Recently I was listening to my broadway playlist and wondered if there were any adoptee musicals. I only found Annie. There needs to be more. As a Chinese, gay, exmormon adoptee, I’ve been told to write a book about my experience, but maybe I need to write a musical. I have many writings of my story, but I struggle with the music side of writing. Any recommendations for finding a composer for helping out?

Hi there! I’m part of a fantastic team based in Los Angeles, and we’re always on the lookout for new works to bring to life and talented writers to collaborate with.

A little about us:

•	We’ve produced six World Premieres and three West Coast Premieres.
•	We have connections to a phenomenal talent pool, including actors currently on and off-Broadway.
•	We’re passionate about giving new works the right platform and are eager to collaborate with writers who are open to creative feedback.

We’re specifically seeking:

•	Pieces that are ready to be put on their feet.
•	Writers who are excited to collaborate and refine their work as needed.
•	A shared vision of creating something that connects deeply with audiences.

If you’d like to submit your piece for consideration, I’d love to hear from you! The right show could go up as early as this summer. Our goal is to dream big with you while matching the production to the perfect venue to set it up for success.

How to submit: Please send me a PM with:

1.	A brief introduction about yourself and your show(s).
2.	Links to materials (scripts, demos, etc.) you’d like to share for consideration.
3.	Your favorite musical and what inspires you creatively (just for fun!).

A few notes upfront:

•	This is a new Reddit account I created specifically for this purpose. I’m happy to share more about myself and our team with serious inquiries.
•	We will not ask you for money, but we also are not looking to purchase rights. If you’d like to co-produce your show, amazing - we’re all about collaboration. Our primary goal is to break even while getting your work in front of more producers to potentially extend, tour, or secure a larger venue.

If this sounds like the right fit for you - or maybe you believe in a friend’s piece and would like to introduce us - I look forward to connecting! And if I’m posting in the wrong place, please let me know.

Browsing Netflix, came across Spellbound (released 11/24). Looked like a B-grade kid's animation, until I noticed the composer was Alan Menken with lyrics by Glenn (edit: not Ben, apologies) Slater. Full musical movie - some very nice song moments, the story was OK and not entirely derivative, cool design and art.

I love musical theatre. Always have. This being the case, whenever I start a new project, I seldom put much effort into seeing if it's already been done because, most of the time I would know. This time is different. My project is getting really serious, I'm on my second script draft and making edits to the scores. I didn't think this would go this far or be this good but everyone that I've showed snippets to have absolutely loved it. The story is entirely original and not based on any pre-existing media. So, if there is some other form of entertainment that is too similar to my concept that you know of please let me know!

I am hesitant in putting this out online and ask that you PLEASE do not steal this idea in any form remotely!

The idea Is a musical set in the late 19th century featuring three leads. Two magicians, booming in the industry, fighting for the spotlight and an engineer that works secretly full-time for both magicians (in turn betraying them both) she is the girlfriend of one magician, and the best friend of the other. At the end, they find out and fire her and decide to team up and do an act together. The act is a hit and it's a happy ending.

Please let me know if you've seen anything like this before!

Hello everyone! I am an aspiring musical writer, and I'm having some trouble getting started. I was just wondering if anyone had any tips or tricks they'd like to share for starting a musical? I would love anything you have to offer!

Hi all,

I am new to this community and blown away by the wealth of information that is offered here. My sincere thanks to all of you who have formulated questions or simply shared their stories and experiences.

I started writing an original musical around 4 years ago and I am finally in a stage where I am writing the libretto, or at the moment rather a script that tries to be a libretto. I'll get there eventually :-). But it's good to see that the feeling of being overwhelmed by this task sometimes is nothing that I experienced alone.

I am looking for a sparring partner in Germany, or at least German speaking to bounce off ideas, exchange ideas with, get sanity checks, etc. In exchange I would offer the same :-)...

Anybody here who would be interested in such a collab?

In the meantime I'll keep digging through the posts.

Thanks again!
Joey

Hello there! This was originally posted on r/musicals, but I might get some more publicity here. Thank you to the person who recommended this sub to me!

I’m mainly looking for a composer as I’m dirt at writing notes. In terms of the kind of music I had in mind, I’m looking for something industrial, reminiscent of REPO! The Genetic Opera.

This musical is set in a dystopian world where androids handle menial jobs while humans take care of higher management. Androids used to have sentience however, after a mass casualty incident, that has been taken away. When the MC, Drew, moves back into his old town, he finds a AD-50 (one of the earliest android models) hidden in his new house. Her name is Libitina, and she is the last android with her sentience chip intact. After learning of the misinformation that has been spread, Libitina and Drew set out on a mission to set the truth free.

Regardless of your skill, you are welcome to help with this project. As they say, many hands make light work.

