• S5E8 Challenge Winners: ELAINA STUPPLER with Guest Host AMANDA FREEDMAN
    Apr 7 2026

    🎭 Welcome to NEW@NAMT: The Next Wave of Musical Theatre Writers!

    This season, we’re thrilled to bring you NEW@NAMT Season 5, featuring the talented winners of the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students presented by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), in partnership with the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT), Concord Theatricals, Disney Theatrical Productions, the NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation and the Biller Family Foundation.

    Each episode takes you inside the creative process with these inspiring young songwriters as they share their original songs, stories, and experiences from Winners Weekend in New York City, where their work was fully orchestrated and performed live by Broadway professionals.


    Join host Jean-Paul Yovanoff from Musical Theatre Radio, alongside a rotating cast of Songwriting Challenge Program Mentors, Orchestrators and Artists as guest co-hosts. Together, they guide conversations with these emerging voices, providing insight into the future of musical theatre.


    🎶 In this episode, we chat with Elaina Stuppler about her song “Second Chances”. Alongside co-host and NAMT Program Assistant, Amanda Freedman, Elaina shares about the real-life person that inspired her song, working with professionals over Winners Weekend, and offers advice for current participants of the Musical Theatre Songwriting Challenge for High School Students.


    Whether you're a producer, a theatre lover, or simply curious about the next generation of musical theatre creators, NEW@NAMT gives you a front-row seat to the future of musical theatre.


    It’s time to lower the lights, raise the curtain, and LX1 Go! 🎭


    Follow NAMT: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/namtpics⁠⁠

    Follow Musical Theatre Radio: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/musicaltheatreradio/⁠⁠

    More about NAMT: ⁠⁠https://namt.org/⁠⁠

    More about Musical Theatre Radio: ⁠⁠https://www.musicaltheatreradio.com/⁠⁠


    For more information on the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge, visit ⁠⁠https://namt.org/challenge/⁠⁠

    Watch Challenge Accepted! Featuring the Winning Songs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/sgVucNmcEnQ?si=XYWEpexOwqhHwjjZ⁠⁠ ⁠

    Watch “Fall” from the Winning Concert: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeX-qsy_2lU&t=27s

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    18 mins
  • S5E8 Challenge Winners: SYDNEY GRAY with Guest Host JAIME LOZANO
    Apr 7 2026

    🎭 Welcome to NEW@NAMT: The Next Wave of Musical Theatre Writers!

    This season, we’re thrilled to bring you NEW@NAMT Season 5, featuring the talented winners of the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students presented by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), in partnership with the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT), Concord Theatricals, Disney Theatrical Productions, the NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation and the Biller Family Foundation.

    Each episode takes you inside the creative process with these inspiring young songwriters as they share their original songs, stories, and experiences from Winners Weekend in New York City, where their work was fully orchestrated and performed live by Broadway professionals.


    Join host Jean-Paul Yovanoff from Musical Theatre Radio, alongside a rotating cast of Songwriting Challenge Program Mentors, Orchestrators and Artists as guest co-hosts. Together, they guide conversations with these emerging voices, providing insight into the future of musical theatre.


    🎶 In the final episode of this season, we talk to Sydney Gray a two-time winner of the Songwriting Challenge, about her song “Fall” from her musical Anavaly. Alongside co-host Jaime Lozano, Sydney shares how she approached Winners Weekend a second time around, how she interprets feedback, and offers advice for current participants of the Musical Theatre Songwriting Challenge for High School Students.


    Whether you're a producer, a theatre lover, or simply curious about the next generation of musical theatre creators, NEW@NAMT gives you a front-row seat to the future of musical theatre.


    It’s time to lower the lights, raise the curtain, and LX1 Go! 🎭


    Follow NAMT: ⁠https://linktr.ee/namtpics⁠

    Follow Musical Theatre Radio: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/musicaltheatreradio/⁠

    More about NAMT: ⁠https://namt.org/⁠

    More about Musical Theatre Radio: ⁠https://www.musicaltheatreradio.com/⁠


    For more information on the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge, visit ⁠https://namt.org/challenge/⁠

    Watch Challenge Accepted! Featuring the Winning Songs: ⁠https://youtu.be/sgVucNmcEnQ?si=XYWEpexOwqhHwjjZ

    Watch “Fall” from the Winning Concert: https://youtu.be/Fm7KWdrliug?si=WZ81Sx1v2gUyAQ4d

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    21 mins
  • S5E6 Challenge Winners: JUDAH BROWN with Guest Host TERESA LOTZ
    Mar 31 2026

    🎭 Welcome to NEW@NAMT: The Next Wave of Musical Theatre Writers!

