The Mainstreet Team

MAINSTREET MUSICALS, Inc. is a non-profit, tax-exempt consortium of theater professionals and their non-profit, commercial and educational partners. Through programs initially developed by National Music Theater Network (NMTN), and thanks to the generosity of professional directors and educators, MainStreet is able to provide valuable professional script evaluation services for writers and composers. MainStreet also utilizes a variety of performance programs to promote development opportunities for original stage musicals throughout regional America.

MAINSTREET TERMINOLOGY

EVALUATION- Creators of new musicals can get feedback and critical reviews, including suggestions for improvement, and a determination (made in a double-blind procedure by professional musical theater directors) regarding the qualities of a musical prior to “Development”. Each Evaluation Report concludes with an opinion as to whether the work is “Recommended” or “Not Recommended” for “Development”.

DEVELOPMENT- When the creators of a work reach a point where other contributors are needed to advance the show towards production, that show is said to have moved into the “Development” phase. The Development of a new work advances through Readings (TableReads, Concert Readings, and Staged Readings) and Workshops. When a show is “picked up” for Production, it effectively leaves the area of Development.

LIBRARY OF RECOMMENDED WORKS- Those works posted in MainStreet’s Library have been “Recommended for Development” by at least one MainStreet Evaluator.

ANNEX- Works listed in the Annex were Recommended before the advent of digital materials (scripts, demos, and scores). The materials of these shows are available on paper and cassette tape.

When Shows move into Development, they are generally exposed in Readings and Workshops.

READINGS- Readings are the first activity along the Development path. There are three types of Readings:

TABLE READ- The first and easiest of the three Reading types. Performers sit around a table with scripts and scores and with an accompanist, read and sing the show for the creative team and other interested parties.

CONCERT READING- With minimal rehearsal and with some input from a director, the performers holding scripts - standing in front of a room or on a stage with a small audience present – read and sing the show.

STAGED READING- After additional rehearsal, a director having added movement, the performers, still carrying scripts, read and sing the show.

WORKSHOP- This developmental step involves script work, staging and memorization and may conclude with invited audiences.

PRODUCTION- This is the goal of Development, where audiences pay to attend.

AudioStages- Musicals that are specifically designed, or adapted, as audio programs – for radio or digital audio – are called AudioStage productions.

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