NOLA Rehearsal Studio
250 W. 54th St., 11th Floor
This workshop is dedicated to fostering a conversation about musical theater structure not only for writers but also for producers, directors and everyone involved in the creation and production of new works. The cost for non-participants to attend for the full day, to observe the presentations and be part of the discussions, is $55 ($35 for TRU members). Download the Application, fill it out, and email to TRUStaff1@gmail.com to sign up.
Submission deadline: Wednesday, February 8th.
Our professional panel of commercial producers, directors and writers will include:
- Nancy Golladay, literary consultant (NY Shakespeare Festival, O'Neill Conference, more), moderator of the BMI Librettists' Workshop;
- Sheldon Harnick, Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning lyricist (Fiddler on the Roof, Fiorello, She Loves Me, The Apple Tree, The Rothschilds);
- Barbara Pasternack, artistic director of Theatreworks USA;
- Tom Polum, producer (The Toxic Avenger, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, All Shook Up);
- Skip Kennon, composer/lyricist (Herringbone, Don Juan DeMarco, Time and Again), former Artistic Coordinator of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop and teacher for two decades.
- Bob Ost, executive director of Theater Resources Unlimited, and TRU Literary Manager Cate Cammarata will facilitate.
Writers (or producers!) are invited to submit no more than 25 pages of a show you are working on. We want to see the section of your show in which conflict and obstacles arise – the plot complications – plus MP3s of the songs within only those pages. Also send a concise synopsis of the opening in which you introduce the world of your show, and the want of your characters and how it prepares us for the conflict in the section presented.
In the workshop we will focus on three main aspects:
- 1) Songs that express differing points of view, or conflict;
- 2) "Turnaround Songs" in which a character changes his course of action;
- 3) The climactic moment (sometimes the first act finale) that drives us forward into the resolution (note: "resolution" will be in workshop #3).
We will discuss "I am" songs and "I feel" songs, and the function of each, with special attention paid to the way they move the action. In addition, we will continually explore the delicate balance between script and song.
**If accepted for presentation of 10-15 minutes including one song and scene, plus feedback, there will be a participation fee of $100 ($80 for TRU members), which includes 2 seats for the entire day workshop as well as your presentation slot. Space is limited. Any additional attendees from the musical team (including music director, additional collaborators and cast members) who wish to observe the entire workshop must reserve in advance and will be charged $20 per person.
Submission fee is $10 for members, $20 for non-members. If accepted, it will be applied to a participation fee of $100 ($80 for TRU members).