    This season, we’re thrilled to bring you NEW@NAMT Season 5, featuring the talented winners of the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students presented by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), in partnership with the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT), Concord Theatricals, Disney Theatrical Productions, the NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation and the Biller Family Foundation.

    Each episode takes you inside the creative process with these inspiring young songwriters as they share their original songs, stories, and experiences from Winners Weekend in New York City, where their work was fully orchestrated and performed live by Broadway professionals.


    Join host Jean-Paul Yovanoff from Musical Theatre Radio, alongside a rotating cast of Songwriting Challenge Program Mentors, Orchestrators and Artists as guest co-hosts. Together, they guide conversations with these emerging voices, providing insight into the future of musical theatre.


    🎶 In this episode, we are joined by Judah Brown about his song “Fool” from his musical Feathered. Alongside, co-host Teresa Lotz, Judah discusses collaborating with Teresa to create orchestrations, connecting with other young musical theatre writers, and what it feels like to be "in the room where it happens".


    Whether you're a producer, a theatre lover, or simply curious about the next generation of musical theatre creators, NEW@NAMT gives you a front-row seat to the future of musical theatre.


    It’s time to lower the lights, raise the curtain, and LX1 Go! 🎭


    Follow NAMT: ⁠https://linktr.ee/namtpics⁠

    Follow Musical Theatre Radio: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/musicaltheatreradio/⁠

    More about NAMT: ⁠https://namt.org/⁠

    More about Musical Theatre Radio: ⁠https://www.musicaltheatreradio.com/⁠


    For more information on the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge, visit ⁠https://namt.org/challenge/⁠

    Watch Challenge Accepted! Featuring the Winning Songs: ⁠https://youtu.be/sgVucNmcEnQ?si=XYWEpexOwqhHwjjZ

    Watch “Fool” from the Winning Concert: https://youtu.be/JmNyMCg-qIQ?si=s0eCgr5FvyWgnFcI

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    17 mins
  • S5E5 Challenge Winners: ALI LEWIS with Guest Host FLORENCIA CUENCA
    Mar 31 2026

    🎭 Welcome to NEW@NAMT: The Next Wave of Musical Theatre Writers!

    This season, we’re thrilled to bring you NEW@NAMT Season 5, featuring the talented winners of the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students presented by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), in partnership with the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT), Concord Theatricals, Disney Theatrical Productions, the NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation and the Biller Family Foundation.

    Each episode takes you inside the creative process with these inspiring young songwriters as they share their original songs, stories, and experiences from Winners Weekend in New York City, where their work was fully orchestrated and performed live by Broadway professionals.


    Join host Jean-Paul Yovanoff from Musical Theatre Radio, alongside a rotating cast of Songwriting Challenge Program Mentors, Orchestrators and Artists as guest co-hosts. Together, they guide conversations with these emerging voices, providing insight into the future of musical theatre.


    🎶 In this episode, we talk to Ali Lewis about her song “Why Not?” from her musical The Lost and Found and collaborating with co-host Florencia Cuenca. Ali shares what it was like to visit New York City for the first time, working with Florencia as the performer for her winning song, and the importance of experimenting in her writing process.


    Whether you're a producer, a theatre lover, or simply curious about the next generation of musical theatre creators, NEW@NAMT gives you a front-row seat to the future of musical theatre.


    It’s time to lower the lights, raise the curtain, and LX1 Go! 🎭


    Follow NAMT: ⁠https://linktr.ee/namtpics⁠

    Follow Musical Theatre Radio: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/musicaltheatreradio/⁠

    More about NAMT: ⁠https://namt.org/⁠

    More about Musical Theatre Radio: ⁠https://www.musicaltheatreradio.com/⁠


    For more information on the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge, visit ⁠https://namt.org/challenge/⁠

    Watch Challenge Accepted! Featuring the Winning Songs: ⁠https://youtu.be/sgVucNmcEnQ?si=XYWEpexOwqhHwjjZ

    Watch "Why Not?" from the Winning Concert: https://youtu.be/EOshZd7Sg8I?si=cIm-bNhZRH9I2ECd

    Show more Show less
    16 mins
  • S5E4 Challenge Winners: KARSTEN WALLACE with Guest Host TIMOTHY HUANG
    Mar 24 2026

    🎭 Welcome to NEW@NAMT: The Next Wave of Musical Theatre Writers!

