Jeanne asked:
Out of curiosity, who or what (organizations) usually funds such things?
I wish I knew, Jeanne. Oh, how I wish I knew. I've spoken to some who've been through NYMF before, and they speak rather vaguely about rich uncles and generous friends and bake sales. I've long feared that this wonderful opportunity, this grand and bully pulpit, is really only available to the rich and well-connected.
My musical
Such Good Friends is a traditional large-cast show, in the grand tradition of, say, Bells Are Ringing or Guys and Dolls. There’s no way it will cost less than $20,000
Why not the same fee across the board for all the shows -- why the big jump to $5,000 for a recommended/nominated show?
There's a rationale, but it takes a whole lot of thinking to understand it:
Such Good Friends was one of 400 submissions to NYMF's Next Link. The idea is to give a boost to shows and writers who've languished in obscurity, like me. But there's no rule. Experienced practitioners are welcome to submit. All sorts of readers weed through the 400 to find the best 36 and these are sent to the Grand Jury. The Grand Jury consists of top Tony-honored Broadway people, Victoria Clark, B.D. Wong, Rachel Sheinkin, Margo Lion, Adam Epstein, Casey Nicholaw and they select 18 shows that will get a slot in the festival.
None of this selectors know who wrote the shows or whether they've been produced before.
Then, the people who run NYMF - Kris Stewart, Isaac Hurwitz, Jess McLeod et al - think about what sorts of shows
aren't in the festival. It's easy to imagine them saying "You know what this festival needs? A funny sci-fi spoof! Wasn't there one playing in L.A. some months ago?" And so, these Powers That Be contact those Esteemed and Experienced theatre pros (such as BK) whom they'd like in the festival, and have usually done their shows in another city.
So, the rationale for that $5,000 has to do with the idea that the Invited Works already have a track record, already have the wherewithal to stake 5 grand to the Festival, knowing that box office receipts will pay it back. The Next Link shows, which often have never been seen before on any stage (like
Such Good Friends) pay $500 to participate, and
don't get the same box office split, unless every seat sells. Those 400 submissions, by the way, all paid $50 to be considered.
Whew! That's a long and complex explanation. And hardly complete. But I hope it begins to answer your question.
