Any NY-Area Musical Theater Writers/Composers?

[roseyv]

Posted: 11/10/10 at 3:23pm

This may seem like an odd thing to post here, but given the demographic on BWW, it makes more sense to put it here than, say, on craigslist, so here goes:

It’s been many years since the BMI workshop; I’ve lost touch with most of my colleagues from those days and I suspect I’m probably one of the few of us who’s even still doing this (or trying to). Frankly, I miss the sense of community — of just hanging out socially with people who share my professional leanings. NYC is a lousy place to meet people to begin with, and it’s that much harder when you’re also a little bit of a nerd (which, let’s face it, most of us kind of are). And even harder when you’re a bit of a nerd about something so … well, let’s be generous, and say “not exactly widely loved and respected by the population at large.”

So I’m throwing out a line, here. I’d like to meet some of you who are seriously, actively involved in the creation of new musical theater works. Lyricists, composers, librettists, etc. Let’s start here, and if it seems like anyone’s interested, make it a point meet in real life and talk shop. Or not talk shop. We can talk about other things. Heck, we’re people. We have lives and other interests. We can not talk at all, and just see a movie or have a cup of coffee, or go to the Chaos and Classicism exhibit at the Guggenheim or (in, what 296 days or so?) start watching Mad Men again. But we’d be doing it with other people who have some inkling of what it is that we actually do with our lives, and who don’t find it baffling or nutty. Or who DO find it baffling and nutty, but who can at least relate.

Personally, I’m a playwright and lyricist/librettist with a couple of small productions on my résumé. Outside of musical theater, I love architecture and design, walking, hiking, cooking, museums, reading, non-theater music (TMBG, Tony Bennett, Jonathan Coulton, Neutral Milk Hotel, Michael Penn, The Mountain Goats, Jeffrey Lewis, Magnetic Fields, Leonard Cohen, Mary Margaret O’Hara, The Weakerthans, The Decembrists — I’m nothing if not flexible), and yes, I am a big giant Dr. Who geek, but other than that I’m pretty normal.

How about you?

[jagfkb]

Posted: 11/10/10 at 4:06pm

Since I think this is a great idea, I'll keep the ball rolling:

I'm a high school senior who plans on majoring in college next year in drama with concetrations in directing and writing for the stage. Though my work has mainly consituted small independet plays, I'm seriously interested in becoming a librettist. I've written a small amount of musicals which (aside from either private performance or a few readings/ workshops with fellow studnets) haven't amounted to anything mainly due to the fact that I'm in no way shape or form musically gifted, and I've yet to find a collaborator to work with. Thus, my early musicals have pretty much been based off of existing song banks (One used the Disney catalog and another a Phineas and Ferb based musical).

Admittedly, I'm a bit of a Disney geek: I go to the theme parks atleast once a year, I've seen Mary Poppins and Beauty & the Beast 5 times each, not to mention two of my works being Disney based. However, I consider myself well versed in all of musical theatre, with personal favorites including everything from Ragtime to Next to Normal, Follies to A Little Night Music, and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson to The Drowsy Chaperone.

So yeah... this sounds fun!

[jv92]

Posted: 11/11/10 at 8:37am

This is a great idea-

I'm a Music Major at Adelphi University who wants to write for the Musical Theatre. Despite the fact that I am a composer, as well as a lyricist, I have no problem just writing lyrics (I could never write just music...at least, not just yet), so if anyone my age in the NY/Long Island area needs a lyricist or composer/lyricist, let me know.

Aside from a correspondence with Stephen Sondheim (who encouraged me to major in Music, rather than Theatre) and other writers, and a meeting with Hal Prince (a great thrill, let me tell you that), I don't have any major professional connections (I'm not the next Adam Guettel, with his family connections). I hope with pluck and luck things will work out for me. I'm extremely interested in both the ASCAP and BMI workshops. I have a few questions about both of them if anyone here has ever been attendees.

I go to the theatre often, though I certainly have other interests- classical music being one them them (Mid to late Romantic, to early to mid 20th century- nothing too avant garde or modern). I enjoy the television shows Seinfeld and The Simpsons. I read novels on occasion- I'm a Doctorow fan and enjoy historical fiction.

Personal favorite musicals- Sunday in the Park with George, Gypsy, Follies, She Loves Me, Company, Carousel, Chicago and a host of others.
More current shows I like- Next to Normal, Ragtime, Light in the Piazza, Grey Gardens, Scottsboro Boys, Road Show

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 11/11/10 at 8:50am

Hi, roseyv! I've got exactly zero musical talent, but I am a semi-early-retired trained actor and director who does not live in NYC but frequently travels there, time and money permitting. Some good friends of mine are actively involved in the Manhattan theater scene and have had piddling-to-phenomenal success. They're my vicarious plug in to the city. Secret disclosure: I love words and ideas and have always wanted to take a stab at lyric writing, but have never actually put finger to keyboard.

Anyone who likes Leonard Cohen is more than okay by me.
Alongside Mr. Sondheim, he's more or less a god in my universe.