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We look forward to welcoming all of the great new musicals to Chicago in 2023! 



Due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, the 2022 Chicago Musical Theatre Festival has been postponed. Please keep an eye on our website and social channels for an announcement about plans for the 2023 Festival coming soon.

What CMTF Is All About

The Chicago Musical Theatre Festival, now in its sixth year, is a new works festival produced by Underscore Theatre Company. We believe there's a wealth of musical theatre creators in Chicago and around the country, but the high risks of producing new musicals means that few companies are willing to take a chance, especially with emerging authors. CMTF is designed from the ground up to keep costs low by sharing resources, to return half of all ticket proceeds to producers, and to showcase emerging authors from Chicago and beyond.

The Festival will take place at the Edge Theatre's Broadway and Off-Broadway theatre spaces in Edgewater (5451 N Broadway)

Underscore Theatre strives to create an audition experience that is mindful, respectful, and fair. We strongly encourage performers of all voice types, gender identities, abilities, ethnicities, ages, and communities to audition, because musical theatre is for everyone. We are proud to uphold the Chicago Theatre Standards. For any questions about Underscore Theatre’s casting processes, policies, or practices, please contact casting@underscoretheatre.org.

2018's festival by the numbers

A whole lot of musical theatre

9

BRAND NEW
MUSICALS

34

JAW-DROPPING 
PERFORMANCES

21

STRAIGHT DAYS
OF SHOWS

2k

AUDIENCE MEMBERS
IN ATTENDANCE

81%

OF ALL AVAILABLE SEATS OCCUPIED
The Shows
Sponsors and Partners
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