Serious Development for New Plays & Musicals
CreateTheater helps playwrights and musical theater writers move new work through a clear development-to-presentation pipeline — from private writing, to guided development, to public-facing opportunities in NYC.
The CreateTheater Development Pathway
“I’m still working on my script.”
Get the structure, feedback, and accountability to strengthen the work.
“I have material and need to test it in front of an audience.”
Move the work off the page and into the room.
“I need an industry-facing presentation.”
Build the producing strategy, team, budget, and presentation plan to move toward NYC visibility.
For Writers Ready to Move Beyond “Just Writing”
You may have:
a promising draft
a musical in progress,
years of rewrites,
great feedback but no traction,
or uncertainty about where your work fits professionally.
CreateTheater helps writers bridge the gap between creative work and professional development.
Programs
Get Your Script Ready
Writing Groups
Musical Workshops
Musical Writing Lab
Develop the Work
Cabaret Lab
2-Day Script Workshop
Table & Industry Readings
Present the Work
NYC Producer Lab
New Works Festival
Showcase Productions
Current Opportunities
Production-Ready Writers Groups
Looking for a professional community? Ongoing weekly and bi-weekly groups for writers developing new work.
CreateTheater New Works Festival Reading Series
Opportunities to hear new plays and musicals performed by professional actors. Is yours ready? Apply for 2027’s Festival
The CreateTheater Musical Writing Lab
How finished is your musical? Join our new 12-month Musical Theater Writing Intensive Cohort starting June 1st
The Experts Theater Company (ETC)
Membership · Mentorship · Access
The Experts Theater Company is the connective tissue of the CreateTheater pipeline.
It provides:
- Ongoing education and mentorship
- Community and accountability
- Access to higher-level development opportunities
Many writers begin here — and are invited forward into Labs, workshops, and the CreateTheater New Works Development Studio as their work becomes ready.
Upcoming Events
CreateTheater’s Musical Writing Lab
The Lab starts June 1st
CreateTheater’s NYC Producer Lab
Starts June 4th at 7pm ET
Recent Blog Posts
Why Developmental Theater Companies Matter More Than Ever
Theater is hard right now. Have you noticed? It is hard to get produced.It is hard to get attention.It is hard to build an audience.It is hard to raise money.It is hard to know which opportunity is actually worth your time and which one is just another application...
What Producers Actually Look For in New Work
One of the biggest mistakes I see many playwrights and musical theatre writers make is believing producers are looking for "good writing." Of course they are. But, after years of producing, directing, dramaturging, and sitting through countless readings, festivals,...
Why So Many Workshops Fail Writers
One of the hardest conversations I have with playwrights and musical theater writers is this: A workshop does not always advance development. And development does not automatically lead to a production. I've seen writers spend thousands of dollars and years of their...
Readings Aren’t the Goal. Development is.
Readings Aren’t the Goal. Production Is. Why so many playwrights get stuck in the development loop—and how to avoid it. By Cate Cammarata If you're writing a new play or musical, at some point you're going to need to put it in front of an audience. There is simply no...