North Shore Music Theatre

About NSMT

North Shore Music Theatre is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to celebrate, perpetuate and invigorate the art of musical theater. We create innovative interpretations of classic and contemporary works, we develop new musicals in collaboration with established and emerging writers and composers, and we provide dynamic and intensive theater training programs for learners of all ages.

OVERVIEW OF THE ORGANIZATION

The award-winning, year-round North Shore Music Theatre is creating some of the most vibrant classic, contemporary and new musical theater in the country. As one of the largest non-profit professional theaters in New England, NSMT annually produces a six musical subscription series, an original musical production of A Christmas Carol and an acclaimed concert series designed to develop new audiences. With our renowned Theater for Young Audiences program, an in-school touring program, and year-round classes for children, NSMT has become the region's leading provider of theater arts and education programs.

NSMT is one of the most attended theaters in the U.S. with an audience of 350,000 for our musicals and a total of 355,438 patrons in 2004. Our loyal subscription audience of 20,000 is one of the largest in New England and among the top ten in the country. NSMT is recognized by The Boston Business Journal as the 2nd largest performing arts organization in the state. NSMT's Academy of Music Theater reaches nearly 100,000 children annually through activities in our studios, on our stage and in the community, and 25% of our patrons are under the age of 18.

Academy of Music Theater

NSMT has offered theater arts and education programs since 1960, introducing over 2 million children to the performing arts. NSMT's Theater for Young Audiences (TYA) is designed to meet the K-12 curriculum needs of area schools. We produce Teacher Guides to accompany all TYA productions in accordance with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. NSMT expanded its programs in 2002 to help schools fill the arts void left by funding cutbacks by bringing productions directly to students in their schools through the Touring Program. Reduced price and free tickets are available to schools and groups attending all Academy and main stage performances, and scholarships are available to students for all workshops.

New Musical Development

NSMT knows the creative energy that attracts artists, audiences and staff to our musical theater can only be attained by encouraging and seriously supporting the commissioning and development of new musicals for tomorrow's audience. NSMT partners with other nationally-recognized theaters and new works initiatives throughout the country to discover and develop the talents of new composers, lyricists and playwrights.

Over the past 21 years, NSMT has been a catalyst in the development of 38 new musicals, and produced 23 regional, national and world premieres.
NSMT is a founding member of the increasingly influential National Alliance for Musical Theater (NAMT) and works with the Boston-based New Opera and Musical Theater Initiative. NSMT also serves on the Board of the New York Musical Theater Festival.
NSMT was awarded our largest grants to date from the National Endowment for the Arts to support our New Works Development Program in 2004 and 2005

Community Impact

Each year NSMT donates more than 6,000 tickets to local social service, rehabilitation, mental health and charitable organizations.
NSMT works closely with leaders in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community to offer a full season of American Sign Language interpreted performances
NSMT staff volunteer with Express Yourself - a local, multidisciplinary team of professional artists who work with adolescents in public mental health residential facilities
In 2005, NSMT added theater arts programming for senior citizens.
NSMT annually holds a Blanket, Toy and Food Drive to aid local charities and shelters during the holiday season.

NSMT also offers innovative opportunities for the community to interact with our staff and guest artists, including: Meet the Theater - a post-show interactive session with the cast and creative team; Spotlight on History - our new pre-show series that links the themes of the musical to local culture and history; and, our Speaker Series, which includes a look behind-the-scenes of developing the new musicals that premiere on our main stage.

The Awards:

2007- Elliot Norton 25^th Anniversary Award- Jon Kimbell
2007 - 4 Independent Reviewers of New England Awards- Best Musical (Hairspray), Best Sound Design (Ain't Misbehavin', Jesus Christ Superstar), Best Actress in a Musical (Hairspray), Best Supporting Actor in a Musical (Ain't Misbehavin'),
2007 - Drum Major of Justice Award- Jon Kimbell
2006 - Spirit of Broadway Lifetime Achievement Award- Jon Kimbell
2006 - Kenneth A. MacDonald Award for Theatre Excellence
2006 – 2 Independent Reviewers of New England Awards – The Full Monty (Best Musical), Camelot (Best Supporting Actor)
2006 – The Boston Parent’s Paper voted NSMT “Favorite Live Theatre for Kids”
2006 – CNC Readers Choice - “North of Boston Favorite Place to See Theatre”
2005 – New England Theatre Conference Regional Award for outstanding contribution to New England theater
2005 – Moss Hart Award for the promotion of artistic growth and the development of excellence in theater for Abyssinia
2005 – Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston’s Award for Arts Management Excellence
2005 – Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Musical Performance & Outstanding Achievement in Choreography – National Junior Theater Festival
2005 – 3 Independent Reviewers of New England Awards – Tom Jones (Best Director, Best Lighting), Aida (Best Actress)
2004 - Greater Boston Business Council’s Small Employee Award of Excellence
2004 - Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Musical Production - Pacific Overtures
2004 – 9 Independent Reviewers of New England Awards - Pacific Overtures (Best Musical Production, Best Director of a Musical, Best Musical Direction, Best Choreography, Best Lighting Design, Best Costume Design, Best Sound Design, Best Supporting Actor in a Musical, and Best Ensemble)
2004 – 1^st Annual Kay Bourne Editor Bay State Banner Award – awarded for “employing artists of color on stage and off.”
2004 – The Boston Parent’s Paper Hall of Fame for “Favorite Live Theatre for Kids”
2004 – CNC Readers Choice - “North of Boston Favorite Place to See Theatre”
2003 - Rosetta LeNoire Award - awarded for “universality of the human experience in the American Musical Theatre” through non-traditional casting.
2003 - Award for Outstanding Achievement: Musical Performance – National Junior Theatre Festival
2003 – The Boston Parent’s Paper voted NSMT “Favorite Live Theatre for Kids”
2003 – CNC Readers Choice - “North of Boston Favorite Place to See Theatre”
2003 – CNC Readers Choice - “North of Boston Favorite Place for Family Entertainment”
2002 - Essex County Newspapers voted NSMT “Best Family Theatre”
2001 - Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Musical - HONK!
2001 - Independent Reviewers of New England Award for Best Scenic Design – Miss Saigon
2001 - New England Theatre Conference Major Award For Outstanding Achievement in the American Theatre awarded to Jon Kimbell, NSMT Artistic Director/Executive Producer
2001 - Salem State College's Lifetime Achievement Award awarded to Jon Kimbell, NSMT Artistic Director/Executive Producer
1999 - Elliot Norton Awards for Outstanding Musical Revival - Hair
1999 - Moss Hart Award for A Christmas Carol
1999 - Independent Reviewers of New England Award for Best Production – The Mikado
1998 - Boston Parents Paper voted NSMT “Favorite Family Theatre”