defying gravity Archives | MusicalWriters.com

How Musicals Make the Most of Time: Montage, Backstory, Memories, and Ticking Clocks

Today’s musicals journey through time with concentrated stories and employ devices like montages, backstory, and ticking clocks to keep audiences engaged.

How Musicals Make the Most of Time – A Conversation with Stephen Schwartz

Carol de Giere and Stephen Schwartz explore how musicals convey time through backstory, memories, and compressed action.

Summer Reading Books for Musical Writers

Catch up on relevant musical writing books this summer, including ideas for public domain material, how-to books, and books on “the making of a musical.”

Wicked the Musical’s Groundbreaking Score – Act 2

Robert Vieira shares his analysis of the breathtaking and complex musical score of Act II of Wicked the musical by composer Stephen Schwartz.

Wicked the Musical’s Groundbreaking Score – Act 1

The score of the musical sensation Wicked is groundbreaking because it brilliantly melds pop idioms with sophisticated musical theater song construction.

Review: Stephen Schwartz Biography “Defying Gravity” Looks Behind the Scenes

An aspiring theater composer myself, I looked to Carol de Giere’s Defying Gravity, (2nd ed.) for insight on Schwartz’s creative process, a history of his entire career, and details on “the musical theater business.” But that is just a sampling of what awaits the reader.

Celebrating Wicked’s 15th Anniversary – Defying Gravity Giveaway Winner

We’re celebrating Wicked’s 15th Anniversary and the winner of DEFYING GRAVITY, the must-read biography of Stephen Schwartz by MusicalWriters founder Carol de Giere. Congratulations Patrick Burns!

Release of Updated Edition of Defying Gravity

Just in time for Wicked’s 15th anniversary of opening on Broadway! The only book-length biography of Stephen Schwartz, covering his legendary career up through 2018, written by MusicalWriters.com founder Carol de Giere.