National Alliance for Musical Theatre (Betsy King Militello, Executive Director) has announced the lineup for the SONGWRITERS SHOWCASE and the SONGWRITERS CABARET at the 27th ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS on Thurs Oct 15 & Fri Oct 16. Both events take place at New World Stages (340 West 50th St). Registration for Industry members is free and now open at www.namt.org/festival. The Songwriters Showcase will take place on Thurs October 15 from 2:00 - 3:00 PM. The event is an informal introduction to new musicals currently in development. A host (TBA) welcomes each creative team and chats with them about their show accompanied by two songs performed by Broadway talent (casting to be announced).The lineup features THE HUNTER AND THE BEAR created by PigPen Theatre Co. "The Hunter and The Bear" is the ghostly tale of a father who every day ventures into the woods in search of the monster who devoured his son. Commissioned by Manhattan Theatre Club and Ars Nova; MORTALITY PLAY by Scotty Arnold & Alana Jacoby. "Mortality Play" is a rock musical about Todd, a 16-year-old in 1349 London trying to justify his desire to make music in a time of great need. The plague has just broken out, claiming his band mate John as one of its first victims. His ghost becomes a guide for Todd as he tries to navigate his responsibilities as a son, boyfriend, doctor’s apprentice, and aspiring rock star; THEORY OF RELATIVITY by Neil Bartram & Brian Hill. "Relativity" is a new song cycle inspired by true stories told by today's millennial generation as they search for a place in the cosmos; ZOMBIES ON BROADWAY by Marshall Pailet & Jason Michael Snow. "Zombies on Broadway", inspired by the RKO b-movie you've never heard of, is a new musical comedy featuring an original Golden Age-style score, a mid-western township with a gun-toting mayoress, and two snake oil salesmen with banter to spare. And then the zombie apocalypse happens. (Note: zombies do not sing and dance in this musical. They are very scary and they eat people.) The Songwriters Cabaret  gives songwriters the opportunity to highlight selections from their recent and in-progress shows in the intimate setting of the Green Room Lounge. The lineup for Thurs Oct 15 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM features Brian Lowdermilk & Kait Kerrigan and Kim Sherman & Darrah Cloud (Heartland­-NAMT Fest ’97, Makeover). On Fri Oct 16 12:00 - 1:30 PM will be Douglas J. Cohen and Ty Defoe & Tidtaya Sinutoke. Press contact: Karen Greco PR (212/560-9868) & Joe Trentacosta Pr (973/568-8236)...