In judging the 2006 The Pratt Prize, it was evident that while there have been several commendable entries in all three of the Pratt Prize competitions, the outstanding entries have mostly come from a small group of composers and writers.
As a consequence, the judges made several recommendations for the future. These recommendations are summarized as follow:
- 1. In 2008, The Pratt Prize for Music Theatre be awarded as a commission to one or more recipients.
- 2. Composers and writers be invited to register their interest in being considered for a commission through The Pratt Prize for Musical Theatre. The closing date for registration will be 31 July 2008.
- 3. No undertaking be given to award a fixed cash prize to any of the composers or writers who register their interest.
- 4. Following the closing date for registration, the judges of The Pratt Prize for Musical Theatre will prepare a short list of composers and writers from those registered and meet with them to discuss their plans for a new musical. At their discretion, the judges may also invite other writers and composers to submit proposals for consideration.
- 5. The judges will select a composer and a writer and offer them a commission to create a new musical based on their proposal.
- 6. The commission will include a cash commissioning fee to assist the composer and writer in completing their commission.
- 7. At the same time, the judges may provide the commissioned artists with the assistance of a stage director, choreographer or musical director to work with them in developing the work for a workshop production.
- 8. The judges retain the right either to select a work as proposed by the winner or ask the winner to consider creating a new work on a different subject or with a different writer or composer.
- 9. This will provide the winner with an opportunity to develop a new musical within a workshop environment.