Serious Development for New Plays & Musicals
CreateTheater helps playwrights and musical theatre writers move from idea to industry through professional training, script development, collaborative workshops, and industry presentation opportunities.
The CreateTheater Development Pathway
1. Learn the Industry
Learn how theatre actually works.
2. Structure the Script
Build a script that can sustain production and development.
3. Develop the Work
Workshop, test, and refine the piece collaboratively.
4. Present to the Industry
Create visibility and momentum for the work.
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
Learn the Industry
- Webinars
- Producer Office Hours
- Educational Content
- Newsletter
Structure the Script
- Script Diagnostics
- Development Consultations
- Writing Labs
Develop the Work
- Workshops
- Table Reads
- Experts Theater Company Development Programs
Produce the Work
- Readings
- Showcases
- Networking Opportunities
- Industry Presentation Events
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
The #1 Question Writers Want Answered
Writers Write… After a play is written, the writer’s job is done, right? It’s a “collaborative” art, so all you have to do is to give it over to a theater and they’ll handle the rest. And … end dream sequence. Reality check: writers write a play or musical, and they...
Find a Mentor
THE WORKING PLAYWRIGHT: a monthly blog column by Melissa Bell Find a Mentor Sometime after I wrote my first musical, I attended an alumni event. While waiting for the elevator, a well-groomed woman and I picked up a conversation. When I asked her what she did, she...
The Working Playwright
(This is a new monthly column on CreateTheater.com - thank you, Melissa!) FIND THEE A WRITER’S GROUP When I speak with aspiring playwrights or writers of any genre, the first piece of advice I give is “join a writer’s group.” If you can’t find one, create one. A...
Where Are We Going?
How Are We Doing? I can’t believe we’re already approaching 2025, our quarter-century mark. That’s a significant milestone in history, with enough time under our belt now to collectively look at “how we’re doing” and where we’re going. The first 25 years of the...