The National Alliance for Musical Theatre has revealed the slate of directors and music directors for the 35th annual Festival of New Musicals, which takes place October 26–27 at New World Stages.

The industry-only event showcases 45-minute concert adaptations of new musicals in the final stages of development for producers and artists from around the world, helping them to find future life and development at regional theatres across the U.S. and the globe.

Directors for this year’s Festival will include Rebecca Aparicio (Latinx Playwrights Circle), Dev Bondarin (associate artistic director, Prospect Theater Company), Catie Davis (Beetlejuice), Bo Frazier (Chicago's tick, tick…BOOM!), Kimille Howard (artistic director, Lucille Lortel Theatre’s NYC Public High School Playwrighting Fellowship), Jess McLeod (Woolly Mammoth BOLD resident director), Leora Morris (Alliance Theatre's Ride the Cyclone) and Abbey O’Brien (Waitress, Jagged Little Pill).

Music directors will include Kurt Crowley (Hamilton, Freestyle Love Supreme), Andrea Grody (The Band’s Visit), Jesse Kissel (Chicago, The Visit), Lily Ling (How to Dance in Ohio), Anessa Marie (White Girl in Danger), Patrick Sulken (Little Shop of Horrors), and Alyssa Kay Thompson (1776).

The Festival of New Musicals will also welcome eight participants to the Festival Observership for Early-Career Directors. The Directing Observership provides artists from underrepresented groups with the opportunity to join the musical theatre development process. The 2023 participants will include Cooper Ellis, Abigail Holland, Nikki Mirza, Aidan Pauer, Tah-Janay Shayoñe, Joyah Love Spangler, Tyra Ann-Marie Wilson, and Wanye’ Yoakum.

Visit Namt.org/festival.