As a professional, year-round musical theatre largely focused on producing lesser-known and new musicals, The Winter Park Playhouse believes wholeheartedly in the importance of fostering the development of new works. Thus the Playhouse created and launched The Florida Festival Festival of New Musicals in 2017.

The purpose of the annual international festival is to advance and elevate the original American art form of musical theatre by fostering the development of new musicals and the artistic growth of writers and composers.

The 4-day event will showcase six new musical works and bring together writers and composers with patrons, press, producers and directors. A one-hour version of each selected musical will be fully read and sung concert-style, without staging, by varying casts of professional actors and musicians.

Audiences will have the unique and exciting opportunity to see musicals in the early stages of development and provide feedback to the creative team during a talk-back session about the new musical after each reading.

The festival is led by Playhouse Artistic Director Roy Alan. It is the only one of its kind in the region, similar to musical theatre festivals featuring new works that take place in New York City, Seattle, Chicago, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles. It provides a unique insight into how a new musical comes to life.