A Musical Writer's Career
ON THIS PAGE:
- Training for musicals writing.
- Organizations.
- Recording cast or demo albums.
- Musical Writers Grants and Prizes.
- Career Miscellaneous
Training for Musical Writers - Librettists, Lyricists, Composers
ASCAP: ASCAP's new musical theatre pages Includes career development info, news, workshop info, etc. Also check on ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Workshop schedule and read about Stephen Schwartz's role at www.musicalschwartz.com/ascap.htm
BMI: www.bmi.com/musicaltheatre/ - BMI offers a workshop in NYC and their site includes informative material for writers.
CHICAGO's TBC Musical Theatre Writers Workshop: The resident company at the Theatre Building has been around since 1969, but has concentrated exlusively on musicals since 1984. It's the only non-profit theatrical agency in the country which provides both an ongoing workshop program in which composers, lyricists and book writers develop new musicals, and also provides a production program geared to presenting new musicals. For info see Theatre Building Workshop
ACADEMIC: For college and university programs see Academic listings
CANADIAN MUSICALS: http://www.scriptlab.ca/ ScriptLab offers workshops and festivals for "developing great Canadian musicals."
SCHOOLS: For Middle School and High School students age 13 - 19, Lovewell Institute in Florida provides an opportunity over the summer to workshop an original musical. Visit http://www.lovewell.org/
Musical Theatre and Cabaret Organizations
Theses organizations and websites will help anyone writing a musical. You might find ideas for networking, professional support, advocacy, contract information, and even health insurance. Here are some of the groups that aid musical theater writers and other artists:
For Playwrights and Lyricists
THE DRAMATISTS GUILD
1501 Broadway, Suite 701
New York, NY 10036
Tel: (212) 398-9366 / Fax: (212) 944-0420
http://www.dramatistsguild.org/
A professional organization for playwrights and lyricists, which develops standard
contracts for commercial and non-commercial productions of new plays, and provides
opportunities for networking and presents monthly lectures. The organization provides
several publications, including The Dramatists Guild Quarterly, The Dramatists
Guild Newsletter, an Annual Resource Directory, and an Annual Directory of Institutional
Theaters (see above).
For Songwriters (Composers and lyricists)
See ASCAP and BMI links above.
SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME
600 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10022
Tel: (212) 957-9230 / Fax: (212) 751-1515
http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/
The Songwriters Hall Of Fame is a membership association that sponsors quarterly
showcases and workshops. The organization also includes The National Academy Of
Popular Music.
Canadian - organization - Association of Canadian Librettists, Composers, and Lyricists
For Networking, Insurance, And More
Fractured Atlas is a community of over 50,000 artists and arts groups from every discipline across the country and around the world. Check out their website for
- Open Arts Network
- health insurance
- liability insurance
- professional development
- advocacy
In NYC also check
http://www.genesiusguild.org/
for their readings etc.
For Shows and other Theatre or Cabaret Activities
MANHATTAN ASSOCIATION OF CABARETS AND CLUBS
70A Greenwich Avenue, Box 170
New York, NY 10011
(212) 465-2662
http://www.macnyc.com
The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs is a not-for-profit organization
that presents an annual awards show; "Performers Seminars" on many aspects
of performing, writing and producing; and also co-produces with ASCAP the "Songwriters
Showcases," spotlighting new songwriting and performing talent. The organization
also produces a newsletter, MAC News, as well as a mailing list of performers
wanting new songs.
AMERICAN THEATER WING
250 W. 57th Street
New York, NY 10109
(212) 765-0606
http://www.tonys.org
Founded in 1917, this organization presents the Tony Awards and a wide variety
of programs, seminars, and scholarships, particularly in community service.
Getting Demo and Cast Albums Recorded
newyorkmusician.com/ - Has info on the new York recording industry
Grants and Prizes for musical writers
Jonathan Larson grants
- The Jonathan Larson Grants are intended to honor and recognize emerging musical theatre artists. Composers and lyricists, and bookwriters who work in musical theatre are the focus of the grants.
