The CreateTheater NYC Musical Development Workshops
NYC Musical Workshop 1: Developing the World and the Want
Sunday, April 26 12 noon ET
Panel: Skip Kennon (BMI Workshop), Linda Bonadies (Ph.D. in Musicology), and Cate Cammarata (OB Producer, Artistic Director, CreateTheater)
Presenters: $150 if accepted (ETC members free)
Observers: $49 (ETC members free)
NYC Musical Workshop 1: Developing the World and the Want
Your musical doesn’t start with a song.
It starts with a world—and a character who needs something badly enough to sing about it.
CreateTheater’s NYC Musical Workshop Series begins with the foundation every successful musical is built on: a vivid, compelling world and a protagonist with a clear, urgent want.
This live, online workshop brings you into the room with NYC-based industry professionals—producers, directors, artistic directors and dramaturgs — who will help you sharpen your storytelling and elevate your work.
What You’ll Experience
Selected writers will present a 10-minute integrated scene and song from a musical in development, performed by your actors using your own high-quality demo materials (mp3s) over the Zoom platform. Your script will be shared on the screen for everyone to follow along – super-helpful when listening to demos.
Each presentation receives 20 minutes of direct, actionable feedback from our expert panel, focusing on clarity, storytelling, and how effectively your world and character want are coming across.
Whether you present or observe, you’ll gain rare insight into how industry professionals evaluate new musicals in real time, and allow them to get to know both you and your work.
This level of professional feedback is rare in online development.
Workshop Focus: The World & The Want
In this first of the four workshops, we’ll dive into the core of your musical:
- What makes your world specific, theatrical, and compelling?
- Who is your protagonist—and what do they want?
- Is that want strong enough to drive the story forward?
- Where is your inciting event, the day that is different from any other day?
- How does your opening establish tone, stakes, and audience investment?
You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of what your piece is really about, and how to make an audience lean in from the very first moment.
In This Workshop, You Will:
- Present and pitch your work to experienced NYC industry professionals
- Receive targeted feedback to strengthen your storytelling
- Learn how to clarify and heighten your protagonist’s central want
- Understand how to build a theatrical world that supports your narrative
- Observe other musicals in development and learn from their feedback
- Connect with fellow writers, collaborators, and industry insiders
Good for observers, too, to learn how to apply the feedback to their own work.
The 2026 NYC Musical Development Workshop Series
A Complete Development Arc for Your Musical
Workshop 1: Developing the World and the Want
- Define your world and your storytelling devices.
- Clarify your protagonist and their most important want
- Understand and clarify your musical’s inciting event.
Sunday April 26 12pm Online
Workshop 2: Act 1 Conflict, Obstacles, and the Close of Act 1
- Who or what is the antagonist? What do they want? Why?
- What’s blocking your protagonist’s want?
- Define the conflict
- Set up the closing of Act 1 as the midpoint reversal.
Sunday July 26 12pm Online
Workshop 3: Back into the World & the “Big Gloom”
- Act 2 accelerates the action that Act 1 set up and gets us back into the world
- Often there is the “Big Gloom”
- Sometimes there is the 11:00 Number before the climax.
Sunday Sept. 27 12pm Online
Workshop 4: The Climax, Resolution & the Finale
- In the climax does your protagonist get what they want?
- What are the 3 parts of a classical climax?
- The plot is resolved
- The Finale delivers your message in an unforgettable song.
Sunday Oct. 25 12pm Online
Commit to the Series – Not Just One Workshop
You can take one workshop. But here’s what happens when you commit to all four:
- You apply feedback, then test the revision in the next session
- Industry professionals begin to track your work and growth and get to know your musical
- Your musical develops with continuity, not guesswork
- You build real relationships—not one-off impressions—within the industry
This is how shows move forward. This is industry networking.
2026 NYC Musical Development Workshop Packages
Presenter Series Package
$500 (Save $100)
Best for writers actively developing a musical.
Includes:
- Presentation slot in all 4 workshops
- 80 minutes of total industry feedback across the series
- 4 professional presentations to enage industry professionals
- All teaching sessions + networking
This is the closest thing to an ongoing development lab without a multi-thousand dollar commitment.
However,
- Only a small number of presenters are accepted per workshop
- Series package holders receive priority placement
- Individual workshop spots may sell out before each date
Once 6 presenter slots are filled, applications close.
Observer Series Package
$150 (Save $46)
Best for writers learning musical structure, refining their own work, or preparing to present later.
Includes:
- Access to all 4 workshops
- Full visibility into the process of multiple projects evolving over time
- All teaching + networking sessions
Watch how musicals actually get built—and what makes them work.
Which Option is Right for You?
Choose the Series Package if:
- You’re serious about moving your musical forward in 2026
- You want continuity, not one-off feedback
- You’re ready to be seen by industry professionals more than once
Choose a Single Workshop if:
- You want to test the experience first
- You’re early in development
- You’re observing before stepping in
- You’re just learning about Musical Theater structure
Remember:
You can keep working on your musical in isolation…
Or you can put it in a room, hear what’s actually landing, and start shaping it into something producible.
The writers who commit to the full process are the ones who finish.
Common Questions
NYC MUSICAL DEVELOPMENT LABS — FAQs
Do I need to apply to present?
Yes. Labs are selective by design, and all materials must be submitted along with the application.
How do I present my musical online?
Musical scripts are read by your actors while the audience follows your script and lyrics online. Pre-recorded demos play the music.
How long is my presentation time?
Each presentation should be no longer than 10 minutes of consecutive action. This is important for us to experience your musical in real time. Approximately 20 minutes of feedback by our panel will follow.
Does my music have to be pre-recorded, or can I just sing and play myself?
Unfortunately, the technology we use requires all demos to be pre-recorded.
Do I bring my own actors or do you provide them?
Each presenter works beforehand with their own actors in order to present a polished performance to the panel. We can cast the presentation if necessary, for an additional fee. Actors may stay in the room to hear the feedback from the panel, if interested.
Can I pre-record the entire presentation beforehand?
If you prefer to record your actors reading and the demos playing beforehand, that is fine with us; however, your recording must be approved before the workshop.