Does anyone have some tips on writing plots for musicals?

[morebroadwayplease]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 6:40am

I've written a couple musicals but they're just not that interesting. I need a couple tips. Thank you.

[Forester]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 6:50am

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dramatic_structure

Can't really put it better. It's a good structure to work with.

[morebroadwayplease]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 6:53am

Thanks

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 7:27am

I think it helps to have passion about your subject matter - if you love something and have lived it, it should be easier to articulate and put on the page.

Posted: 6/23/05 at 9:46am

I highly suggest finding a source material. Most musicals are based on something... movies, books, etc. That doesn't mean you have to write a musical based on a big movie or book that came out; it's especially difficult because if you try to write a musical based on "Harry Potter" and don't get the rights, all your work is out the window so I wouldn't recommend it to a musical writer without a made name. But sometimes it's helpful to use something as a baseline.
So for example, if you were going to write about a king whose father is killed by his uncle, and who comes back for revenge, why not use "Hamlet" as a baseline even if every main character is a Lion?

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 11:32am

I agree with Abriged about source material - find a book or film that you love and research it to see if it has potential to be adapted.