Community
NMTE is part of a vibrant network of organizations supporting musical theatre creators in the Twin Cities, surrounding region, and beyond.
New Work Development & Support (Twin Cities)
Playwrights’ Center
Location: 710 Raymond Ave, St. Paul
The nation’s first organization devoted to playwrights and new play development. Offers workshops, fellowships, and readings for emerging and established writers. Composers take note: this is where you might find your book writer.
Nautilus Music-Theater
Location: 308 Prince St, St. Paul
Champions new and innovative music-theater works. Hosts the annual, influential Composer-Librettist Studio, and presents cutting-edge productions. Also listed under Education & Development below.
Trademark Theater
Location: Minneapolis
The only nonprofit in Minnesota solely dedicated to creating, developing, and producing new theatrical works. Founded by Tyler Michaels King. Their In The Works commissioning platform supports emerging playwrights and composer/lyricists through a full year of development, critical feedback, and showcase readings.
Park Square Theatre
Location: 20 W 7th Place, St. Paul
Contemporary theatre on two stages with a strong commitment to new work through their LAB Series, which offers theatre makers of all backgrounds the chance to develop ambitious new productions and take artistic risks.
Theater Latté Da
Location: 345 13th Ave NE, Minneapolis
Twin Cities’ musical theatre company, featuring both classics and new works. Known for their NEXT Festival of new musicals.
History Theatre
Location: 30 E 10th St, St. Paul
Specializes in stories from Minnesota and the upper Midwest, often featuring original musicals based on regional history.
Mixed Blood Theatre
Location: 1501 S 4th St, Minneapolis
Innovative theatre known for radical hospitality and boundary-pushing work, including musical theatre projects.
Phoenix Theater
Location: 2605 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis
Community theatre presenting classic and contemporary works, supporting local artists and new musical theater development.
Northern Sky Theater
Location: Fish Creek (Door County), Wisconsin
Professional theater dedicated to original musicals — performed outdoors under the stars in Peninsula State Park and indoors at the Gould Theater. Featured in the New York Times.
Hennepin Center for the Arts
Location: 824 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis
Multi-use arts facility housing multiple theatre companies and supporting emerging artists with performance and development opportunities.
Musical Theatre Presenters
These organizations regularly present musical theatre works as part of their programming:
Artistry
Location: 1711 W County Rd B, Roseville
Presents musicals, plays, and concerts featuring both classic works and contemporary productions.
Lyric Arts
Location: 65 2nd St NE, Anoka
Community theatre specializing in musicals, from Broadway classics to contemporary works.
Guthrie Theater
Location: 818 2nd St S, Minneapolis
The Twin Cities’ premier regional theatre, regularly featuring musicals in their mainstage and thrust theater programming.
Hennepin Theatre Trust
Location: Orpheum, State, and Pantages Theatres, Minneapolis
Operates the historic theaters presenting touring Broadway productions and major musical theater works.
Musical Theater Education & Development
Nautilus Music-Theater
Location: 308 Prince St, St. Paul
Champions new and innovative music-theater works. Hosts the annual, influential Composer-Librettist Studio, which many Minnesota musical theater creators and performers have attended, and presents cutting-edge productions.
BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop
Location: New York City
Founded in 1961, called “The Harvard of Showtunes” by the New York Times. The premiere training ground for musical theater composers, lyricists, and bookwriters. Meets September through June in person in NYC.
New Musicals Inc (NMI)
Location: Los Angeles
Development programs, workshops, and the Academy for Musical Theatre. Offers classes both online and in-person for professional musical theatre writers.
Musical Creators’ Institute
Founded by Sam Carner, with faculty including Adam Gwon (Ordinary Days) and Anna K. Jacobs (Teeth). Intensive collaborative training for composers, lyricists, bookwriters, and directors.
MusicalWriters.com
Location: Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
Development series and annual festival encouraging and equipping musical theatre writers.
National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT)
The national umbrella organization for musical theater development. Administers the Frank Young Fund for new musicals, Writers Residency Grants, and the annual Festival of New Musicals.
Other Resources for Creators
New Play Exchange (NPX)
National platform connecting playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists with theaters and producers. Provides script sharing, discovery tools, and networking opportunities for musical theater creators.
American Composers Forum
Location: 75 W 5th St, St. Paul
National organization supporting composers across all genres. Offers grants, professional development, and networking opportunities for composers.
Minnesota Association of Songwriters
Supportive community for songwriters across all genres, including those working in musical theatre. Book writers take note: this is where you might find your composer.
Know of an organization we should include? Contact us with suggestions.