Festival of New American Musical Theater Foundation

Programs

1. FNAM Pathway is the nations first in-curriculum musical theater writing class with special emphasis on serving high school and middle school students in underserved areas. Numerous studies show a strong positive correlation between student participation in music or drama activities and increased academic achievement reading and math skills attendance and higher SAT scores. 60% of LAUSD 11th graders who participated in the Pathway program passed the standardized SBAC test as college ready versus the 40% average of non-Pathway students!--Number of persons benefited: Since the pilot Pathway has served more than 1,200 students with its standards-aligned curriculum. 87 students participated in the 2024 writing program and 647 participants viewed the session-ending showcase. $15,800 in grants helped cover teaching costs educational materials and the costs of producing the end-of-term showcase performance.

   $23,970 spentof which $15,800 as grants
   51% of program spending

2. ShowSearch is FNAMs 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 by professional judges. 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 theater professional for a month-long intensive mentorship. The mentored short musicals have a staged reading cast produced and directed by top Los Angeles musical theatre professionals. All ShowSearch winners receive cash awards.In addition to the $5,000 grant received in 2024 from Wells Fargo some grant money received in 2023 was used to fund the 2024 competition and performance. Number of persons benefited: 36 creators; 12 actors & musicians; 196 attendees

   $20,326 spentof which $5,000 as grants
   43% of program spending

3. FNAMs Musi-Cal showcases Southern California musical theater writers works-in-progress presented in a cabaret setting and gives theatergoers the opportunity to see and react to works-in-progress by emerging composers and writers.The Foundations consistently popular Musi-Cal is a way for contemporary audiences to engage with works before they are produced. Musi-Cal offers creators of all-original musicals encouragement expert advice promotion and a public showcase of their work.In a few short years Musi-Cal has featured more than 115 musicals-in-progress and two of the works presented at Musi-Cal were produced Off-Broadway.--Number of persons benefited in 2024: 22 creators; 54 actors & musicians; 362 attendees. Except for a $100 contribution from an individual the cost of producing all Musi-Cal-Cal events was covered by ticket sales for the events.

   $2,932 spentof which $100 as grants
   6% of program spending

The 3 programs described on its FY2024 Form 990-EZ. Program spending in total: $47,228.