WOS Sponsors Fringe Musical Theatre Awards

The Awards, run by the professional theatre network organisation Musical Theatre Matters, were established in 2007 to champion the next generation of musical theatre producers, writers and shows. While musical theatre is not excluded from many other Edinburgh awards, the artform did not seem to be achieving the plaudits deserved by the creatives. In the first two years, 11 shows were selected for commendations and awards, and many of those pieces have moved on – six have had presentations in London, one is heading to the New York Summer Play Festival, and three have had UK tours.

The MTM: UK Awards comprise five key prizes: Best New Musical, Best Musical Production, Best Book, Best Music and Best Lyrics. From this year’s Fringe programme, a total of 54 musicals have been deemed eligible for one or more awards this year. During the first two weeks of the festival, each show will be visited twice by a team of assessors. In the week after the shortlists are announced on 18 August, the panel of judges – including Whatsonstage.com editorial director Terri Paddock – will pay each show a final visit before making their decision.

The winners will be announced, and awards presented, on Tuesday 25 August 2009, at a gala concert, held in aid of Musicians Benevolent Fund at the Musical Theatre at George Square in Edinburgh. Whatsonstage.com’s Terri Paddock, who will also be presenting at the MTM: UK Awards ceremony, said: “We’ve long been fans of the work that Musical Theatre Matters does year-round in fostering the careers of up-and-coming musical theatre practitioners. And we were especially keen to get more involved in their exciting activities at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe. We are delighted to come on board as a sponsor.”

Chris Grady, founding chair of Musical Theatre Matters, said: “I was delighted to have an impromptu meeting with Whatsonstage.com and find that we seemed to have a perfect fit. Whatsonstage.com wanted to draw even more of their customer base into participation of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and we at MTM:UK wanted to find the best way to champion our third year of the Musical Theatre awards, which are about uncovering the next generation of writers, producers, and theatre companies who may play in major theatres across the UK in years to come. What better then to have Whatsonstage.com as a sponsor of the 2009 Awards and for Terri Paddock to join our independent judging panel?”

In addition to the MTM: UK Awards, Whatsonstage.com has signed up to help promote a free cabaret series at the Musical Theatre @ George Square, running nightly at 10pm throughout the festival, and a late-night University Challenge-style musical theatre quiz, for which readers of Whatsonstage.com will be invited to help generate the questions that will get the student-contestants reaching for their buzzers.

Chris Grady added: “Come and join the fun in Edinburgh this summer, check in with the blogs, spread the word to friends and colleagues by twitter or good old word of mouth, and be ahead of the game in looking into the Musical Theatre future.”

For full details about the MTM:UK Awards, including eligibility criteria and the full list of shows being assessed for consideration in 2009, visit the Musical Theatre Matters website.

---

For full coverage of Edinburgh 2009, including news, gossip, reviews, blogs,
features & video – plus a chance to WIN a trip to the Fringe!! – visit
Whatsonstage.com/Edinburgh2009