The National Music Theater Institute (NMTI) is a semester-long credit-earning intensive training program in music theater. NMTI offers students a robust, specialized curriculum taught by working professionals to build practical skills needed to thrive as a music theater performer. Led by Tony-nominee Alexander Gemignani, Artistic Director of the National Music Theater Conference at the O’Neill, you will receive an intentional, high-level educational experience through the lens of professional rigor. NMTI will help you build greater confidence in your performance craft and provide you with tools to help meet the demands of the professional music theater industry.

We are now accepting applications for the following semesters: 

NMTI FALL 2026 SEMESTER 

• Early Bird Application Deadline ($1,500 Discount): April 6th, 2026
• Regular Application Deadline: May 18th, 2026

QUESTIONS?  Contact us at ntirep@theoneill.org.   

If the $30 application fee poses a financial barrier to you, please contact ntirep@theoneill.org before you begin your application.

If you experience any technical difficulties or questions about the submission form itself, please contact Submittable directly through this link: https://www.submittable.com/help/submitter/ 

Application Instructions

Please complete your application by 11:59pm PST on February 4, 2026. Early submissions are strongly encouraged. Please review the 2026 PUP Application Guides on our website before starting your application. This form will request the following materials:  

• Contact and Demographic Information: Name, email address, phone number, mailing address, housing and dietary considerations, and optional demographic information. 
• Resume: This must be a single-page PDF file that includes your contact information, current occupation, work history, and education. 
• Headshot: This must be a recent photo saved as a JPEG file.
• Artistic Statement: You will be asked to provide a response to the following three questions. Each question should be answered in 500 words or fewer. 1. Are you a practicing puppeteer? 2. How do you plan to contribute to the Conference? 3. In 500 words or fewer, what is your mini-statement on puppetry? 
• References: Name and contact information for two references. 
• Work Samples: You'll be asked to provide a link to your website or portfolio. 
• Strand Preference:  You will be asked to select your first-choice and second-choice strands here. You'll also be asked to share why you would like to participate in the strands you have selected. Please note that some strands have additional application requirements, outlined below. You MUST provide all required materials for BOTH your first and second choices.
• Scholarship Information: Main Conference applicants are eligible to apply for scholarships to help offset the cost of tuition. Eligible applicants will be asked to rank the available scholarships in order of applicability and provide additional information regarding your current financial situation. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer scholarships to Pre-Conference participants. 
• Administrative Fee: The administrative fee for the 2026 National Puppetry Conference is $15. If this fee poses a barrier to you, please fill out this form to request a fee waiver before you begin your application. 

Additional Information

• The O'Neill values the health and safety of all our artists, participants, staff, and volunteers. All will be required to submit a negative COVID-19 PCR or rapid antigen test to the Company Manager within 24 hours before their arrival on campus. Those who do not submit their test prior to arrival will be given rapid antigen tested on-site for a fee of $25.00 per test.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Company Management team at companymanager@theoneill.org.
• If we discover an error in your application, the O'Neill will contact you through Submittable. You will have 48 hours to correct your materials. If your application is not corrected, it will be withdrawn from consideration and your fee will not be refunded. Otherwise, please expect to hear from us no later than April 2026 with an application status update.
• If you have any technical questions regarding the Submission form, login information, or payment, please contact Submittable directly through THIS LINK.
• If you have any questions regarding your application's content, please review the FAQs on our website. If your question is not answered there, please contact the O'Neill literary office at litoffice@theoneill.org.

"NTI is a practicum. It is your laboratory. It is a place to test your limits. It is a place to exceed your own expectations and perceptions of what those limits may be. It is a place to redefine what you believe is possible, the possibilities of what can happen in a day, and the possibilities of what can happen on the stage." - Rachel Jett, NTI Artistic Director 

We are now accepting applications for the following semesters: NTI FALL 2026 SEMESTER — Focuses in Performance, Directing, & Playwriting

• Early Bird Application Deadline ($1,500 Discount): April 6th, 2026
• Regular Application Deadline: May 18th, 2026

*Applications may be accepted following the deadline for waitlist consideration as well as future terms. Please consult with NTI Program Representative & Admissions Manager Rachel Kelsey at ntirep@theoneill.org for more information on applying.

QUESTIONS?  Contact us at ntirep@theoneill.org. 

If the $30 application fee poses a financial barrier to you, please contact ntirep@theoneill.org before you begin your application.

The Theatermakers Summer Intensive program provides six weeks of rigorous theater training and the opportunity to create new work alongside the O’Neill’s renowned developmental conferences.

We are now accepting applications for the following semesters:

THEATERMAKERS SUMMER INTENSIVE 2026 — Focuses in Acting, Directing, and Playwriting

• Early Bird Application Deadline ($500 Discount): March 2nd, 2026
• Regular Application Deadline: April 6th, 2026

*Applications may be accepted following the deadline for waitlist consideration as well as future terms. Please consult with Program Representative & Admissions Manager, Rachel Kelsey, at ntirep@theoneill.org for more information on applying.

QUESTIONS?  Contact us at ntirep@theoneill.org.   

If the $30 application fee poses a financial barrier to you, please contact ntirep@theoneill.org before you begin your application.