If you want a career in musical theater, you better embrace your inner Harold Hill. Because to make it in the business, we all have to be salesmen (sales people?) peddling our wares. If you aren’t willing to make the pitch, as Harold Hill would say, “Ya Got Trouble.” This came up recently because I [...]

Posted in Inspiration 6 Comments »

I was coming up out of the Subway into Times Square the other day and, not surprisingly, was thinking about new musicals. Just then, I witnessed the perfect metaphor for the writer – producer relationship in musical theater. You’ve probably seen this very thing before if you’ve ever taken the subway… The elevator was broken [...]

Posted in Behind-the-Scenes, Inspiration, Politics of Musicals No Comments »

I’ve been following news about pop star Beck’s new album, Song Reader – I know, I know, it’s not musical theater, but hear me out… He and his band aren’t actually recording a note, instead, they’re releasing the entire thing as sheet music. It’s getting lauded for it’s neo-retro concept and rightfully so – no [...]

Posted in The Business of Show Business No Comments »

These days, when new musicals so often come pre-branded, there’s the temptation to write a musical “based on a true story.” And it’s not a bad idea, look at Jersey Boys, Once, Evita, Newsies, Les Mis… It can really work! However, often writers get caught up in the “true story” part and forget that the [...]

Posted in Behind-the-Scenes 3 Comments »