Advanced Writers Lab
Detailed information and application instructions are provided below. Applications are accepted year-round and should be emailed to NOMTIstaff@gmail.com. Applicants should expect a response within approximately one month.
What is the Advanced Writers Lab?
NOMTI's Advanced Writers Lab is a peer-feedback group open to a limited number of experienced book-writers, composers and lyricists whose work shows an understanding of the particular demands of musical theater.
The Lab meets in Boston, typically on the third Saturday of every month, 9am - 4pm (hours vary with workload). Monthly attendance year-round is expected (August is usually omitted by mutual agreement).
Advanced Writers Lab sessions consist of brief rehearsals followed by presentation and peer feedback. Feedback in the Advanced Writers Lab is facilitated and centers on the needs of the writers. The process works best when the writers have a clear and specific idea of what they seek to get out of the response process. Often we use the Critical Response Process developed by Liz Lerman (a good overview is here).
We encourage all Lab members to present at least three times a year, preferably more often. Writers sign up in advance for rehearsal and presentation slots. Up to four singing actors are provided per session.
Each Lab member pays an annual fee of $250 (an installment plan is available). The fee covers the cost of hiring singing actors for the monthly Advanced Writers Lab. Teams may apply jointly for a single $250 fee, but the application must include a specific project proposal. If the project is accepted, the team will be allowed to present only from that project. Writers applying singly may present material from any project on which they are working, and their non-member collaborators may attend presentations of the member writer's work. After the first three presentations of materials for a given project, the facilitators of the Lab reserve the right not to schedule continued presentation of projects they deem no longer suitable for the Lab.
Feedback in the Advanced Writers Lab
AWL exists to forward the early development of new musicals, and early development is always a delicate time. We try to maintain a safe environment where we acknowledge and celebrate each other’s accomplishments while encouraging ever higher standards of work. Feedback always begins by “stating the positives,” acknowledging what worked well in the presentation. We typically ask the artist what kind of feedback would be helpful at this stage (or the artist comes with a list of questions) and try to focus on those issues. See Feedback Guidelines here.
Continued participation in the AWL is at the discretion of the Facilitators, who are charged with preserving the tone and standards we have set in this group.
APPLYING TO THE ADVANCED WRITERS LAB
What we are looking for:
We are looking for lyricists, bookwriters and composers whose work displays a high level of craft, creativity and originality; who are familiar with musical theater history and repertoire; and who have had at least one public staged reading of a full-length piece to which they have contributed book, music, or lyrics.
Except in the case of team applications, it is not necessary to propose a specific work for development along with the basic application. Admission to the Lab is based on the materials listed below and allows you to present work in the AWL. It is strongly suggested that new project presentations include the presentation of an outline or synopsis. Useful guidelines for presenting projects are here.
How to apply:
All applicants should include:
Work sample for lyricists :
Work sample for composers:
Applications should be emailed to NOMTIstaff@gmail.com. Applications will be reviewed by the NOMTI Facilitators. If you cannot meet the application's technological requirements or have other questions, please contact NOMTIstaff@gmail.com in advance to discuss how to send your application in an acceptable format.
What is the Advanced Writers Lab?
NOMTI's Advanced Writers Lab is a peer-feedback group open to a limited number of experienced book-writers, composers and lyricists whose work shows an understanding of the particular demands of musical theater.
The Lab meets in Boston, typically on the third Saturday of every month, 9am - 4pm (hours vary with workload). Monthly attendance year-round is expected (August is usually omitted by mutual agreement).
Advanced Writers Lab sessions consist of brief rehearsals followed by presentation and peer feedback. Feedback in the Advanced Writers Lab is facilitated and centers on the needs of the writers. The process works best when the writers have a clear and specific idea of what they seek to get out of the response process. Often we use the Critical Response Process developed by Liz Lerman (a good overview is here).
We encourage all Lab members to present at least three times a year, preferably more often. Writers sign up in advance for rehearsal and presentation slots. Up to four singing actors are provided per session.
Each Lab member pays an annual fee of $250 (an installment plan is available). The fee covers the cost of hiring singing actors for the monthly Advanced Writers Lab. Teams may apply jointly for a single $250 fee, but the application must include a specific project proposal. If the project is accepted, the team will be allowed to present only from that project. Writers applying singly may present material from any project on which they are working, and their non-member collaborators may attend presentations of the member writer's work. After the first three presentations of materials for a given project, the facilitators of the Lab reserve the right not to schedule continued presentation of projects they deem no longer suitable for the Lab.
Feedback in the Advanced Writers Lab
AWL exists to forward the early development of new musicals, and early development is always a delicate time. We try to maintain a safe environment where we acknowledge and celebrate each other’s accomplishments while encouraging ever higher standards of work. Feedback always begins by “stating the positives,” acknowledging what worked well in the presentation. We typically ask the artist what kind of feedback would be helpful at this stage (or the artist comes with a list of questions) and try to focus on those issues. See Feedback Guidelines here.
Continued participation in the AWL is at the discretion of the Facilitators, who are charged with preserving the tone and standards we have set in this group.
APPLYING TO THE ADVANCED WRITERS LAB
What we are looking for:
We are looking for lyricists, bookwriters and composers whose work displays a high level of craft, creativity and originality; who are familiar with musical theater history and repertoire; and who have had at least one public staged reading of a full-length piece to which they have contributed book, music, or lyrics.
Except in the case of team applications, it is not necessary to propose a specific work for development along with the basic application. Admission to the Lab is based on the materials listed below and allows you to present work in the AWL. It is strongly suggested that new project presentations include the presentation of an outline or synopsis. Useful guidelines for presenting projects are here.
How to apply:
All applicants should include:
- Send an email to NOMTIstaff@gmail.com with your name, address, telephone, and email, with the attachments described below. Please make the subject line "[Your Name] Application for AWL." If you need to send more than one email to include all attachments, please indicate (for example, "[Your Name] Application for AWL 1 of 4").
- Resume including a list of past work
- A brief description of two ideas you might like to develop as musicals. This should include:
* What existing work the musical would be based on, if any
* What the story would be about (the “spine” as you currently understand it)
* What specifically attracts you about that idea
* Why you think it would lend itself well to adaptation as a musical - Work sample and discipline question (see below, varies for each discipline)
- Work sample for book-writers (librettists):
- One complete scene with song, up to 10 pages (even if you didn't write the song).
- One paragraph answering the question “What is the difference in your approach to musical theater writing versus playwriting?” Explain how your work sample reflects that understanding.
Work sample for lyricists :
- MP3 recordings of 2 contrasting songs for which you provided the lyrics, with lyric sheets and context.
- One paragraph answering the question “What is the difference in your approach to writing a lyric for musical theater versus writing a pop song or a poem?” Explain how your work sample reflects that understanding.
Work sample for composers:
- MP3 recordings of 2 contrasting songs for which you provided the music, with scores, lyric sheets and context.
- One paragraph answering the question “What is the difference in your approach to writing a song for musical theater versus writing a pop song, operatic aria or art song (whichever of these is most relevant to your own experience)?” Explain how your work sample reflects that understanding.
Applications should be emailed to NOMTIstaff@gmail.com. Applications will be reviewed by the NOMTI Facilitators. If you cannot meet the application's technological requirements or have other questions, please contact NOMTIstaff@gmail.com in advance to discuss how to send your application in an acceptable format.
