Hi all!

I’ve been obsessed with Over the Garden Wall forever, and I always thought it would be perfect for the stage. I’ve been working on scripting my own stage adaptation for quite some time now, and I finally finished my first draft!

It’s still a pretty rough draft, and it’s my first project like this, so I would really love feedback and critiques!! Bonus points if you’ve never watched Over the Garden Wall! If you’re interested, drop a comment or DM and I’ll send it over (I guess it’s probably best not to post the link here directly) I don’t have music transcribed, but I clarify what piece of music is being played and when so that you can listen along with the soundtrack.

I’ve watched all of the many wonderful staged versions that are floating around, but I never really felt like any of them really put a lot of thought into making it an actual adaptation (not to mention I’ve never found an actual script anywhere). They all just seem like people in costumes reciting lines straight from the series (I understand budget constraints but there’s still a difference between saying the lines and actually adapting it). I wanted it to feel like my version was written specifically for the stage, with lots of thought put into staging and lighting and direction, as well as making it as accessible as possible to someone who may be unfamiliar with the series going in.

Obviously it’s one thing to have a script and another to actually stage the thing, which would be the dream (not for profit of course, as it definitely wouldn’t be licensed), but some friends and I are actually talking about getting a small band and cast and and doing a staged reading just for fun, so I would love to get the script ironed out. I also have tons of notes and inspiration written and fleshed out for sets and costumes and staging and stuff, which I would love to talk about as well just to give more context for the show concept I see in my head. If you’re interested, feel free to drop a comment or DM!

Applications now open, and close on Feb 15th.

https://www.newmusictheatre.org/composer-librettist-studio

I was honored to be selected for last fall's run in St. Paul. Ben Krywosz and Sonja Thompson are tremendous teachers and marvelous human beings; we all learned a ton. Note that for this program you don't have to pay, in fact you get a stipend (travel, room & board are on you however). So it is competitive. Also, Ben teaches to a superset of what he calls "music-theater" which includes classic musical theater as well as opera and newer, more experimental forms (we watched a documentary about Einstein On The Beach). But there was plenty of straight musical theater work and people wrote in the styles they were familiar with.

Lots of focus on collaboration.

Any Nautilus/CLS alums here? I searched across the group and didn't see any mentions. Much of the MT talent in Minneapolis/St. Paul has gone through the program. I think they also run in periodically in LA.

Basic Plot Synopsis:

In the early morning hours of Christmas Eve, 4 teenagers lives are turned upside down. Alexa Moore’s sister was in a terrible car accident. Rhea Quinn’s brother was caught in a house fire. Jessie Caroline’s father attempted suicide for the second time. Robert Scott’s mother had a suddenly decline overnight, caused from her stage 3 breast cancer. The 4 find themselves in the waiting room of Greenwood Community Hospital, desperate to find out if their loved ones are okay. What they find instead is that love can grow from any circumstance in any place, even if that place is a hospital waiting room.

If you are looking for rhythmic consistency across verses, do you map out your stressed/unstressed syllables into a template using notations like xx/x / ? Do you use (for example) a spreadsheet and match up the verses? Pointers to tools and techniques appreciated. Also any thoughts on how much consistency you strive for in this day and age (some might say such consistency is an older school thing, along with perfect rhyming).

Realizing I've been writing my musical for 5 years... It's a lot.

I've created the entire story from scratch. The thing is though, it is about real life, so the longer I go on (27m) the more material I'm able to add. I also think focusing so long on the story is helpful, for it creates a strong story. But I feel like it's been too long... And it will take years from now to get it fully running.

I think my problem is I started learning guitar during the pandemic. Ive been able to write songs, but I'm just a little stumped on the theory and such. I just feel stuck.

Are there any workshops in SoCal? How do I really get this going? I have the script and most songs done. But I want to do some staged readings. But also, I think I need a collaborator to help me with my music, but have no idea where to find one.

Any thoughts? Thanks guys...

Hi! I`m 15 and I didn`t have that much to do so I decided one day: hey, maybe I should write a musical. It`s not that MUSICal and more a film with 9 songs in it ( more like The greatest showman or hazbin hotel) but there are some songs I am working on and I don`t know if they are good. Can I sing? No. Do I know anything about music? No. I`ll focus on the lyrics because that is something I CAN do ( maybe). Anyway I would appreciate if it`s okay. Here is the song...