    This season, we’re thrilled to bring you NEW@NAMT Season 5, featuring the talented winners of the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students presented by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), in partnership with the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT), Concord Theatricals, Disney Theatrical Productions, the NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation and the Biller Family Foundation.

    Each episode takes you inside the creative process with these inspiring young songwriters as they share their original songs, stories, and experiences from Winners Weekend in New York City, where their work was fully orchestrated and performed live by Broadway professionals.


    Join host Jean-Paul Yovanoff from Musical Theatre Radio, alongside a rotating cast of Songwriting Challenge Program Mentors, Orchestrators and Artists as guest co-hosts. Together, they guide conversations with these emerging voices, providing insight into the future of musical theatre.


    🎶 In this episode, we are joined by Karsten Wallace to hear more about his song “Hello World”. Alongside co-host Timothy Huang, Karsten shares how his songwriting blends technology and contemporary musical theatre, his favorite moments from Winners Weekend and how he values feedback in his writing process.


    Whether you're a producer, a theatre lover, or simply curious about the next generation of musical theatre creators, NEW@NAMT gives you a front-row seat to the future of musical theatre.


    It’s time to lower the lights, raise the curtain, and LX1 Go! 🎭


    Follow NAMT: ⁠https://linktr.ee/namtpics⁠

    Follow Musical Theatre Radio: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/musicaltheatreradio/⁠

    More about NAMT: ⁠https://namt.org/⁠

    More about Musical Theatre Radio: ⁠https://www.musicaltheatreradio.com/⁠


    For more information on the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge, visit ⁠https://namt.org/challenge/⁠

    Watch Challenge Accepted! Featuring the Winning Songs: ⁠https://youtu.be/sgVucNmcEnQ?si=XYWEpexOwqhHwjjZ


    Watch “Hello World” from the Winning Concert: https://youtu.be/gbfaRUeCx0k?si=3yB8yOgjIMfJcxW4

    Show more Show less
    15 mins
  • S5E3 Challenge Winners: LEELA KUMAR with Guest Host ANDREA DALY
    Mar 24 2026

    🎭 Welcome to NEW@NAMT: The Next Wave of Musical Theatre Writers!

    This season, we’re thrilled to bring you NEW@NAMT Season 5, featuring the talented winners of the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students presented by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), in partnership with the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT), Concord Theatricals, Disney Theatrical Productions, the NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation and the Biller Family Foundation.

    Each episode takes you inside the creative process with these inspiring young songwriters as they share their original songs, stories, and experiences from Winners Weekend in New York City, where their work was fully orchestrated and performed live by Broadway professionals.


    Join host Jean-Paul Yovanoff from Musical Theatre Radio, alongside a rotating cast of Songwriting Challenge Program Mentors, Orchestrators and Artists as guest co-hosts. Together, they guide conversations with these emerging voices, providing insight into the future of musical theatre.


    🎶 In this episode, we talk to Leela Kumar about her song “Dancing Through A Dream” from her musical of the same name. Alongside co-host Andrea Daly, Leela discusses her writing process, collaborating with other young musical theatre writers, and what it felt like to hear her song live for the first time during Winners Weekend.


    Whether you're a producer, a theatre lover, or simply curious about the next generation of musical theatre creators, NEW@NAMT gives you a front-row seat to the future of musical theatre.


    It’s time to lower the lights, raise the curtain, and LX1 Go! 🎭


    Follow NAMT: ⁠https://linktr.ee/namtpics⁠

    Follow Musical Theatre Radio: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/musicaltheatreradio/⁠

    More about NAMT: ⁠https://namt.org/⁠

    More about Musical Theatre Radio: ⁠https://www.musicaltheatreradio.com/⁠


    For more information on the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge, visit ⁠https://namt.org/challenge/⁠

    Watch Challenge Accepted! Featuring the Winning Songs: ⁠https://youtu.be/sgVucNmcEnQ?si=XYWEpexOwqhHwjjZ


    Watch “Dancing Through A Dream” from the Winning Concert: https://youtu.be/zed3S31e2uc?si=MSJ2hF9663debSFR

    Show more Show less
    21 mins
  • S5E2 Challenge Winners: SADIE SHAPIRO with Guest Host FAYE CHIAO
    Mar 17 2026

    🎭 Welcome to NEW@NAMT: The Next Wave of Musical Theatre Writers!

