Presented by the Incite Foundation for the Arts
To learn more about the National Centre for New Musicals (NCNM), a Theatre Aquarius program, read about the application process, criteria and more.
Submissions will reopen November 18th 2024-January 6th 2025.
The National Centre for New Musicals (NCNM) at Theatre Aquarius offers an eight-month, part-time development program for musical theatre creators at any stage of their musical’s journey. Whether you’re starting with early concepts or working on a new draft, NCNM provides a tailored experience to elevate your musical to the next level.
The program features two distinct streams, blending remote and in-person support to help you refine and advance your piece. Through mentorship, music supervision, dramaturgy, and an in-person Creators Summit, we nurture your creative process with a focus on exploration and growth. We look forward to receiving your submissions and supporting the diverse community of musical theatre creators in Canada.
Application Portal opens November 18th 2024-January 6th 2025. Writers select either the Incubation Stream or Development Stream and apply online.
Submissions are anonymously adjudicated by the NCNM Curatorial Team made up of music theatre artists from across Canada. 10 projects will be selected to move into Round 2 in March 2025.
The Advisory Team selects a short list of projects that will be given a virtual interview. 2 – 4 projects are chosen by the Advisory Team and notified in April 2025.
Phase 1- Remote Development Period
From June to December 2025, both the Incubation Steam and Development Stream will engage in a seven-month, part-time exploratory period where you’ll work remotely with a dramaturg and music supervisor from our Aquarius team. These experts, personally assigned to your project, will provide ongoing support and feedback as you write and advance your piece.
Phase 2- The NCNM Creators Summit
In January 2026, the Development Stream is invited to the NCNM Creators Summit for a two-week, in-person creative residency. During this time, writing teams will have the opportunity to work intensively with their creative team and mentors. Depending on your project’s needs, you’ll have access to dedicated writing time, actor workshops, mentorship, and rehearsal space. The residency culminates with presentation opportunities, offering the chance to share your work with industry professionals.
Cast of “Maggie the Musical” (2023)
Development Stream: (Application portal opens November 18th, 2024-January 6th, 2025)
Application Requirements:
Incubation Stream: (Application portal opens November 18th, 2024-January 6th, 2025)
Please note: Attendance at the Creators Summit in January 2026 is required for the Development Stream, and all travel and accommodation costs for writers and their teams will be covered.
Please note that the NCNM team will work closely with each group to create a development plan tailored to the specific needs of the piece. Depending on those needs, some projects may focus on workshops with actors, while others may prioritize dedicated writing time and dramaturgical support. The approach will be determined based on the unique requirements of your musical and the available budget and resources.
We accept everything from a concept to a fully developed musical, with support through 2 streams: An Incubation Stream for projects in early stages of development; and a Development Stream to support projects that are further along with draft or partial draft in place.
There is no need to invest in produced audio clips for this submission. Vocals or basic instrumentals are sufficient for our panel to adjudicate.
NCNM projects are not promised a future production with Theatre Aquarius. NCNM is a development program which offers space, resources and mentorship for creators to continue the development of their work and is not a commission agreement.
The Curatorial Team is made up of approximately 20 theatre professionals spanning a variety of disciplines, ages, ethnicities and backgrounds – at least one person from each Canadian province and territory.
Yes. If you are a current Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you are eligible to submit. As of year two, the Development Stream writers will be required to attend a 2 week in-person Creators Summit in January 2026. Note that travel expenses are covered by NCNM and not out of pocket for artists.
Yes, the entire writing team must be legally eligible to work in Canada.
NCNM pieces go through a selection process made up of multiple rounds.
Round 1: Each submission is freed from all identifiers to ensure a fair and anonymous evaluation and is adjudicated by a Curatorial Team of diverse Artists from across Canada. Approximately 10 projects will be selected to move to Round 2 in March 2025.
Round 2: The Advisory Team selects a short list of projects that will be given a virtual interview in March 2025. 2-5 projects will be chosen in April 2025.
There is no requirement for you to have a team assembled. You can have as many or as few people attached to the project as you see fit.
Each year, NCNM will select 2-5 pieces. The number of pieces is dependent on the requirements of each piece and what stage of development they are in.
As of year two (which takes submissions in November 2024 and announces selections in Spring 2025), you are only able to submit one piece per writing team. If you submit multiple pieces, only the first submission received will be considered.
All participants will be notified in March 2025 on the status of their piece. A second round of evaluations will take place, and the top 5 submissions will be contacted March 2025 for a virtual interview with the Advisory Team. The pieces will be selected in April 2025.
Due to the high volume of submissions, we are unable to provide feedback to any submissions.
Yes, song cycles and jukebox musicals can be submitted, however only musicals that have obtained the rights to copy written material will be eligible for final selection. You will be required to provide a signed letter from the rights holder stating all underlying rights have been secured.
Submissions will re-open November 18th 2024-January 6th 2025 and selections will be announced in April 2025. The program dates for those selected are June 2025-January 2026.
NCNM is an 8-month, part-time program from June 2025-January 2026. NCNM can happen concurrently with other work and is very flexible. There is a 2-week Creators Summit in January 2026 for the Development Stream participants which is required for the program.
NCNM begins as a remote program from June 2025-December 2025. Development Stream participants will attend a 2 week in-person Creators Summit in January 2026. The Incubation Stream is fully remote.
Please note that this program does not provide lump sum grants to writers. Instead, NCNM supports writers’ goals by funding resources to support the development of the piece. It’s important to note that funds are not unlimited, and we will work together with participants to achieve project goals within a set budget. Writers will be compensated at the Playwrights Guild of Canada rates for any workshops. Travel expenses will be covered for in-person workshops or presentations, ensuring that artists are not out of pocket to attend.
Please note that we unfortunately cannot accept projects currently in other development agreements or currently being commissioned through another theatre or program. (Government granting bodies do not count.)
There is no cost to apply or to take part in the program. If selected, a program budget is determined by the NCNM Team and presented to the writers. Please note that funds are not unlimited, and the budget will be based on resources and the needs of the piece.
Email Jenny Weisz at newmusicals@theatreaquarius.org with any questions