Mission & Values
Mission
The New Music Theatre Project invests in developing work that explores the traditional and innovative ways in which music and theatre play together. We focus on commissioning and co-producing new music and theatre works based off of completely original ideas, and workshopping them through an intensive development process.
NMTP was founded in 2011, and crystalized its focus during the pandemic. Composer and performer Chris Dieman was named Artistic Director in 2020 and has since ushered in a new era for the company. When faced with the existential difficulties of creating theatre amidst closures and social isolation, Dieman and our artists found themselves revisiting the roots of their work and tapping back into the essence of the art-forms. Where larger-scale, design-focused work wasn’t possible, more intimate, content-driven chamber pieces could thrive.
NMTP’s core programs include the commissioning and development of new works of music and theatre, including but not limited to musical theatre, opera, instrumental ensembles, and plays featuring music. We consider ourselves a boutique company, customizing the development process according to the needs of each creator. We do not seek to self-produce our own work, but rather put our resources towards developing a piece of work thoroughly. We use our reputation in the industry to find partners for productions, ensuring the projects and artists we support succeed past their time in development with us.
Ethical Values
We believe that American music and theatre are about inclusion and equality. These art forms need to bring us together, lift us up and help us see each other and appreciate each other in profound ways. This is often not at all the case. NMTP is determined, through its artistic practice, to change that.
Because we are a commissioning organization, inclusion is not just the end goal: it is the process. In our rehearsal rooms, our theatres, our concert halls, our meetings and perhaps most importantly, in the work itself, we commit to a diversity of voices, equality amongst all, and profound and serious inclusion of all races, genders, sexual orientations and backgrounds.
In addition, we want our artists, our staff, our board of directors and our audiences to feel safe. Safety in both the artistic room/arena, but also in their own lives is paramount to a healthy artistic ecosystem. Our colleagues and peers need to be supported no matter where they are, physically, emotionally and artistically. Our ears, eyes and hearts are open to anyone in our community who needs a safe space.
If all of these commitments are honored, it contributes to a safe, equal and nourished artistic community, cultural space and a better society. After all, what are we here to do other than contribute to and grow the cultural and social fabric of our world?
Instead of an endless stream of words, we prefer to demonstrate our commitment in our actions over the course of our organization’s history.
Our numbers speak for themselves.
In the company’s history:
60% of all commissions were written by female-identifying composers/writers
67% of all commissions were written by composers/writers who identified as people of color
From here, we commit to continual inclusivity in our programming as we spread our mission far and wide.