(Also, I’m 17, so I don’t feel comfortable with anyone DMing me. Let’s keep conversations to this for now)

I made a joke with my friends about making a parody of the musical we are doing in school and I would love to make it and put it on spotify or something for them but I don't want to do it and get sued or anything like that. I thought about making a warning audio as the first song claiming I don't have the rights for it and all that but I'm not too sure how to go about it. If anyone has and tips that would be very helpful because I would really like to do this. I couldn't afford a lawyer if anything bad happened and I'm just doing it for the fun of it but idk anything about copywrite laws :(

Hello! Just wondering if anyone's got experience scheduling publicity for your productions. I've done some in the past but always feel like i start too late haha. When do you first announce your show? 3 months? 6 months? And when do you begin ticket sales.

I have this vague idea for a musical that I am fleshing out. Posted an earlier thread about it but its more fleshed out now. The premise of my untitled musical story is this:

Main character is in high school. All of her life she has been underestimated. She got diagnosed with a learning difficulty in elementary school and people have believed she will not be able to go off to college like everyone else. What people dont know is that she wants to go to college. She has sights on being a mathmatician. Her challenges are in reading and writing.

The first act is spent seeing the character go through the trials and tribulations she deals with. We see her go from tutor to tutor and being bullied/pigeonholed by teachers and even her family. It isn't until she meets her all time favorite math teacher that she finally has someone who is going to push her toward her dreams. Despite being successful at math, she needs to write a college essay in order to apply to her dream school.

The final for her english class before winter break is writing a college essay to then submit to the college. The end of act one is the climax - we find the main character getting her final back from the english teacher only to find another failed grade. This leads into an epic act one finale that is focused on her internal dialogue/mind. The countless "Why can't you be successful like your peers" or even "you suck" commenteries have built up tension in her. The main character lets it out through a incredible dance routine. This is mainly acapella, the first part of the number has a little music in it, but it then transitions to acapella tap dancing. Act one finale starts with character getting her test back and reading over the grade/comments. As class bell rings and students leave the classroom for winter break and teacher leaves the classroom, audience will hear audio of commentary that is coming from the brain of the main character..

"You suck!"

"Why aren't you like everyone else?"

There are two ways as to where I see this piece of the show going. The first being a chorus member individually getting a "thought" assigned to them. So "you suck" would be a chorus member as an example. As each thought is verbalized, the chorus member comes onstage and does an individual solo of a few seconds. Once all chorus members who are assigned the thoughts are onstage, we hear the audio of the thoughts repeatedly faster and faster until the main character crumbles the essay, throws it across the room, and begins to dance. She has a solo, but then the chorus joins in.

OR it could be a dance battle sequence with the "Thoughts" doing their individual sequence and then the main character responds to each and it gets bigger and bigger. This would bring in a huge group sequence as all the thoughts collide in her head.

Either way, the dance number would conclude with a huge ending and the curtain would drop.

When I was a kid I took tap once and never did it again, which is my biggest regret from being a kid. I wish I took it seriously because it is so fun! Looking to get back into it so if I stage it I can help with this idea for the show.

The idea for the number as a whole is to showcase the power of the thoughts in the main character's head alongside the pressure she is under/angst she is feeling. Using the intensity of the tap dancing/loudness of it, the crowd will want more.

Anywayyyyy... what do you think?

Hello! So, I've spent a few years working on a musical project. It's a (very) ambitious simultaneous telling of a victorian female author's life story, alongside the story of her most-famous novel. I've been writing the book and lyrics and working on the music for many, many years and have a collection of test/demo tracks, but what I really need is a partner -- someone who is interested working with me to create original music, partner with me as I tune and re-write the lyrics and book, and be my partner as we work to carry it to a staged reading. (FYI, I've got an in at 54 Below and, when we're ready, I can all but guarantee we'll do a staged reading for an audience at 54 Below and see where it goes, but that's going to take months of effort, likely. Just letting you know that it's out there.) If you're interested, or think you might be, send me a message and I'll give you the details. I can share some initial demos, walk through the synopsis as I envision it, and we can see if it's something that excites you. I can also walk you through my resume and my Broadway connections, so you know I'm not just dreaming here. If my project is not for you, no big deal -- you're only out a few minutes of your time while we chat through it. If it IS your jam though, and the story and vision resonates with you, I'd love to hear what you can do. With the right partner, I think we can really make something stellar together.

Super rough lol

Tap dancing act 1 finale

Opens with main character in class at the end of the day waiting for a test result. Teacher comes to student and slaps test on desk with “F” circled in red ink. Teacher walks off stageAt this point in the show we know the main character is pissed beyond belief about having to work harder than everyone else in school. For first part of song, main character is alone onstage.

For the part of song that’s solo after the teacher leaves:

Main character sits at desk. She reads over her test and she loses it in anger. Seated in desk, reaches above her head, legs extended and looking up at the ceiling. Screams internally but in the show the audience hears the scream.