    This season, we’re thrilled to bring you NEW@NAMT Season 5, featuring the talented winners of the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students presented by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), in partnership with the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT), Concord Theatricals, Disney Theatrical Productions, the NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation and the Biller Family Foundation.

    Each episode takes you inside the creative process with these inspiring young songwriters as they share their original songs, stories, and experiences from Winners Weekend in New York City, where their work was fully orchestrated and performed live by Broadway professionals.


    Join host Jean-Paul Yovanoff from Musical Theatre Radio, alongside a rotating cast of Songwriting Challenge Program Mentors, Orchestrators and Artists as guest co-hosts. Together, they guide conversations with these emerging voices, providing insight into the future of musical theatre.


    🎶 In this episode, we are joined by Sadie Shapiro to hear more about her song “The Way Iamb”. Alongside co-host Faye Chiao, Sadie dives into the process of writing her winning song, her personal monthly songwriting challenge, and what she learned from bringing her song to life at Winners Weekend.


    Whether you're a producer, a theatre lover, or simply curious about the next generation of musical theatre creators, NEW@NAMT gives you a front-row seat to the future of musical theatre.


    It’s time to lower the lights, raise the curtain, and LX1 Go! 🎭


    Follow NAMT: ⁠https://linktr.ee/namtpics⁠

    Follow Musical Theatre Radio: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/musicaltheatreradio/⁠

    More about NAMT: ⁠https://namt.org/⁠

    More about Musical Theatre Radio: ⁠https://www.musicaltheatreradio.com/⁠


    For more information on the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge, visit ⁠https://namt.org/challenge/⁠

    Watch Challenge Accepted! Featuring the Winning Songs: ⁠https://youtu.be/sgVucNmcEnQ?si=XYWEpexOwqhHwjjZ

    Watch “The Way Iamb” from the Winning Concert: https://youtu.be/N4Lo9Sze38Q?si=jlZ9TAklwkE-rxf5

    Show more Show less
    17 mins
  • S5E1 Challenge Winners: GWEN DOERFLER with Guest Host DYLAN GLATTHORN
    Mar 17 2026

    🎭 Welcome to NEW@NAMT: The Next Wave of Musical Theatre Writers!

    This season, we’re thrilled to bring you NEW@NAMT Season 5, featuring the talented winners of the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students presented by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), in partnership with the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT), Concord Theatricals, Disney Theatrical Productions, the NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation and the Biller Family Foundation.

    Each episode takes you inside the creative process with these inspiring young songwriters as they share their original songs, stories, and experiences from Winners Weekend in New York City, where their work was fully orchestrated and performed live by Broadway professionals.


    Join host Jean-Paul Yovanoff from Musical Theatre Radio, alongside a rotating cast of Songwriting Challenge Program Mentors, Orchestrators and Artists as guest co-hosts. Together, they guide conversations with these emerging voices, providing insight into the future of musical theatre.


    🎶 In our first episode of this Season, we talk to Gwen Doerfler, a two-time winner of the Songwriting Challenge, about her song “Older” from her musical 25. Alongside co-host Dylan Glatthorn, Gwen reflects on the inspiration behind her winning song, her experience collaborating with mentors and performers during Winners Weekend and offers advice for current participants of the Musical Theatre Songwriting Challenge for High School Students.



    Whether you're a producer, a theatre lover, or simply curious about the next generation of musical theatre creators, NEW@NAMT gives you a front-row seat to the future of musical theatre.


    It’s time to lower the lights, raise the curtain, and LX1 Go! 🎭


    Follow NAMT: ⁠https://linktr.ee/namtpics⁠

    Follow Musical Theatre Radio: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/musicaltheatreradio/⁠

    More about NAMT: ⁠https://namt.org/⁠

    More about Musical Theatre Radio: ⁠https://www.musicaltheatreradio.com/⁠


    For more information on the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge, visit ⁠https://namt.org/challenge/⁠

    Watch Challenge Accepted! Featuring the Winning Songs: ⁠https://youtu.be/sgVucNmcEnQ?si=XYWEpexOwqhHwjjZ


    Watch “Older” from the Winning Concert: ⁠https://youtu.be/8orf2ly1DZw?si=FbvE8vIqe9UvdrFM

    Show more Show less
    16 mins