Ideas for a new musical? — Page 3

I've had to wait in line before..

Highlights from EXORCIST! (The Musical):

"Devilish Doings in Georgetown"

"You're Gonna Die Up There"

"The Dimmy-Why-You-Do-This-To-Me Blues"

"It's Not Easy Being (Puke) Green"

"Help Me" (dream ballet)

"Girl, Get That Crucifix Outta Your Pussy And Getcha Self A
Job" (remix)



Burke Dennings
Hollywood, California

Updated On: 6/21/06 at 12:11 AM

Noone should be talking bad about Jersey Boys in this thread...do it in another thread.

All I want is help on my new musical idea.

Help me elaborate this Dentist Office idea....plot points, villian, Conflict?

LOL! The Olsen Twins Musical!

I don't know anything about dog shows. So, that sort of makes it very hard for me to write about one.

I also like the idea about the waiting room. I would write it as a straight play first to develop character and setting . . . then try to work music in.

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I'm in the process of writing a musical with my best friend and now collaborator, and we have another noe on the shelf for when we're done. Both are based on books, and I have gotten the permission of both authors. The simple answer is, I don't think you can just sit down and start to write a musical, because no matter how much composing or writing talent you have, if you haven't got a good story that sings then you don't have anything.

Really, you can't just fish for ideas, when the right story comes along you'll know. I read the book to the first of my two musicals five years ago, it only hit me in February that it would make a great musical. I believe that if the story isn't really important to you or if it's just an idea somebody threw at you then it'll be an uphill battle to write it as a musical, because I really think your heart has to be in it.

I hope you find the story you're looking for, and good luck!

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So What:

First off, is this your first attempt at a show? If so, write whatever you want...just don't expect to get it produced, that's VERY rare. Write about what "sings" to you. If you can conceive a show, just start writiung. Maybe you'll discover you only have a good idea for a musical sketch. Then you'll have learned somrthing about either discarding unworkable ideas or writing one-acts.

If you have some past experience, try to avoid adapting newer materials. You'll only have headaches when the original authors slap you with a "cease-and-desist" order (I speak from experience.) Adapt a Shakespeare play, or a pre-twentieth-century novel, or a silent film. You'll be generally safe.

Read Lehman Engel. That's the best thing for any musical-theatre writer to do.

Write every day, even if it's crap.

Learn to read and write music, even if it's only to be able to notate your ideas.

Buy a really good rhyming dictionary.

Updated On: 9/26/06 at 01:40 PM