FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5

5:30PM-7:30PM

Kick-Off Cocktail Party
Sponsored by East of Doheny
Lucille's at B. B. King Blues Club and Grill 
237 West 42nd Street (btw 7th & 8th Aves)
Catch up with your colleagues and meet new ones at this 42nd Street bar and grill, in the heart of Times Square.

Evening

Open Evening
Suggested activities:
Friday Night Only: NAMT member Fox Theatricals has generously offered the following discount code for Legally Blonde on Broadway.  Please click on the link below to order tickets at 35% off the original price.  Or call your local Ticketmaster number and use the promotion code LEGAL when purchasing over the phone.  http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/uupj6t/?dma_id=345  (make sure you remember to type in LEGAL where it prompts you for a discount code to get $120 seats for $78)             
For discounts to other Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, please check outwww.Broadwaybox.com.
Additionally, the New York Musical Theatre Festival will still be running shows the weekend of the conference and you can find their schedule onwww.nymf.org/ShowCalendar.html .

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6

8AM-9AM

Registration and Continental Breakfast
Sponsored by The MUNY 
Ambassador Foyer
The Westin New York Hotel - Times Square

9AM-9:15AM

Welcome Remarks
John Breckenridge, President
Kathy Evans, Executive Director
Ambassador III 
The Westin New York Hotel - Times Square

9:15AM-10AM

"30-Second Success Stories"
Matt Schicker, NAMT Membership Director
Ambassador III 
The Westin New York Hotel - Times Square
In this energetic, fast-paced full-group session, each organization has 30 seconds to introduce themselves and other staff members in attendance, to announce any particular successes from the past season or exciting upcoming projects, and to let everyone know one particular goal you hope to accomplish by attending the NAMT Conference.

10AM-10:45AM

Bringing New Musicals to Greater “Heights”: A Conversation with Jeffrey Seller and Kevin McCollum
Led by Greg Schaffert (321 Theatrical Management)
Ambassador III 
The Westin New York Hotel - Times Square
Jeffrey Seller and Kevin McCollum have brought the world some of the hottest new musicals in recent years: Avenue Q, La Bohème, Rent, and others. In this exclusive conversation for NAMT members, the producing partners talk about their latest project, the salsa- and hip-hop-flavored In the Heights, which played Off-Broadway last season and is set to begin performances on Broadway in February 2008. We’ll find out their philosophies on finding artists, developing projects, and planning the trajectories of cutting-edge new shows.

10:45AM-11:10AM

Networking Coffee Break
Sponsored by The 5th Avenue Theatre 
Ambassador Foyer 
The Westin New York Hotel - Times Square
Catch up with your colleagues and meet new NAMT members over coffee.

11:10AM-12PM

"The Changing Landscape of Musical Theatre "
Led by Sue Frost (Junkyard Dog Productions)
Ambassador III 
The Westin New York Hotel - Times Square

12PM-12:20PM

TheaterMania Sponsorship Presentation
Ambassador III 
The Westin New York Hotel - Times Square

12:30PM-2PM

Lunch
Sponsored by The Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire 
Ambassador II 
The Westin New York Hotel - Times Square

2:30PM-3:30PM

Getting the "Buy In" From Your Audience and Board for New Musicals 
Moderated by Jere Hodgin (Idaho Repertory Theatre)
With Brett Bernardini (The Spirit of Broadway Theater), Robb Hunt (Village Theatre), Jim Roberts and Joe Zingo (Actors Cabaret of Eugene). 
Ambassador III 
The Westin New York Hotel - Times Square
Struggling with poor sales for new work? Does your constituency demand something other than the “same old same old” but ultimately not support new shows? Hear from theatres that have come up with plans to successfully get their audience and board "on board" for new projects. We'll find out: How these groups have successfully marketing new work; How Long it took to get everyone on board; and What exactly is their new works involvement.

3:30PM-4:30PM

Musical Theatre Awards programs for High School Students 
Led by Frank Young (Theatre Under The Stars)
With Van Kaplan (Pittsburgh CLO) and Drew Cohen (MTI). 
Ambassador III 
The Westin New York Hotel - Times Square
The Theatre Under The Stars Tommy Tune Awards were created for the purpose of providing recognition and reward for excellence in the production of musical theatre by high school students and their teachers in the Houston area. The program has been wildly successful, recognizing talent and instilling a love of musical theatre in young people and families. Other NAMT member theatres have similar programs, and today you will find out how you can start a High School Awards program with their help.

4:30PM-5PM

NAMT Announcements: What's Up Our Sleeves? 
Ambassador III 
The Westin New York Hotel - Times Square
The NAMT staff and leadership introduce exciting new programs coming in 2008. We'll also reveal the location for Spring Conference 2008, and announce some very special events in the works for that event.

