The Chicago Musical Theatre Festival is back! Now in its 8th year, CMTF was created with the belief that there’s a wealth of musical theatre creators in Chicago and around the country, but the high risks of producing new musicals offers limited opportunities for emerging authors to have their work seen and heard. CMTF is designed to provide much-needed artistic resources for writers to have their work supported, explored, and most importantly – performed!

Says Festival Producer Nicholas Reinhart, “In a world dominated by rehashed and ‘rebooted’ IP, it is an immense pleasure to support new musical theatre writers in bringing their original work to life, often for the very first time. During our exciting run at Steppenwolf in 2024, it was clear Chicago audiences are hungry for new work, and we are eager to continue to uplift and celebrate a new generation of talent this April at our home at The Chopin Theatre.”

The 2025 Chicago Musical Theatre Festival will take place from April 3 – 6, 2025 at The Chopin Theatre in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN and will remain open until Sunday, February 2, 2025. 

CMTF 8: Common Questions

Where/when is the festival? CMTF 8 will take place April 3 – 6, 2025 at The Chopin Theatre. The window for new musical applications will open on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. Submissions will be accepted until Sunday, February 2, 2025 at 11:59pm. The five finalists will be notified in early March 2025. Casting for the festival will follow selection of the finalists. Rehearsals for the five concert presentations will take place the weeks of March 17 and March 24, leading to a short tech process during the week of the festival.

How does CMTF work? Authors, composers, and producers submit scripts for consideration via our application form (opening Tuesday, January 7). Our jury selects 5 productions for participation, who then receive participation agreements. There is currently no fee associated with participation. The festival will provide resources for each group, including the hiring of directors, music directors and a cast.  Ticket sales are split between the festival and festival participants.

Is the festival judged? Yes! We have a panel of judges who attend every show, and vote on awards and distinctions, including the declaration of a winner of the festival. The panel is composed of Artistic Directors and industry leaders, which means your work is guaranteed to be seen by producers, directors and industry professionals who can help your show take its next steps. These judges also provide substantive feedback on your show that you can use to help spur further development.

What kind of shows are you looking for? CMTF is designed as a place to showcase the text, sound, and concept of your show, rather than glitz, glam, and crazy-expensive production value. Each show will be presented in a concert style, on book with music stands. The festival will provide a house band, limited tech (individual mics, lights up/lights down, etc). We’re looking for shows that are ready for an audience, and ready to show their work to producers, agents, and publishers.   To submit for the 2025 CMTF, your show should be:

How much does the festival cost? Applying is free. There is currently no participation fee, though this could change for future iterations of the festival. The festival will use ticket sales to cover the cost of paying directors, music directors, band members, performers and other festival production staff.

What do I get?

• A concert reading presentation of your work
• An archival recording of the presentation for your use in further development 
• 2 rehearsals before tech with hired director, MD and cast to make creative decisions for the concert reading presentation (keep it simple!) 
• 2 hours of tech in the space
• Limited on-site storage
• A publicist who is actively working to bring press to the festival 
• A shared lighting plot and sound system
• Lighting and sound technicians for your performances
• Shared festival resources (Bar staff for patrons, front of house, and ticketing staff) 
• Feedback from artistic directors, directors, composers, and theatrical publishers

What am I responsible for?

• Travel to/from, and lodging in Chicago for April 2025
• Attending meetings on production, marketing, and development of your piece, either in-person or via Zoom
• Supporting the rehearsal of your show (2 rehearsals) and collaborating with the hired director, music director and cast, either in-person or via Zoom
• Attending your show’s rehearsals in-person or via Zoom, and attending tech and performance

How do I apply? Start your application now! Applications are now open, and will remain open through Sunday, February 2. 

If you have any issues submitting your application or have questions about the festival, email cmtf@kokandyproductions.com.

All press inquiries should be directed to David Rosenberg, our publicist, at david@drpublicrelations.com.

Sponsorship inquiries should email Executive Producer Scot Kokandy at scot@kokandyproductions.com.