Signature Theatre Accepting New Musical Submissions for SigWorks: Musical Theatre Lab
Signature Theatre will be accepting new submissions for the SigWorks: Musical Theater Lab, a developmental workshop program for musical theater writers. The Lab offers writers an opportunity to focus on the artistic development of their piece in one of the nation’s most vibrant theatrical communities. Via an open submission process from October 12 – October 30, 2026, Signature Theatre will invite writers from across the United States to submit their new musicals to be chosen for development in the summer of 2027. Under the leadership of Signature’s Director of Artistic Development Anika Chapin, one musical will be chosen for a two-week workshop June 14 – June 27, 2027 at Signature Theatre. The project will receive a public presentation at the end of the workshop.
“At Signature, we believe deeply in new musicals and what they can do,” said Director of Artistic Development Anika Chapin. “Under Matthew Gardiner’s leadership, Signature has continued to invest in new works like Kate Douglas and Grace McLean's hag and expand its relationships with significant contributors to the industry like Jeanine Tesori and Joe Iconis. Through this season’s Musical Theater Lab, I am excited to discover new writers and projects and bring them to Signature.”
“Signature has always prided itself on its commitment to producing new works written by bold new voices in the American musical theater,” said Signature’s Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner. “Throughout our history, we have found new ways to champion the development of new musicals, including Warren Leight and Isaac Oliver's Just in Time, Michael John LaChiusa’s Giant, Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey’s Freaky Friday, and Ross Baum and Angelica Chéri’s Gun & Powder, now titled WANTED. Our SigWorks: Musical Theater Lab continues to provide the space and resources needed for emerging musical theater writers to bring their stories to life.”
Signature Theatre will be accepting submissions for original and unpublished musicals October 12 – October 30, 2026. Writers or teams of writers can submit a single musical each (if a writer is working on two or more separate projects with different collaborators, they can submit those). The writers must reside in the United States. The piece must have been written within the past five years and must be the sole intellectual property of the writers – if the piece is based on existing IP, the writers must have the rights to that IP. Previous applicants to the SigWorks: Musical Theater Lab can apply again for the 2026/2027 cycle. The musicals do not need to be fully finished but must be close to a finished draft. They cannot have already had a production, but they can have had other developmental opportunities. There are no limits on cast size or musical styles.
SUBMISSION RULES:
Interested writers must submit biographies for the artists, a brief synopsis of the musical, a character breakdown (1 page or less), a brief explanation of where the musical is in its development process, a 20-page sample from the libretto (this must be consecutive pages), recorded demos from the submitted musical, and the full script of the musical. The submissions will open on October 12, 2026 at SigTheatre.org.
Please note that only five demos will be listened to in the first round – you may specify which tracks those are when you apply. If your script is selected as a finalist, all demos will be listened to.
ABOUT SIGWORKS: MUSICAL THEATER LAB
Signature’s SigWorks: Musical Theater Lab is a developmental program that furthers our mission to promote new theatrical work. Founded in 2016, the program seeks out musical projects via an open submission process. The selected project receives a two-week workshop with actors, a director, a music director, and a dramaturg. The program culminates with a public presentation of the new musical. Previous titles developed under the SigWorks: Musical Theater Lab include Darius Smith and Michael R. Jackson’s U.G.L.Y., Ben Clark and Andrew Kramer’s Skin & Bones, Ross Baum and Angelica Chéri’s Gun & Powder (now titled WANTED: The Legend of the Sisters Clarke), and Kate Douglas and Grace McLean’s hag.
As a leader in the field of developing and producing new work, Signature offers several development initiatives under its SigWorks umbrella. The Theatre invests in writers through commissions, readings, workshops, and full productions of new work. Since its founding, Signature has produced 61 world premieres, including 29 new plays and 32 new musicals, many of which have gone on to have successful runs beyond their debuts.