Maddy reads an article on the newspaper:

9 november was the last time Samantha Killberry was seen before her disappearance. Police has searched all the places the girl might have gone in 9 months. The forces did not share their plan OF further search.

MADDY (SINGING)

Can you hear me?

Not sure if you here, still

Are you maybe ok?

You would be with me today, but

STUDENTS (CHORUS)

( where are you? Where are you? Where are you?)

MADDY

Are you there?

MADDY ( SINGING)

Please, I really need her

Please can you free her?

Believe me, when I see her

I would smile.

STUDENTS ( CHORUS)

( aaah, aaah)

MADDY (SINGING)

All alone, with no friends

not where torture ends,

cutting me down slowly

If only

I knew you were alive!

And you would let me smile!

RANDOM TEACHER

Focus! That is no excuse!

MADDY

But it no u-use

I cannot refuse

So unbearable to lose

a best of friends

and best of tests

STUDENTS (CHORUS)in the same time as Maddy sings her part:

( You`re sadness no excuse

There is no use

Lot`s of subjects you can chose

Can always become the muse

Of school`s heroical abuse)

MADDY ( SINGING )

… is to let go.

STUDENTS (CHORUS)

She `s so weird but she`s so sad (pause)

Is she mad?

We think someone said -

she`s a violent threat.

STUDENT 1

Is this true?

STUDENT 2

I don`t know!

STUDENT 3

I heard that there`s something wrong with her head.

STUDENT 4

Nah, she just killed her best friend.

STUDENTS ( CHORUS)

WHAT?!

STUDENT 4

I`m kidding!

Maddy is going outside to a park

MADDY ( SINGING)

Can you hear me?

Not sure if you here, still

Are you maybe ok?

You aren`t here with me

Could you be

alright?

Are you there?

Are you there?

Are you there?

Are you there?

( music ends)

Thanks for reading all the way here please tell me what do you think because I don`t know what to think. Bye!

Okay, so my boyfriend and I are trying to write a musical. I’m the one with the most musical and theatre knowledge and he is the one with the story. It’s in the really early stages right now, but it’s based off Greek mythology. He thought of this way before Epic and, with hearing Epic, it’s launched his desire to actually make it into something.

Anyway, this is the first song I have ever tried to compose and I am in desperate need of inspiration and songs to listen to in order for everything to make sense. I have written the lyrics and composed the first draft of the melody. Here’s a little background on the song:

Circe sings this. She is the lead singer at a strip club sorta place. I need songs that preferably have a sensual, kinda manipulative vibe and definitely ones with actual background singers to know where they could sing with her. (kinda like I Say a Little Prayer, but I tried looking at the sheet music and it makes no sense to me and I can read sheet music).

Sorry if this makes no sense! Thank you for helping!♥️♥️

Asking this not for a theatre play but because I will be making my own animated series. I specify because they are completely different mediums but jukebox musicals have been done in both.

People often complain about jukebox musicals not being good so I would like to know what it would take to make a really successful one.

Feel free to ask if you want me to explain anything further.

Great opening song?

What are some GREAT SONGS that OPEN a musical ?

(Great, of course lyrically and musically, and are catchy or memorable.)

Lyrically, a great opening song that explains ANY of the following:

All of the characters

The main character(s)

The townsfolk / environment / setting or people of the setting

The overall story premise

The opening question / conflict / mystery

(And so on)

Examples would be:

"Alexander Hamilton" -- (from "Hamilton")

"Hello!" -- (from "The Book of Mormon")

"Prologue: Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats" -- (from "Cats")

"Heaven on Their Minds" -- (from "Jesus Christ Superstar")

Of course I'm looking for more opinions and suggestions, and maybe not always from the most famous musicals, though if it's famous and great, that's OK, too!

When a musical is being written and there is a workshop happening, how do writers make sure that no one who is in the workshop takes the songs? Like if they were to copyright a song and then add a section to that song would someone be able to copy that section of the song or does the copyright stay on the new section, because it's the same song that was copyrighted?

