Advanced Writers Lab

The Advanced Writers Lab is a peer-feedback group open to a limited number of lyricists, librettists, and composers whose work displays a high level of craft, creativity, and originality. Members meet every two weeks to:

• present new work in various stages of development,
• refine their craft,
• provide mutual support for career goals, and
• meet new collaborators.

Collaborations among artists working in their strongest discipline--book, music, or lyrics--are encouraged.  However, applicants may apply solo or as a team.

Successful applicants will:

• propose work that is new or still open to substantial revision,
• have had at least one public staged reading of a full-length piece to which they have contributed book, music, or lyrics, and
• ideally be familiar with musical theater history, repertoire, and songwriting technique.

The Advanced Writers Lab offers:

• meetings via Zoom every two weeks, beginning the first or second week in September. Meetings are held from 10 AM to 12:30 PM Eastern Time every other Saturday. Note that this schedule is subject to change in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• time for two teams per session to present work and receive supportive, constructive feedback from the other writers.
• two to four professional singing actors per session to rehearse and present your work. You will provide backing tracks to the singers, who will record the vocal parts. 
• a set schedule of deadlines to encourage productivity.
• a holistic orientation that integrates feedback on song, scene, and overall story arc.
• practice in pitching and synopsis development.  

To achieve the greatest benefit for the presenters, regular attendance is expected of all Advanced Writers Lab members. Continued participation in the AWL is at the discretion of the Facilitators, who are charged with preserving the tone and standards of the group. New members are admitted on a rolling basis, but tend to enter at the beginning of the cycle.

Yearly dues of $250 per team go toward paying the performers who workshop our material.

Apply to the AWL

Paul Giragos and Katherine Fuller in a reading of Roswitha. Music and lyrics by Kevin Bleau, book and lyrics by David Schrag. Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA, 2017.