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Musical Theatre West’s New Works Reading Festival

Musical Theatre West’s New Works Reading Festival, started in 2021 and sponsored by The Port of Long Beach, seeks to further the art form of musical theatre by providing a space for new works in the form of an annual festival.

Congrats to the three musicals selected for our 2026 New Works Reading Festival!

A Collectible Sensation
Lyrics & Book by Arianna Rose
Lyrics & Music by Amy Engelhardt
Miss Hysteria
Book & Lyrics By Laura Schein & Ben Zeadman
Music By Ben Zeadman
Zapata
By Jesse J. Sanchez
If you would like to submit for next year’s festival or are interested in learning more about our New Works festival, fill out the form here!

DIVERSITY STATEMENT

MTW strives to represent the diverse community of Long Beach that we service in all areas of our company, and encourages writers who represent various race, ethnicity, socioeconomic backgrounds, gender identity, age, physical ability, LGBTQIA+, and diverse viewpoints, to submit.

PAST FESTIVAL SELECTIONS

2025
  • Rails
    • Music & Lyrics by Tom Kenaston
    • Book & Lyrics by Tom Paitson Kelly
  • The Postman’s Daughter
    • Words by Danielle Koenig
    • Music by Justin D. Cook
2024
2023
  • Broken Ground
    • Book & Lyrics by Christine Toy Johnson
    • Music & Lyrics by Jason Ma
  • The Dark Lady
    • Music by Veronica Mansour
    • Book & Lyrics by Sophie Boyce
  • Māyā
    • Music & Book by Cheeyang Ng
    • Book & Lyrics by Eric Sorrels
2022
  • Hay Fever: A New Musical
    • Book & Lyrics by David Howard
    • Music by Bret Simmons
  • Missing Peace
    • Book, Music & Lyrics by Kalani Queypo & Kyle Puccia
  • América Tropical
    • Book by Gina Gallego
    • Book & Lyrics Joel S. Bailey
    • Music by Jan Roper
2021