5PM-6PM

NAMT Member-Led Discussions 
Ambassador I, II, and III 
The Westin New York Hotel - Times Square
You are invited to take part in member-led discussions on particular topics to be announced at the Conference, OR you may want to use the Conference space for your own informal meeting.

Planned Member-Led Discussions:
Developers Consortium
Led by John Sparks
All members interested in the process of developing new musicals are invited to attend this discussion focused on the dilemma of developmental presentations that can't be reviewed but need to find an audience.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7

10AM-11AM

Back to School: NAMT's University Affiliates discuss the challenges and rewards of developing and producing new work on their campuses
Facilitated by Marilyn Plotkins (Boston Music Theatre Project at Suffolk University)
With Victoria Bussert (Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music), Neil Donahoe (Boston Conservatory), Gary Kline (Carnegie Mellon University), Mel Marvin (NYU Tisch School), and Brent Wagner (University of Michigan).
Ambassador II 
The Westin New York Hotel - Times Square
NAMT members from Universities and Conservatories with degree programs in musical theatre performance, writing, and directing gather to discuss their unique opportunities to support the development of new shows and also to share ideas about topics relevant to all musical theatre educators.

11AM-12PM

Producing New Musicals…Philosophies, Facts, and Fiction
Moderated by Rick Boynton (Chicago Shakespeare Theater)
With Julianne Boyd (Barrington Stage Company), Kirsten Childs (author, The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin, Wasted, and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, among others), Jon Kimbell (North Shore Music Theatre), and Stuart Oken (Elephant Eye Theatrical, American Music Theatre Project). 
Ambassador III
The Westin New York Hotel - Times Square
We discuss one’s approach to developing new work and how that new work is realized.  The panel will be a cross section of producers, artistic directors, and writers including both commercial and non-profit perspectives. Look forward to a lively discussion on how new work is being chosen, nurtured, supported, and produced - from its inception to finding an audience. 

12PM-1PM

Meet John Doe: A New Musical Trajectory Case Study
Moderated by Bill O'Brien (National Endowment for the Arts)
With Andrew Gerle (book and music), Eddie Sugarman (book and lyrics), Bob Alwine (Goodspeed Musicals), Sean Cercone (Carousel Dinner Theatre), Henry Fonte (The Hartt School), and Mark Ramont (Ford's Theatre). 
Ambassador III 
The Westin New York Hotel - Times Square
The new musical Meet John Doe appeared in the NAMT Festival of New Musicals in 2005 and many NAMT organizations took part in the development process of this show. Hear about every step of the "vertical development model" used and get ideas about how you might work with writers and other producers on a new show.

1PM-1:20PM

Theatrical Rights Worldwide Sponsorship Presentation 
Ambassador III 
The Westin New York Hotel - Times Square

1:30PM-2:20PM

Lunch Break
Sponsored by Dallas Summer Musicals 
Ambassador II
The Westin New York Hotel - Times Square

2:20PM-3:15PM

"Beyond the Festival: Additional Submitted Shows That You Should Know"
Moderated by Kirsten Berkman (NAMT New Works Director)
With the New Works Selection Committee
Ambassador III 
The Westin New York Hotel - Times Square
The NAMT 2007 Festival of New Musicals selection committee describes the selection process and also lets you know about 8 shows not in the Festival that made it to the "Final 20". These shows are worthy of your consideration for future production.

3:15PM-4:30PM

Meet the Writers Panel
Moderated by Sean Cercone (Carousel Dinner Theatre) and Kevin Moore (The Human Race Theatre Company)
Ambassador III 
The Westin New York Hotel - Times Square
"Meet the Writers" of the eight NAMT 2007 Festival of New Musicals shows. It's a great opportunity to get to know the creative minds and personalities behind the Festival shows, and also the backstories and inspirations behind the shows themselves.

4:30PM

CONFERENCE ENDS

5PM

FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS REGISTRATION BEGINS
New World Stages
PLEASE NOTE: The 19th Annual Festival of New Musicals requires registration. Click here to read about the Festival.

6PM

FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS BEGINS
New World Stages
PLEASE NOTE: The 19th Annual Festival of New Musicals requires registration. Click here to read about the 19th Annual NAMT Festival of New Musicals.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 8

10AM-5:45PM

FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS
New World Stages
PLEASE NOTE: The 19th Annual Festival of New Musicals requires registration. Click here to read about the Festival.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9

9AM-11AM

NEXT STEPS DISCUSSION FOR FESTIVAL SHOWS AND CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST(NAMT Members Only)
Sponsored by Ripley-Grier Studios
Ripley-Grier Studios, 16th Floor
520 Eighth Avenue between 36th & 37th Streets