31 New Musicals, One Inspiring Summer

There’s something special about witnessing the birth of a new musical. Yes, we love the classics—those perennial box office hits that fill theatre seats year after year. But the real pulse of the art form, the thunder in its veins, comes from those brand-new works that dare to experiment with style, narrative, and music in thrilling ways. And according to Shannon Morrison, founder and Artistic Director of the residencies, this year’s cohort of creators represents a kaleidoscope of styles.

These musicals aren’t just tinkering with tried-and-true formulas. They’re pushing the form, blending genres, and reimagining our collective understanding of musical theatre. When Shannon Morrison describes the artistry as “as talented as they are diverse,” she’s not exaggerating. The line-up includes winners of prestigious honours like the Larson Award, Rodgers Award, and Loewe Award, as well as veterans of the Johnny Mercer Grove and O’Neill NMTC participants.

It’s a setting tailor-made for boundary-pushing. Picture a Maine forest with two glistening lakes, miles of nature trails, cosy writing cabins, and even a brand-new recording studio. This is where the creative sparks will fly. One might imagine a writer racing into the studio at odd hours, eager to record a fresh melody, or stepping out onto a lakeside dock to refine a scene by the water’s edge.

What the Writers Gain From the Experience

Scribbling down show-stopping tunes on a cabin porch is one thing, but the 2025 DRAMA CLUB CAMP WRITER RESIDENCIES offer more than just scenic views. The programme is carefully structured to support the demands of musical theatre creation. Each writer enjoys a week of uninterrupted writing time, free from the usual day-to-day distractions. They’ll share in group dinners each evening—a chance to bond, debrief, and trade notes with fellow campers.

Those nightly sharing sessions can be the lifeblood of a show-in-progress. Having a supportive circle of peers lend an ear—and occasionally a spare chord progression—can turn a half-formed concept into a layered, fully-fledged musical number. And that, my friends, is the sort of communal synergy that nurtures emerging voices. If your dream is to see a new wave of musicals on the boards, well, this is precisely where they start.

Scott Ihrig, co-founder and executive producer, points out that the interest has been so overwhelming, the camp has expanded by 40%. That’s no small feat. Balancing capacity, resources, and the desire to keep things intimate is tough, but the team at Drama Club Productions has found a way to create two more cohorts so more creatives can reap the benefits. Perhaps it’s the free lodging, the community environment, or the promise of chef-made meals—whatever the reason, the demand is off the charts. Add to that the chance to record demos on-site, and you’ve got a blueprint for a workshop paradise.

Digging into the Numbers

We theatre fans often talk about representation—whose stories are told and who’s telling them. Here’s a taste of where the 2025 campers stand:

• 52% identify as female or non-binary
• 62% identify as LGBTQIA+
• 31% are people of colour

In an industry that’s constantly striving to address issues of inclusion, these figures show how the residencies are walking the walk. Shannon Morrison herself describes it as “astonishing” how many compelling voices have emerged for this second year of writer residencies. With these numbers, it’s clear that theatre is making strides towards embracing varied perspectives—and it looks as though the next generation of musicals will better reflect the breadth of human experience.

A Roll Call of Rising Talent

We usually see starry marquee names once a production hits a major stage. But here’s your chance to spot who might be lighting up West End or Broadway rosters in the next few years. The list reads like a who’s who of promising creators: Amara Brady and Xander Browne, Sami Horneff and Amanda D’Archangelis, Gaurav Mishra, Kim Kilby, Luke McLemore, S. Todd Townsend, Sam Salmond and Jeremy King, Josh Ben-Ami, Morgan Smart, Alex Higgin-Houser and Daniel Gibson, and dozens more.

It’s a testament to the camp’s inclusive ethos that these storytellers come from such diverse corners of the musical theatre universe. Some are educators, some are dedicated composers, others are playwrights stepping into musical territory for the first time. The synergy of so many backgrounds has the potential to spark innovation in the entire field. Imagine a lullaby penned by a writer who has scored modern pop songs, or a comedic patter number dreamt up by a poet who’s only just discovered the world of show tunes. Magic can, and likely will, happen.

Beyond the Obvious

We all know that musicals are by nature collaborative. But what if the collaboration extended beyond composers and lyricists, bridging entire fields of expertise? One of the lesser-known facts about this year’s residencies is that they include not just established musical theatre creatives but also “leading academics.” That detail, tucked into Shannon Morrison’s statement, hints at a cross-pollination of scholarly thinking and theatrical invention.

Consider what might unfold if a cultural historian, for instance, lent perspective to a new work about societal change, or if a linguistics expert helped shape the show’s language to mirror historical dialects. The blend of academic rigour with musical flair could yield unexpectedly fresh results. It’s a rare chance for advanced research to feed directly into the creative process—something that might otherwise happen only in a more formal workshop setting or after a show has already taken shape.

How You Can Stay in the Loop

Even if Maine’s a bit too far for your next holiday, fear not: the highlights of the 2025 DRAMA CLUB CAMP WRITER RESIDENCIES won’t remain hidden in the woods. The team frequently updates their website, DramaClubProductions.com, with progress reports, interviews, and sometimes sneak peeks of demos. And keep your ears open—these new shows might appear in your regional theatres or touring circuits within the next year or two. Given the success of last season’s musicals, there’s a growing appetite among producers to invest in the future of theatrical storytelling.

Why it Matters for the Wider Theatre Scene

New musicals aren’t just about entertaining an audience for a couple of hours (as marvellous as that is). They’re also about capturing the zeitgeist—echoing our anxieties, our hopes, and the shifting cultural dialogues of the moment. When the 2025 residencies amplify voices that might otherwise struggle to be heard, they’re giving us a glimpse of tomorrow’s stage. Traditional musicals will always hold a dear place in our hearts, but the form itself evolves through constant renewal. Fresh narratives, adventurous scores, and unexpected points of view keep our beloved theatrical world alive and kicking.

We’ve seen it happen before: a small workshop or residency births a show that becomes a cultural landmark. Think of the many hits that started off with just a piano and a dream. The next wave might just be incubating in a lakeside cabin right now, possibly over the clatter of coffee cups and pencils.

The Thrill of What Comes Next

The 2025 DRAMA CLUB CAMP WRITER RESIDENCIES feel like a giant leap forward for musical theatre, with an unusually large cohort, an even bigger capacity for dreamers, and a real emphasis on inclusion. If you’re anything like me, you’re already wondering which of these new musicals might soon be lighting up a marquee. I’ll admit, there’s a childlike glee in realising that some of these works-in-progress could become the next unstoppable phenomenon.

It’s a buoyant reminder that our theatre community is vibrant, resourceful, and ever-evolving. People from all backgrounds are composing, writing, and choreographing the kinds of shows they want to see onstage. The result is a tapestry of stories as varied and colourful as the audiences who’ll eventually fill the seats.

And so, as we stand on the cusp of summer, with these 31 new musicals about to be born, it’s hard not to feel a rush of hope. In a few months, we’ll have more reason than ever to celebrate the unstoppable spirit of live performance.

So here’s to the next big thing, and the brilliant minds at Camp who are busy putting pen to paper. May they craft lyrics that linger in our memory, tunes that refuse to let us go, and stories that remind us why we fell in love with theatre in the first place. One thing is certain: if this year’s residencies are any indication, the future of musical theatre is looking more exciting—and more diverse—than ever. And that’s a curtain call worth cheering.