When "American Idol" meets "Smash" you get, "Next Big Hit" - a thrilling musical drama about a small-town girl, Lara McDowell, who becomes the winner of a nationally televised singing competition, but soon realizes that fame comes with a price. With her songwriter, Jesse Stone, and mentor, Amber Ross, guiding her, Lara must navigate the cutthroat music industry and her manipulative producer, Ronnie Rostone, who will stop at nothing to ensure his niece, Ellie Price, wins the title. As Lara's career starts to take off, Ronnie forces her to make questionable decisions with her life and career. However, with the help of Jacob, Ronnie's assistant, Lara fights back to take control of her life and career. Filled with captivating music, intense drama, and unexpected plot twists, "Next Big Hit" is a must-see show that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Will Lara overcome the challenges thrown her way and become a true star, or will Ronnie's scheming bring her down? Find out in "Next Big Hit.”

The Next Step Theatre Festival began with a simple “what if” conversation.

What if a few writers joined forces to share the costs of mounting a show in NYC? What if we supported each other—not just financially, but creatively too? Would anyone be interested?

The question went out through writers’ groups, theatre chat rooms, and email chains. The response was immediate: Yes, we need this. Yes, let’s do it.

What started as a “what if” quickly grew into something much bigger—a festival fueled by writers supporting writers, each one ready to take the next step together.

And so, the Next Step Theatre Festival was born.

Today, it features 15 writers and 34 performances—a true testament to what happens when artists lift each other up.