ShowSearch is FNAM’s juried competition for new short musicals by high school and college creators
ShowSearch starts with an online competition, in which unedited 10-minute videos of musicals in development are submitted to the Foundation. Submissions are judged on storytelling, musicality and originality.
Six finalists are selected: three from the high school age group (13 to 17) and three from the college age group (18 to 25). Each finalist is paired with a top musical theatre professional for a month-long intensive mentorship. Mentors have included: Broadway and film songwriter Michele Brourman (LAND BEFORE TIME series), Stephen Schwartz (WICKED), Ryan Scott Oliver (DATE), Brendan Milburn and Valerie Vigoda (ERNEST SHACKLETON LOVES ME), John Bucchino (A CATERED AFFAIR) and Jeff Marx (AVENUE Q).
The 2018 high school winners were Jessica Nava and Maria Hernandez, who attended the Pathway program at VAPA Legacy High School, and have since rewritten GRANDMA’S KEEPER as a full-length musical.
The mentored short musicals have a staged reading cast, produced and directed by top Los Angeles musical theatre professionals. Venues have included: Ramón C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts, U.C. Irvine Claire Trevor Theatre, Santa Monica College’s Main Stage and UCLA’s Little Theater.
All ShowSearch finalists receive cash awards; the winner in each category receives an additional award.
Attendance at the ShowSearch showcase has increased steadily with a recent SRO audience.