Writing Songs for Villains: An Interview with Stephen Schwartz
Sometimes we must put ourselves in the shoes of the “baddy” to create Villain songs—at least that’s what Stephen Schwartz does—and loves it!
Read MoreSometimes we must put ourselves in the shoes of the “baddy” to create Villain songs—at least that’s what Stephen Schwartz does—and loves it!
Read MoreCarol de Giere and Stephen Schwartz discuss the importance (and challenge) of constructing successful opening numbers — and offer a few tips!
Read MoreToday’s musicals journey through time with concentrated stories and employ devices like montages, backstory, and ticking clocks to keep audiences engaged.
Read MoreCarol de Giere and Stephen Schwartz explore how musicals convey time through backstory, memories, and compressed action.
Read MoreIn Part I, we discovered how Stephen Schwartz developed metaphorical language based on research, observation, and character inspiration. In Part II, we explore ways to enhance your own image-making abilities in order to amplify the emotional impact of your lyrics or dialogue.
Read MoreFrom whole-song metaphors like “Meadowlark” and “Beautiful City” to the nature-inspired similes of “For Good,” Stephen Schwartz is a master of imagery-filled lyrics that represent an emotional journey.
Read MoreCatch 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.”
Read MoreRobert Vieira shares his analysis of the breathtaking and complex musical score of Act II of Wicked the musical by composer Stephen Schwartz.
Read MoreThe score of the musical sensation Wicked is groundbreaking because it brilliantly melds pop idioms with sophisticated musical theater song construction.
Read MoreAn 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.
Read MoreStephen Schwartz shares his appreciation of Oscar & Hammerstein musicals and speaks of their influence on his work in an interview with Carol de Giere.
Read MoreThe people who created the musical Wicked did many things right. They ended up with a mega-hit...
Read MoreWe’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!
Read MoreJust 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.
Read MoreOne way writers can avoid musical muddle is to write a good I Want piece. The audience needs to know the longings of the central character by having him or her sing about what’s missing in their life. Since we tend to root for a character to get what they want, we become engaged.
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Academy Reading Series Pitch Night - SheARTS Edition
Academy Masterclass: Natalie Rine - Broadway DNA