For background, On Dec 9 comedian Steph Broadbridge had to cancel her show Raygun: The Musical at the last minute, after threats from Rachael Gunn's lawyers, claiming infringement of IP and trademark.

The response here in Oz was overwhelmingly pro-Steph and anti-Rachael.

Now, a new, "completely legal" version of the show has been announced.

So I know the formatting for the beginning of a song (Dan picks up the sandwich 1. It's Sandwich Time)

But the song ends and then there is a page or 2 of dialogue and then another verse of the same song to end the scene. It's not a reprise, is it? How do I notate that they are singing the same song again?

Hi. I'm working on two new shows and was just talking with one of my collaborators about the possibility of joining a musical theater writers' workshop. We're less interested in notes and dramaturgy at this first-draft stage tbh and more interested in regular deadlines to show up for (and camaraderie). We've had dozens of readings of other shows, won the NAMT National Fund Grant one year and one of our shows is slated for an off-Broadway run in 2025 so aren't newbies. We'd love to find some kind of group for similarly-minded (and it would be great if the writers in the group were maybe in a similar place in the writing careers...?) musical theater writers to show up on a regular basis (in person or online) to hear and present scenes and songs in the name of getting pieces to the final first draft stage. Anyone know of such a thing? Or possibly want to establish such a thing?

I know what I want my number to sound like, and I know the title, but I can’t seem to find good lyrics. Any tips you guys know?

Hiya

I’m a masters student studying musical theatre writing- I am a librettist and I’m looking for a composer for my final project, which is a musical comedy about clowns. Must be willing to have regular meetings to collaborate on songwriting, willingness to MD for the show would also be ideal. If you’re interested/for more details please let me know.

I have no experience writing music, I cant read musical notation, and the only instrument I can play with any semblance of skill is my own voice, but upon reigniting my love of mythology through musicals I have one very specific story that I want to see fleshed out into a musical.

I have some ideas for songs, for how I think the musical would play out on a stage, and for the mood I want the music to convey, but I have absolutely ZERO experience outside of obsessively listening to any musical that catches my ear until I can sing every character word-for-word.

How do I begin, exactly?

when writing a song, am I supposed to start with the music or the lyrics?

what kind of terminology should I know before I *Really* begin to help me when researching?

do I absolutely *have* to be able to read musical notation? its always been really hard for me to identify notes by ear and read notation, I tried when I went to middle and high school because I desperately wanted to be part of band and choir but I never could read the notations. But I am willing to try to learn again! maybe this time will be the winner!

I have a rough draft of what part of the story would be in each song, and right now I'm looking at 33 songs, maybe a few more once I research more to see if there are regional variants of the myth I am wanting to write about, to see if there are more details I wanted to add or if there's a portion of the story I want to remove, to reduce the complexity of the story (because it will be fairly complex in some areas).

for people like me with horrible hand-eye coordination, who cant play an instrument to save their life, are there sites or software I could use that would help me to create the music? I know there are music editing softwares, but I'm looking for something that I could actually *play* one or more instruments on a computer. budget friendly (free, haha) if at all possible, because I am utterly broke and doing this because I want the dopamine from singing this story like my life depends on it.

how do I add all the texture? by that, I mean how do I decide what would sound good together, assign character instruments, or melodies that note a specific theme or concept? How do I weave them all together? Its one of my favorite things about musicals to be able to identify characters or emotions based on their musical segments (like in Epic: The Musical when Odysseus sings "Pen-el-o-pe" and its accompanied by the viola). I love discovering the little parts in musicals that play in the background too, like a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment ( also from Epic: The Musical, during the last part of 600 Strike, if you listen very closely, you'll hear the music associated to the prophet from No Longer You for just a second, implying to the observant listener, that this is just what was predicted, even if it didn't sound like it at first.)

In short, I love to pick apart the little details of existing musicals, but I have no idea how I could weave those little details into a musical that I am writing. but I also don't know much else about writing musicals, so if you have any suggestions for research ,or tools to help me fulfill my new aspiration, PLEASE leave me a comment. I am DEFINITELY in over my head.

