Awards
Oxford University Press Student Prize
Entries will be accepted for the Oxford University Press Student Prize, to be awarded to the best student paper presented at the Song, Stage and Screen conference in June 2026. The prize will be a $150 book voucher from Oxford University Press, as well as recognition at the June 2026 Song, Stage and Screen conference.
Any conference presenter who is currently a member of ISSM in good standing and enrolled at a tertiary institution is eligible for the Student Prize. Applications are due on June 12, 2026, and should be emailed to ISSMawards@gmail.com.
Applications should include:
Title of the paper
Name and contact details of the applicant
Name of the institution and degree being studied
Abstract as accepted for the conference
Script of the presentation (conference-length papers only, not to exceed 12 double-spaced pages)
Bibliography of works cited
Applications will be assessed on:
Academic merit of the paper in its field(s) in terms of new findings and/or new readings of existing knowledge
Clarity and efficacy of structure, language, argument, and use of sources
Presentation skills, including clarity of presentation, slides, and ability to respond to questions.
The winner of the Student Prize will be announced at the conclusion of the conference.
2026 Committee Members: TBA
Methuen Drama Prize for Best Essay on the Musical
Entries will be accepted for the Methuen Drama Prize for an article or chapter of exceptional merit that focuses on the musical and that has been published in a peer-reviewed journal or multi-author edited book with a 2025 publication date. The prize will be a $150 book voucher from Bloomsbury, as well as recognition at the June 2026 Song, Stage and Screen conference.
Any person who is a member of ISSM in good standing at the time of submission will be eligible to self-nominate their work.Applications are due on March 15, 2026, and should be emailed to ISSMawards@gmail.com.
Applications should include:
Title of the article or chapter
Name and contact details of the applicant
Abstract
Published text of the article or chapter (PDF)
Applications will be assessed on:
Academic merit of the work in its field(s) in terms of new findings and/or new readings of existing knowledge
Clarity and efficacy of structure, language, argument, and use of sources
2026 Committee Members: Joanna Dee Das, James Deaville, Joshua Robinson
ISSM Book Award
Entries will be accepted for the ISSM book award, for a monograph of exceptional merit that focuses on the musical (broadly defined), with a 2025 publication date. The awardee will be recognized at the 2026 Song, Stage and Screen conference.
Any person who is a member of ISSM in good standing at the time of submission will be eligible to self-nominate their work. Applications are due on March 15, 2026, and should be emailed to ISSMawards@gmail.com.
Applications should include:
Title of the book
Name and contact details of the applicant
Published text of the book (PDF)
Applications will be assessed on:
Academic merit of the work in its field(s) in terms of new findings and/or new readings of existing knowledge
Clarity and efficacy of structure, language, argument, and use of sources
2026 Committee Members: Gregory Camp, Hannah Lewis, Phoebe Rumsey
ISSM Research Grant
The purpose of this grant is to aid ISSM members in their research. The grant may be used for research-related travel, publication costs, or attendance at a conference. For 2026, applicants may apply for up to $1000 in funding. At least three awards will be made. All current ISSM members in good standing are eligible to apply. Priority will be given to applications from contingent faculty members, independent scholar members, or student members.
Any person who is a member of ISSM in good standing at the time of submission will be eligible to apply. Applications are due on Friday, June 12, 2026. Send a PDF containing the required information (below) to ISSMawards@gmail.com.
Applications should include:
Name and contact details of the applicant
A short (250 words or less) biography
A short (500 words or less) statement outlining how the grant will support the applicant’s research.
An indicative budget (up to US$1000)
The awardees will be announced at the Song, Stage and Screen conference.
Awardees will be mailed a check. Awardees should submit a one-page report on how they used the research funding to ISSMawards@gmail.com, due one year from the date the award was granted. We also ask that recipients acknowledge ISSM in any publications that result from research conducted using this award.
2026 Committee Members: TBA
Awards are a benefit of ISSM membership and all current members are eligible and encouraged to apply.
Previous Winners
Methuen Drama Prize for Best Essay on the Musical
2025: Donatella Galella, “Democracy, ‘Democracy (Reprise),’ and the Asian American Ambivalence of Soft Power” in Theatre Journal
Honorable Mentions: Faye Rigopoulou, "Still Here? Aging Female Vocalities in Musical Theatre” in The Journal of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music
Samuel Yates, “That Musical Politic: Musical Theatre Citations and Satire in the Trump Era” in Studies in Musical Theatre
Oxford University Press Student Prize
2025: Arlo Banta (University of Michigan); Honorable Mention: Lauren Berlin (University of Rochester)
2024: Adin Walker (Stanford)
Song, Stage and Screen Travel Grant
2025: Brady Hughes and Frederick Miller