- Grant awards are based on merit. In addition, the Grants are intended for those artists with a demonstrated commitment and dedication to a career in musical theatre. Further, the grants are not intended to be scholarships, and artists applying for grants should be working professionally in the field.
- Applications are accepted in the following areas:
- Individuals may apply as lyricists, composers, composer/lyricists, or composer/lyricist/bookwriters. Individual bookwriter applications are not accepted.
- Collaborative teams may apply together as composer and lyricist or composer, lyricist, and bookwriter. Collaborators who work together regularly are strongly encouraged to apply as a team.
- United States citizenship is not a requirement to receive the grant, but you must be eligible to work in the U.S. and reside/work here on at least a part-time basisand submitted work should be predominately in English.
- Individual and Team Applicants may not apply more than twice in any three year period. For instance, if you applied in 2009, and apply again in 2010, you would not be eligible to apply for a third time until 2012.
- Prior Jonathan Larson Grant Recipients are not eligible
NOЁL COWARD PRIZE at the York Theatre
For 2009 Submissions will be accepted through Friday, August 28, 2009 at 6 PM
The award-winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) announces the administration of a new award celebrating musical theatre talent: The Noël Coward Prize.
In honor of the talents of Sir Noël Coward, who often served as the writer/composer/lyricist for his musicals, the York Theatre Company – with the endorsement of the Noël Coward Foundation – will be administering the Noël Coward Prize to a promising librettist/composer/lyricist whose work best exemplifies the “triple threat” standards set by Coward. The winning artist will receive an honorarium and a special one-night-only staged concert of the musical submitted to the contest produced by The York Theatre Company.
After receiving submissions, an esteemed panel of industry professionals will select the winning entry. The panel includes Nancy Ford, John Kander, Richard Maltby, Mel Marvin, Brian Murray, Susan H. Schulman, Joseph Stein and Tony Walton. The winner will be announced November 17, 2009, and will receive the award at a concert celebrating Noël Coward on his birthday, December 17, 2009.
Submission Guidelines:
Only musicals will be considered
- Applicant must have written the book, music and lyrics in their entirety for the musical
- Musicals must be at least one act (at least 45 minutes in length)
- Any rights for the material (if an adaptation) must be received prior to submission; proof of rights must be submitted with the initial application
To be considered, please submit the following:
A cover letter introducing yourself,
A resume, including complete contact information (phone, address, email address)
Proof of rights (if applicable)
One copy of the following:
- A one page synopsis of the musical
- The complete script of the musical
- Any sheet music for the score
- A CD recording of songs (preferably at least half of the songs, in show order)
Please note, there is no application fee for the Noël Coward Prize; all administrative costs have
been covered by the generous support of the Noël Coward Foundation. Materials will not be
returned, one submission per writer, please.
Send all materials to:
Brian Blythe
York Theatre Company
619 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Attn: Noël Coward Prize
The Noël Coward Prize is made possible through a generous donation
by The Noël Coward Foundation.
Career Miscellaneous
Creating
a Life Worth Living: A practical course
Cabaret Artist's handbook offers tips that might be useful if you want to mount part of your musical in a cabaret type event.
Organizations links on NewYorkMusician.com
Classes and Training for Musical Writing
Full Course from Lehman Engel on Audio Cassette
Organizations with Classes and Workshops
See ASCAP and BMI . See Academic programs
See also our Career pages
Web Sites
Famous musical theatre writers have answered questions on Theatre Talk, a PBS program from WNET www.theatertalk.org/ for archive of available tapes.
Watch videos online using Real Player at www.americantheatrewing.org. The American Theatre Wing's panel discussion series brings together performers, directors, playwrights, designers, choreographers and behind-the-scenes personnel from the Broadway theatre.
Order Chatterbox interview videos. Seth Rudesky interviews mostly actors but sometimes writers, including Stephen Schwartz. www.sethsbroadwaychatterbox.com/
Suite 101 offers articles (if you can find them past the advertising). www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/musical_theatre
Did you see our Newsletter?
Musical Writerzine describes theatres that take new musicals, new publications and resources, and festivals. Stay current with MusicalWriterzine
To send suggestions, comments, or questions write to carol@musicalschwartz.com