I want to compose for Broadway

[Higgins2]

Posted: 11/15/13 at 11:28pm

I write music and know theory. My question is -- how does one actually go about writing for a musical? I wouldn't even know where to start.

Thanks

Updated On: 11/15/13 at 11:28 PM

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 11/15/13 at 11:33pm

http://www.musicals101.com/write.htm

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/16/13 at 12:21am

My question is -- how does one actually go about writing for a musical? I wouldn't even know where to start.

Not here.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 11/16/13 at 12:28am

Agreed. To imagine someone would think that a message board, and the people who write things on here would know about that is strange. Unfortunately, it's something you are born with, and it's something successful composers develop from a very, very young age. They usually also have other talents, and connections. But, if you know Stephen Schwartz, you should be good.

Updated On: 11/16/13 at 12:28 AM

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 11/16/13 at 12:34am

I write music and know theory

So you do know where to start. I don't really understand the question, but if you're serious, perhaps you should find a friend who can write a book/story and that will give you an idea of themes and setting. They then might suggest musical styles or inspire some creativity. Then it's up to you.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 11/16/13 at 1:45am

There are 3 easy steps to becoming a Tony Award winning Broadway composer:

1. Write some catchy songs, make some crazy fun music videos and become a huge pop star.
2. Decades later, lose nearly all of your cultural relevance.
3. Sit by the phone waiting for a Broadway producer to call you to write the score for a new musical.

[sephyr]

Posted: 11/16/13 at 2:57am

I'd say listen to various shows, as many as possible, and see the conventions, the standards. Read books about making musicals, read and read more, check out autobiographies by famous composers and see how they came up with ideas for shows and songs. Find what styles appeal to you, find your writing voice (your tone, etc) and see what you can contribute to the musical theatre canon. Find an idea that speaks to you and find collaborators, if you want, who believe in your idea. Put together a show that is at least complete and rewrite and rewrite. Then start shopping it around, whether in concerts, workshops, or wherever possible.

[10marilyn]

Posted: 11/16/13 at 4:35am

it is a silly question for this board why not go to a music school or a school that teaches this and ask that.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/16/13 at 5:28am

You don't write FOR b'way. You write for the story, for the vision. Then you get THAT produced and go from there -- which includes colleges, festivals and meeting people and making connections and doing little showcases. It usually takes years and years.

[leefowler]

Posted: 11/16/13 at 7:23am

Don't try to write a big Broadway smash. Write something you love. Get friends to perform it for other friends. Don't be threatened by criticism. Prepare for the occasional crashing disappointment. Look at the careers of other Broadway composers, and take note of how many shows and songs you have to write before you gain the experience to write a hit. Write a lot of shows, don't write one show for 10 years.

[goldenboy]

Posted: 11/16/13 at 11:56am

Somebody asks for guidance and most of you give him snark. WTF?? We all don't have Oscar Hammerstien as Godfathers!

Call BMI or and go to BMI;s website. Ask there advice.

There is a BMI Musical Theatre workshop for budding musical theatre composers. Many great Broadway Composers have come out of that workshop. (if I'm not mistaken Adam Guitel, Jeannie Tesori, Jason Robert Brown and others) I believe you have to submit songs and be accepted. It is competitive. Call them and ask and see where that leads you. These ongoing workshops have been lead by major theatre composers such as Sheldon Harnick.

In the meantime, write music and look for ideas and people to colaberate with. Start composing! and keep composing.

You can also just write a musical and submit to producers or theatres or just put it up yourself. But I would start with BMI



BMI should lead you in the a proper direction.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/16/13 at 12:23pm

Good advice, goldenboy.

I agree that talent is important, but this is also a craft. There are reputable workshop programs, so yes, I would check with BMI.

It's perfectly fine to break the rules of form and content, but it's a good idea to learn them first, so you understand why and how they work.

And best of luck to you! We need new material in the mix.

[DooWahDiddy]

Posted: 11/16/13 at 12:34pm

The BMI workshop is a great place to start, but it should be clarified that neither Jason Robert Brown nor Adam Guettel were a part of it. For a complete list of successful alumni, check out http://www.bmi.com/genres/entry/notable_shows_by_bmi_workshop_members

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/16/13 at 12:52pm

I think Sondheim's "Syllabus" from Oscar Hammerstein was the best idea: Try to adapt a play or film you like. Then try to adapt a work you think is flawed. Then write an original piece.

Even if nothing gets produced, it's good exercise and gives you work to audition with.

[darquegk]

Posted: 11/16/13 at 2:09pm

I followed the Sondheim-Hammerstein syllabus.

Film: Beetlejuice
Flawed Work: "Figgs and Phantoms" by Ellen Raskin
First Original Work: "In Control: The Musical"

[ahhrealmonsters]

Posted: 11/16/13 at 2:51pm

It's not easy. If you're in NYC, look into BMI and the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program at NYU (Tisch). GMTWP is a full time, MFA program. BMI is once a week. NYU is expensive, BMI is free. They are very different with very different schools of thought. Study musicals. Find what you like and what you don't. If you just write music (and not lyrics or book), look for a librettist/lyricist to collaborate with.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 11/16/13 at 10:05pm

So you want to compose for Broadway?

You'd stand a better chance decomposing.

[JuanValjean72]

Posted: 11/16/13 at 11:01pm

I go to school at a small college with an even smaller theatre program but people are very supportive of it and see the plays put on every year, and I wrote the book for a revue musical mostly on Sondheim and Kander & Ebb's work and had it performed this past April, and I'm writing an original musical to be performed in March. It's no easy task to write a musical, but I agree with what others have suggested. Either write a script or have someone write one for you and starting thinking of songs that will fit the story line. Start from the ground up!