The New Musical Laboratory (NML) is annually selected by a team of MSU Department of Theatre Faculty and Wharton CenteSr for Performing Arts employees. This musical is workshopped under the guidance of a professional director, the creative team of the chosen musical, Equity actor(s) in leading role(s), and the leadership of MSU’s Department of Theatre and Wharton Center for Performing Arts. The program becomes a vivid learning experience for both college actors and backstage creatives.
2026 Submissions Open
Submit your musical here
Deadline to submit: December 19, 2025 at 5PM
Past Productions

- Book and Lyrics: Sonya Hayden
- Composer: Matt Lowy
- Director: Adam Yankowy
- Musical Direction: Dave Wendleberger
- Guest Stage Management: Courtney Sue Mulford
- Guest Actor: Mark William
- Guest Dramaturg: Molly Marinik

- Book, Music, Lyrics: Joey Contreras
- Director: Emily Maltby
- Musical Direction: Dave Wendleberger
- Guest Stage Management: Jennifer Lowe
- Guest Actors: Stephanie Torns and Julian Diaz-Granados
- Guest Dramaturg: Dr. Samuel Yates

Rocky Mountain High
- Book & Lyrics: Kia Kofron and Cooper Kofron
- Composers: Mark Hollman and Drew Gasparini
- Director: Marc Acito
- Music Direction: Dave Wendelberger
- Guest Actor: Simon Pearl

In Emily's Words
- Book & Music & Lyrics: Jessy Tomsko
- Director: Susanna Wolk
- Music Direction: Keiji Ishiguri
- Guest Actor: Jonathan Christopher
- Guest Stage Management: Rebecca MacCreery

Particle
- Book & Music & Lyrics: Selda Sahin and Derek Gregor
- Director & Co-Conceiver: Autum Reeser
- Music Production: Chris Gilroy
- Percussion: Mark Lietz
- Guest Actor: Gabe Violett
- Guest Stage Management: Jovon Schuck

Medusa
- Book & Music & Lyrics: Rachel Dean and Wes Braver
- Director: Mayte Natalio
- Supervising Director: Chloe Treat
- Musical Direction: Ian Leroy
- Guest Stage Management: Paige Conway
- Guest Actors: Alexia Sielo & Julian Diaz-Granados
- Dramaturgy: Shayla Gordon & Nora Alami

Dr. Fox and the Impossible Cure for Death
- Book & Music: Benedict Braxton-Smith
- Book & Lyrics: Megan Peterson
- Director: Timothy Koch
- Musical Direction: Sinai Tabak
- Guest Stage Management: Paige Conway
- Guest Actors: Ben Roseberry and Susan O’dea

One Good Day
- Book & Music: Liz Suggs
- Book & Lyrics: Rona Siddiqui
- Director: Kate Wetherhead
- Musical Direction: Brad Gardner
- Guest Stage Management: Nan Luchini
- Guest Actors: Jessica Fontana and Blake Whyte

We Foxes
- Book, Lyrics & Music: Ryan Scott Oliver
- Director: Marshall Pailett
- Music Director: Dave Wendelberger
- Dramaturgy: Matthew Schneider
- Guest Stage Management: Paige Conway
- Guest Actors: Katie Thompson & Wade McCollum

Temple
- Book & Lyrics: Sylvia Peto
- Music: Norman Durkee
- Additional Music: Constantine Kitsopoulus
- Director: Gabriel Barre
- Associate Director: Jennifer Paulson-Lee
- Guest Stage Management: Paige Conway
- Guest Actors: Zillah Glory and Antonia Kitsopoulus

For Tonight
- Book: Whitney Rhodes, Shenelle Williams, and Spencer Williams
- Music & Lyrics: Shenelle Williams
- Director & Choreographer: Joe Barros
- Guest Stage Management: Paige Conway
- Guest Actors: Hannah Elles and Adam Theodore Barry