The New York Musical Festival (NYMF) was an annual event held each summer from 2004 to 2019 in New York City's midtown theater district. It mounted more than 30 new musicals each year, more than half selected through an open-submission, double-blind evaluation process involving prominent theater artists and producers. The festival's artist staff invited the remaining shows. NYMF premiered some 447 musicals, engaging more than 8,000 artists and attracting over 300,000 attendees.

More than 100 of these productions were later staged in other venues—in all 50 US states and in 27 countries, reaching an audience of about four million people, by festival officials' count. More than 20 NYMF shows produced cast albums.

History Besides musicals, the festival offered readings, concerts featuring new music, educational seminars, and explorations of musicals in TV and film.

It also facilitated unique collaborations between New York-based art organizations. In 2011, NYMF launched "NYMF meets NYMIF," a collaboration with the New York Musical Improv Festival. This weekly series paired performers from NYMF with artists from the Magnet Theater to create improvised musicals. Earlier, in 2005, NYMF and the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater explored the intersection of improvisation and musical theater. The festival also collaborated with The Paley Center to screen musicals on television.

In 2005, NYMF received the Jujamcyn Award and its $100,000 prize for developing creative talent. That same year, NYMF introduced a Dance Series to celebrate the integration of musical theatre and dance, featuring the musicals "Common Grounds" (2006) and "Platforms" (2007).

NYMF produced numerous concerts and ran The Next Link Project, a year-round writer service program that provided comprehensive support to help writers develop their musicals into fully staged productions. This initiative culminated annually with subsidized productions for 12 writing teams at NYMF's fall festival.

The festival helped launch Broadway shows. "title of show" became the first NYMF production to transfer to Broadway in 2008, followed by "Next to Normal" in 2009, which won three Tony Awards and the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. In 2009, NYMF began working with the Daegu International Musical Theatre Festival, facilitating a production exchange and fostering international recognition and accolades.

In 2013, NYMF received a Special Drama Desk Award for a decade-long effort to create and nurture musical theater.

In 2016, "Nerds: A Musical Software Satire" was slated to be NYMF's fourth Broadway transfer, its opening was cancelled due to the loss of a major investor.

NYMF abruptly ceased operations on January 2, 2020.

NYMF Awards for Excellence At the end of every festival starting in 2006, a jury of Broadway professionals gave awards for excellence to the deserving productions in that year's festival. There was also a "Best of Fest" award that the public votes for.

Year "Best of Fest" Audience Prize Most Promising New Musical Theater for the American Musical Prize Excellence in Writing (Music) Excellence in Writing (Lyrics) Excellence in Writing (Book) Excellence in Direction Excellence in Choreography Excellence in Overall Design Outstanding Orchestrations Outstanding Ensemble Performance2019Show: Overture Concert: The Oldenburg Suite

Reading: MississippiLeaving EdenBuriedLeaving EdenBuriedTillFlying LessonsLeaving EdenFlying Lessons2018Show: An American Hero Concert: Fatty Fatty No Friends

Reading: LegacyBetween the Sea and SkyBetween the Sea and SkyInterstatePeter, Who?Between the Sea and SkyEmojilandBetween the Sea and SkySonata 1962Between the Sea and Sky AND Emojiland 2017Show: Errol and Fidel Concert: Dorian GrayGeneration MeFreedom RidersGeoramaGeneration MeGeoramaErrol and FidelGeoramaErrol and FidelGeneration Me 2016Show: Children of Salt Concert: Illa! A Hip Hop MusicalNewton's CradleDust Can't Kill MeNewton's CradleEh Dah? Questions for my FatherNewton's CradleNickel MinesA Scythe of TimeDust Can't Kill MeDust Can't Kill Me 2015 2015 AwardsThe Calico BuffaloSongs for the FallenThe CobalteansThe CobalteansThe CobalteansClaudio QuestWhat Do Critics Know?Claudio QuestAcappellaAcappella 2014 2014 AwardsCloned!Academia NutsThe GigThe GigBayonets of AngstAcademia NutsPropaganda! The Musical AND The Mapmaker's Opera (tie)The Snow QueenThe GigBayonets of Angst 2013 2013 AwardsVolleygirlsVolleygirlsCrossing SwordsJulian PoGary Goldfarb: Master EscapistCrossing SwordsCrossing SwordsCastle WalkThe Awakening of Angel DeLunaThe Awakening of Angel DeLuna Volleygirls 2012 2012 AwardsBaby CaseA Letter to Harvey MilkStuckBaby CaseBaby Case AND A Letter to Harvey Milk (tie)A Letter to Harvey MilkBaby CasePrison DancerLe Cabaret GrimmForevermanPrison Dancer 2011 2011 AwardsCrazy, Just Like Me Jane Austen’s Pride and PrejudiceKiki BabyCentral Avenue BreakdownDate of a Lifetime Jane Austen’s Pride and PrejudiceJane Austen’s Pride and PrejudiceCentral Avenue BreakdownPride and PrejudiceCentral Avenue BreakdownThis One Girl's Story 2010 2010 AwardsThings As They AreMy Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan WeddingI Got FiredTrailsFrog KissMy Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan WeddingMy Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan WeddingPetrouchkaShine!Without You2010 was the first year to give an award for Outstanding Orchestrations.Fellowship! AND The Most Ridiculous Thing You Ever Hoid (tie) 2009 2009 AwardsFat CampMy Scary GirlUnder FireAcademyJudas & MeFucking Up EverythingHurricaneFat CampHurricaneAcademy 2008 2008 AwardsIdaho!Bonnie & Clyde: A FolktaleThe Jerusalem SyndromeBonnie & ClydeCollege: The MusicalLove JerryIdaho!Ward 9Idaho!Love Jerry 2007 2007 AwardsUnlock'dThe Boy in the BathroomSherlock Holmes (The Early Years)The Yellow WoodSuch Good FriendsThe Boy in the BathroomSuch Good FriendsPlatformsThe Boy in the BathroomGoing Down Swingin' 2006 2006 AwardsSmoking BloombergKingdomRiver's EndHave a Nice LifeThree SidesDesperate Measures AND Gutenberg! The Musical! (tie) Common GroundsIn 2006, there was one award given for Excellence in Direction and Choreography. Journey to the WestHave a Nice Life

References

Notes

External links The New York Musical Theatre Festival Official Site New York Musical Theatre Festival Downstage Center XM radio interview at American Theatre Wing, 2006 Los Angeles Times feature on the 2006 New York Musical Theatre Festival