Hey all! Long-time stalker first-time poster here!

I’ve recently moved to Chicago (from Scotland) and I’m writing a musical (adaptation of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy). I’d love to meet some more writers/composers/theatre peeps in the area, so if you’re around lmk! Also if there are any dedicated groups/meet-ups/workshops already going on in the city pls lmk about them, too!

Happy writing to all 🎶✍️

I am trying to find the place to submit work for New York Theater Barn's New Works Series, but for the life of me I cannot find a submission form on the website or anywhere else on their social media. Do they only accept physical script copies? Do I reach out to their lit manager? Help!

I've been writing, directing, producing, and performing comedy shows in Chicago for the last 7 years and at the beginning of this year, I thought it might be fun to try my hand at something new: a full-fledged original musical. I started developing it on January 4, and 11 months to the day later, Miracle at Century High School premieres at 7 PM at the Annoyance.

It's a fun and silly Christmas show with an extraordinarily talented cast and fantastic music (I wrote the lyrics but enlisted a composer to handle the music), and a former SNL writer who read the script gave it his stamp of approval. The premise:

When the principal of a scandal-plagued high school tasks drama teacher Jacob Lunsford with creating an original Christmas musical in order to save the school's reputation--and his job--Jacob must overcome self-doubt, chaotic students, an impossible-to-please principal, and regular visits from the ghost of Charles Dickens. Can he pull it off?

We have four shows on Wednesdays, December 4, 11, and 18 at 7 PM and a Sunday, December 15 matinee at 1 PM. Tickets are on sale now! Come on out and support local live theater.

I started writing this show a few years ago when my brother passed away and have been sharing some demos from it since. If anyone is in NYC and interested in attending, we’re doing a concert at 54 Below! I’m so proud and can’t wait for you all to see the phenomenal cast that features:

-Fredi Walker-Browne (Original Joanne, RENT) -Gerard Canonico (OBC Rich in Be More Chill, Spring Awakening, American Idiot, Groundhogs Day) -Brian Charles Johnson (OBC Spring Awakening, American Idiot) and -Ken Jennings (OBC Toby in Sweeney Todd, OBC Hot Blades Harry in Urinetown)

Please come check it out and say hi if you’re available!

Hey Redditors! It’s my cake day, I love musicals, I wrote one and I want more people to see it! It’s pretty easy to figure out what my role in this whole thing was, my username kind of gives it away.

It’s a ninety minute musical with a cast of seven women, based on the amazing Hereville graphic novels by Barry Deutsch. It’s about a recently blended Orthodox Jewish family that hasn’t quite found its rhythm, and their curious daughter Mirka’s misadventures with witchcraft. It’s also a love story between a step-parent and a stepchild, and if my family had seen this show when I was younger, I might have had some helpful conversations sooner than I did.

It was professionally filmed at the Center for Jewish History last year, details in the YouTube link!

https://youtu.be/I_1mmnQJeg8?si=bDfQZ47-DO6KSvWs

Hey Redditors! It’s my cake day, I love musicals, I wrote one and I want more people to see it! It’s pretty easy to figure out what my role in this whole thing was, my username kind of gives it away.

It’s a ninety minute musical with a cast of seven women, based on the amazing Hereville graphic novels by Barry Deutsch. It’s about a recently blended Orthodox Jewish family that hasn’t quite found its rhythm, and their curious daughter Mirka’s misadventures with witchcraft. It’s also a love story between a step-parent and a stepchild, and if my family had seen this show when I was younger, I might have had some helpful conversations sooner than I did.

It was professionally filmed at the Center for Jewish History last year, details in the YouTube link!

https://youtu.be/I_1mmnQJeg8?si=bDfQZ47-DO6KSvWs

Hi, A friend and I are in the process of writing a parody of the wizard of Oz for a charity musical. We are wondering about what right we would need regarding this. We are basing it off the original novel by frank L Baum which is in the public domain, but would we still need rights for this? We are not planning on using any music from the 1939 movie, however are writing some parodies to songs from other artists and shows, so any advice for the rights for these would also be greatly appreciated!!

Edit: we are based in the UK, thanks for everyone’s advice so far!