World Builders

An incubator for theatrical projects

World Builders is a workshop and development initiative from Made Up World Productions. An incubator for theatrical projects, World Builders will create a breeding ground for ground-breaking new work. In collaboration with our curated partners, World Builders will reshape the development pipeline and shake up the expensive and often slow world of new work development while establishing a fresh, collaborative, and cross-market creative environment.

How it works

Each cycle, World Builders will choose a theatrical piece to develop and send through the Pipeline.

The Pipeline consists of three distinct development phases and partners:

Step One: University

Step Two: Regional Theatre

Step Three: Off-Broadway Theatre

Each of these phases will consist of either a workshop or a production, all leading towards eventual licensing and/or a New York City production.

Cycle one partners are: Webster University, The Rep of St. Louis, and Out of the Box Theatrics

Selected Shows will receive:

  • Dedicated support from producers at Made Up World Productions for the entirety of show's journey through the pipeline 

  • Creative Mentorship from Andrew Lippa, Matt Webster, and the World Builders Partners

  • A workshop or production at every partner theatre/organization 

  • Creative Team support 

  • Travel, lodging, and per diem for all work done outside of the writer's/writing team's city of residence 

  • An Artist Stipend for every writer on the team

The submission window is now open. All materials must be submitted by 11:59pm EST on July 15th, through the official application.

Applications are by invitation only. Please submit a brief summary of your show and/or deck to be considered to apply:

Submit for Consideration

Please read the eligibility and show requirements carefully. Due to the high volume of inquiries and applications, we are unable to respond to every submission. Thank you for your understanding!

Writer Eligibility Requirements

  • Writers must be 18 years or older to submit.

  • Writers may only submit one project per cycle.

  • Writers may submit as a writing team, but must only complete one application. 

  • Writers must be fluent in English.

  • Writers must live and be able to work in the United States.

Show Requirements 

  • Shows must be a musical.

  • Shows must be complete at the time of submission. This can be a first draft or a fifth draft, but the entire show must be on the page. 

  • Shows must be fully original, or have proper documentation showing the authorized use of adapted materials. 

  • Shows must contain original music and lyrics. No jukebox musicals, please. 

  • Shows must be full length (90-120 mins). No one acts. 

  • Shows must feature youth-centric stories. (Think Mean Girls, Outsiders, West Side Story, Heathers, etc.)

  • Shows must be accessible to English-speaking readers. 

  • Shows must not have had a professional production, or be licensed or optioned to have a professional production, prior to Jan. 1, 2027. If your piece had a reading, staged reading, or workshop, we do not consider that a “professional production.” However, you are required to share the play’s full development history on your application, which includes any previous readings, staged readings, or workshops. 

  • Shows must only submit to one partner organization. When applying, please select the organization that invited you in the dropdown menu.