiries to astagekindly@aol.com. Even if you are not able to submit work for this particular event, A STAGE KINDLY offers many services to writers developing new musical theatre material in which you may be interested in finding out more.
How will applications be judged?
For this showcase of songs from new musicals, we are looking for the following:
· Songs that will 'stand on their own two feet' in a revue setting - i.e. songs that either explain themselves or require very little contextual explanation
· Songs from shows that will benefit from having been work-shopped and exposed by A STAGE KINDLY
· Entertaining songs that will appeal to our audience from shows that have the potential to go on to further acclaim
We particularly welcome shows by writers who may otherwise not be able to experience their work on stage for whatever reason.
We will consider works from across all genres of Music Theatre, from modern-opera to rock musicals - with cabaret, panto, and all sorts in between. We will consider songs in foreign languages, but will not consider catalogue musicals - all material must be original and have been created by the writers themselves. Please contact with any enquiries specific to your work.
Timescale of project
Submissions must be received by July 15th 2009. The show is provisionally being planned for end of October early November 2009.
How soon after the deadline should applicants expect to hear if they have been successful or not?
Applicants should have heard whether they have been successful or not within eight weeks of the submission cut-off date.
If you would like your material returned to you, please send an SAE with your application.
Even if your application isn't successful this time, you are still very welcome to submit material in the future for other A STAGE KINDLY opportunities! We are planning several forthcoming projects to which your work may well be suited. Amongst other forthcoming shows we are planning, we are looking to put together a revue of work by LGBT writers, and also a revue of works with a Jewish connection. If you would like us to consider your submission for either of these revues, please indicate so in your covering letter.
Please visit www.astagekindly.com to keep updated, to buy tickets to any of our performances, and to find out about the many services we offer to specifically to writers of new music theatre.
A STAGE KINDLY TEAM