Each project will receive a $2,500 EL MUSICAL Seed Grant to support its continued development, along with professional mentorship, access to rehearsal space, networking opportunities, and participation in future EL MUSICAL readings, showcases, presentations, and special events.

The four recipients were selected following an extensive evaluation process involving artistic directors, producers, theatre professionals, and members of EL MUSICAL’s Advisory Committee. The inaugural national call attracted 50 original musical submissions, representing a broad range of voices, musical styles, cultural experiences, and approaches to contemporary musical theatre.

“Launching EL MUSICAL was an act of faith in our artists and in the stories our community has yet to bring to the stage,” said Dr. Manuel A. Morán, Founder and Artistic Director of EL MUSICAL. “Today, as National Hispanic Heritage Month begins, we are not simply celebrating four musicals—we are investing in four stories and the artists who dreamed them. These projects remind us that Latiné voices are not on the margins of the American musical; they are part of its present and its future. Our responsibility now is to help give these artists the resources and opportunities they need to move their work from the page to the stage.”

Luis A. Miranda Jr., Member of EL MUSICAL’s Advisory Committee, added: “There is no doubt that there is remarkable talent in our community, but talent also needs opportunity, investment and development. EL MUSICAL is helping build those pathways by supporting artists at a critical stage in creating their work. These four projects reflect the imagination, range, and vitality of storytelling, and we look forward to seeing where they go next.”

The announcement marks the culmination of EL MUSICAL’s inaugural national call and the beginning of the next phase for the four selected projects as they continue their journey toward the stage.