Congratulations
to our 2025 Winners!

PerforminG Filipina Book, Music & Lyrics: Lianah Sta. Ana

IN PERFORMING FILIPINA, six Filipinas piece together history, memory, and identity, finding new meaning in their relation to themselves, their communities, and each other.

The new “kind-of” musical is a show for Filipinas, by a Filipina, with aims to empower our community, connect our struggles, and ground us in a foundation of care.

“It is an incredible honor for Performing Filipina to be selected as this year’s Michael Friedman award winner. Writing this show has been a labor of love for my community; I am so excited to continue developing it into offerings I may give back to my people. Endless gratitude to the Pipeline team and Friedman board for believing in this piece and the necessity of new musical theater, and for making it possible for these seeds to grow.”

Eight Immortals Music & Lyrics: Sam Tsui & Casey Breves

'Eight Immortals' features a collection of self-contained vignettes, each song serving as a modern interpretation of one of the eight classic archetypes from Taoist legend. The album's tracks range from the absurd to the heartfelt, with a catchy, vocal-driven score that invites audiences on a transformative journey.

“We are incredibly honored that Eight Immortals has been selected as a Pipeline Arts Foundation Winner. We are lifelong fans of musical theatre, and to receive this kind of validation and support on our first full work - especially one celebrating and reinterpreting Chinese folklore - means the world to us. We are excited to use this opportunity to develop this piece from concept album into a staged production and to share this song cycle with a wider audience of theatre lovers.”

A new musical thriller inspired by the Silicon Valley mythos features a self learning machine, one smart enough to cure cancer and efficient enough to reach the furthest corners of the earth. What are the consequences of releasing this technology into the world, a world the company now has the power to control.

THE ETERNITY MACHINE

The Eternity Machine Book, Music & Lyrics by Asher Muldoon

“I am incredibly honored to be counted among the recipients of the Pipeline Arts Grant this year. Often times it can feel like we are loosely throwing our work into the internet ether, and opportunities like those afforded by Pipeline never go unappreciated. Money from this grant will be instrumental in securing rehearsal space, actor stipends, and demo recordings for The Eternity Machine, and I couldn’t be more excited and grateful.”

The Jury Book & Lyrics: Casey Kendall; Music : Jonathan Bauerfeld

In a rainy Seattle alleyway, Tess Butler dies of an opioid overdose. Now, seven people from her life are given a choice: intervene and bring her back, or let her go. Locked in an otherworldly jury room until a unanimous decision is reached, we learn the story of Tess through the jurors’ eyes. For each of them, Tess is someone different; the runaway daughter, the ex-wife who loved drugs more, the murderer. Each of them only knows part of the truth. Hailed as “exquisite and intricate,” and “everything you want in new musical theater,” this life-affirming new musical is one you won’t soon forget.

"We are thrilled and honored to be recipients of one of this year's awards. Grants like these are instrumental in the long and difficult path of developing a new musical - and we can’t wait to put it to good use as we keep working on our show."

Roja Book: Tommy Newman; Music & Lyrics: Tommy Newman & Jaime Lozano

Roja is a new musical that reimagines the classic Little Red Riding Hood tale through the lens of traditional Mexican folk music and Mestizo folklore. Set at the edge of the desert in Northern Mexico, the story follows Roja, a young girl grappling with the loss of her father, alongside her steadfast mother. When she encounters a mischievous, magical coyote who offers her the chance to reunite with her father, Roja embarks on a journey of self-discovery— through wisdom, love, and even death itself— to confront her grief and uncover the true meaning of miracles.

"Tommy and I feel deeply honored for this award and recognition. We are very grateful to the Pipeline Arts Foundation for its important mission supporting musical theatre writers and storytellers. We feel really passionate about our musical, its story, its music and this distinction encourages us to keep working hard to find more opportunities for this story to be heard."

THE REAL KYLE McCARREN is a true story about a musical friendship that transcends life and death. Musician Andy Roninson sits at the piano to tell the tale of his deceased bandmate-- who then materializes, guitar in hand. Along with three actors filling out the world, the duo jam, laugh, and fight their way through this 90-minute rock and roll celebration of life.

"We're beyond grateful to the Pipeline Arts Foundation for this incredible and necessary support. This award will help honor the memory of Kyle McCarren and share his funny, frustrating, and beautiful story with the world. And for two freelance musicians in NYC, the award's financial support is monumental. For ourselves and for Kyle's friends and family, thank you."

The Real Kyle MCCARREN Book: Andy Roninson; Music & Lyrics: Andy Roninson & Sean McVerry

The Unsolved & Forgotten crimes... Book, Music & Lyrics: Allison Light & Andrew Underberg

The Unsolved & Forgotten Crimes of Sullivan County (And Surrounding Municipalities) is an audio comedy in which a small-town crime podcast host struggles to get subscribers until a decades-old local murder falls into her lap.

"This award marks a huge step towards getting our quirky little podcast musical recorded! Thank you Pipeline for supporting new work in new mediums."