OPEN SEMINAR IN WRITING MUSICAL THEATERNOMTI's Open Seminar in Writing Musical Theater is an intensive day-long instructional seminar covering the most critical elements of writing for musical theater.
Registration Details
When Saturday, November 3, 2007, 9 am - 5 pm Where Berklee School of Music
150 Mass Ave
Boston, MA
Directions at bottom of page
How much $50 for non-students
$25 with student ID
Checks made payable to "NOMTI"
Covers tuition, handouts & coffee break
Lunch is on your own
By whom NOMTI staff:
David Reiffel, Nancy Rexford and Michael WartofskyFor whom People interested in writing a musical or learning how they are put together How to Register For Registration Form , click here
Send filled-out form and check to:
NOMTI
Questions: dreiffel "at" nomti.org
c/o David Reiffel
2 Greenough Avenue, No. 1
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Program
This day-long program of intensive lecture and discussion introduces the principles, standards and skills most widely recognized as central in the field of musical theater. If you enjoy this great American art form, then this seminar will give you new appreciation and respect for the great musicals. If you are beginning to write a musical, then these are the tools that you will need to know how to use.
The skills and standards discussed in this seminar are also those that NOMTI considers when assessing applicants to the Advanced Writers Lab. Admission to the Lab depends on your presenting work that shows that you understand these issues and are learning to master these skills.
Please note that this seminar is not designed to provide an opportunity for sharing one's work.
The program will cover the following topics:
Designing the book
Story: governing idea, protagonist and point of view, character arc, working backwards, creating change in scenes, writing lean dialogue
Musical structure: opening out the book, put-together, who sings with whom, mining the book to find the songs
Writing the songs
Song forms: verse/chorus, AABA and its variants
Character and drama: how to design songs that forward the action, evoke character and situation; integrating song, dialogue, underscore
Songwriting tools: title, melody, leitmotif, breathing space, setting up expectations and surprises
Lyrics for musical theater: how they are different from pop song lyrics, art song, and poetry; subtext and irony
Setting words to music: vocal ranges, true vs. near rhymes, matching rhythms, word setting that works for singers
Case Study: Wicked**
** Wicked is playing in Boston September 12 through November 10, 2007. We recommend that seminar participants see this show or at least become familiar with the songs.
Room TBA: When information is available, this site will be updated.
T stop: Hynes Convention Center
Parking: On-street parking is extemely limited. Allow at least 30 minutes to find a space (meters in effect through 8pm, 25c for each 15 minutes). Or park at any of the adjacent lots (on Hemenway or Boylston or on Dalton Street between Boylston and Scotia).
