YOUNG ARTIST COLLECTIVE
A NEW MUSICAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
PRESENTED BY
Blindspot Collective, a theatre company in San Diego dedicated to radically inclusive new work and diverse emerging artists, seeks original, new musicals to be produced in Summer 2025 in conjunction with UCSD Art Power and our Young Artist Collective.
This project aims to expand the musical theatre canon by supporting the development of musicals that uplift historically excluded or marginalized voices and communities. Specifically, this program wishes to support the production of musicals that meet the needs of contemporary high school and collegiate programs by exploring meaningful themes, flexible casting, age-appropriate characters, and strong ensemble involvement. One musical will be selected to be presented by the Young Artist Collective, an ensemble of young performers ages 15-25 that provides hands-on professional experience to emerging artists. In 2024, Blindspot piloted this program produced Chasing Fear with music by composer Truth Future Bachman at UCSD’s Epstein Amphitheatre.
Because Blindspot Collective is committed to inclusivity and authentic representation, members of historically excluded or marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply. These communities include but are not limited to: people of color, women, individuals with disabilities, immigrants, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
TIMELINE
Complete applications must be submitted by 6pm on Sunday, February 8, 2025.
Select applicants will be asked to submit additional materials including sheet music and a draft of the script or libretto by February 21st.
Interviews with all finalists will be scheduled in March so that a final selection may be announced by April 2025.
Because each show and writing team will have specific skills and challenges, additional developmental support will be determined based on the needs of the selected project. Additional readings, script development, and orchestration support may be available based on the unique collaboration that emerges.
"This project allowed me to perfom on a stage and for the public in a way I have never done before! It helped me with my confidence as a perfomer and made me feel like I could thrive in any similar project."
- Sarah Kaplan,
previous participant
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Blindspot Collective seeks new full-length musical submissions that meet the following criteria:
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Has not been professionally produced
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Must include a large, engaged ensemble
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The majority of characters should be between the ages of 15 and 25
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Flexible casting that allows for some variation of ethnicity and gender (where feasible) as well as key adjustments as needed to support trans or non-binary performers
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Must be an original story and music or have copyright clearances secured
In addition to the criteria above we recommend the following:
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Subject matter should be PG or PG-13 (e.g. some cursing and mature themes are acceptable but there should be no nudity or excessive profanity)
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Themes and technical requirements should be approachable and feasible within the budgets of typical academic programs
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Narratives and characters that challenge expectations or exist outside dominant culture will be favored
HOW TO APPLY
All applications should be submitted to submissions@blindspotcollective.org in PDF format. Please view our submission guide below to assist you.
To apply for this opportunity, please provide the following:
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A cover page with your name, phone number, and email address
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A resume (please include a resume for each artist if submitting as a writing team)
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Demo or scratch recordings of 3 songs
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A synopsis or plot summary that is no more than 2 pages
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A character breakdown
Please note: you will not be assessed based on the quality of the song recordings. We encourage you to keep it simple. A recording of the composer singing while playing piano that was captured with a phone is absolutely acceptable.
Should you have any questions or require assistance of any kind,
please email us at submissions@blindspotcollective.org.