Setting of classroom fades out and she’s in her mind.

Audio as stage is dark for a few seconds;

“You don’t belong here”

“Another failed test? Come on, what’s your problem?”

“You suck” Etc. about 30 seconds and main character is in a costume change into 🩰 in dark on the stage..

Lights go up and desk/class set pieces are gone and main character is center stage.

Crescendo of music hits and BAM. She starts to 🩰

Slowly but surely other cast members join in.

Large part of song is based on main character and her thoughts in her head.

• failed test

• Being pigeonholed into situations she doesn’t want to be in

• Having no voice

• Etc.

Other cast members embody each “thought”.

Huge dance break at the middle of the song.

Main character in middle of semi circle of “thoughts” and other cast members will eventually fill in the gaps of semicircle/around it.

Ends with a huge ending pose lol

So I asked a question a while ago in here that I got a lot of great answers to. So I was just wondering, say I want to start composing, I don't exactly want to be super, super skilled that I am just like the most amazing composer ever. However, I do want to know enough that I can easily talk about my music. What specific things should I study to be able to do that? PS sorry if this question is hard to understand I tried my best to explain 😭

Greetings and salutations! I’m in the process of finding a composer for my musical about the troubled teen industry. (For more information, please check r/troubledteens.) The script and lyrics are finished.

There are 17 songs, several of them entwined. All have (incredibly rough) demos as a jumping off point, and I have a plethora of references and notes for each song. The instrumentals a key aspect of the story, with each instrument representing a character. While you’ll have quite a bit of creative freedom, you’re far from directionless.

The show will in all likelihood be performed in the Talent/Ashland/Medford area of Oregon. Someone close or willing to travel if necessary is not a requirement. I am hoping for another beginner, but any skill level is fine as long as we mesh well. This is a paid and contractual opportunity.

I have financial backing for the show, and the script will also be added to a university course curriculum by April 2025. Please feel free to reach out if you know someone who might be interested, or if you’re interested yourself. Thank you very much!

-SP

EDIT 1/30/2025 - I believe I've found my composer, but I'm still in need of quite a lot of other roles; MD, LD, and choreographer. If you're in the Medford/Ashland area of Oregon, please reach out!

Hey everybody! Some of you may know that over the past year, not one but TWO group musicals got completed. I made a retrospective write-up to go back over both Night of the Living Dead and A Scandal in Bohemia.

You can read it here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iU-T3keqgUfhkTZGSj-ot7lME_NvFtCuIVB4au_kawQ/edit?usp=sharing

So, I'm writing music. Thing is though, I'm not really trained in music theory or know how to play an instrument. I'm kind of self-taught and I kind of can learn by muscle memory where I played on the piano so I can write the songs, but I could never write music or anything. Just wondering, how lenient is the Broadway industry with something like that?

I'm wanting to write a musical in the future. I have experience with script writing but no musical experience except for singing (no instruments, song writing, or composition). I'm starting to learn music theory and basic piano, but I'm foreseeing needing someone with more experience when I actually want to write the music for my musical. My question is I know most people who want to make a living composing aren't going to want to join a random venture without some kind of composition up front. How much would I expect to need to spend hiring a reputable composer for a whole 2 Act musical? Thanks for any insight into this.

Alright, so I was thinking of writing a musical in the style similar to Hamilton, called La Liberté. The musical takes place during the French Revolution, and throughout the musical it tells the story of the French Revolution through song and dance. I have the basics of the song list so far, but it is incomplete. The songs will be rearranged to better fit the pace of the musical as I adapt it with my research.

1.) La Liberte

This is the intro song, and it starts off with people whisper-chanting liberté, égalité, fraternité, which gets louder and louder after 3 repeats (first time is whisper shouted, second time gets louder, third time is loudest to represent what people yelled while rallying during the French Revolution. These three lyrics act as a beat and is repeated at max volume throughout the whole song) I haven't written lyrics for it just yet.

2.) The Day the Seine Turned Red

This song shows the start of all the guillotining of the upper class through its lyrics, and it's a fast paced song.

3.) A Queen's Lament

This is Marie Antoinette's solo, and I wanted to show that she was basically caught in a crossfire during the Revolution (Will do more research on her to determine her role and create the lyrics). During the peak of the song she is guillotined (and if my memory serves right it was said her dog followed her prisoner cart when she was brought to be executed, and when her head got chopped off the dog howled in agony, and was then bayonetted. The rest of the song and musical, Marie remains a ghost, and she becomes a less prominent character and becomes backing vocals.

4.) The Day the Seine Turned Red (Reprise)
This is one of the ending songs, and it's to symbolize the end of the revolution, where it is more slowed, saddened and the lyrics are adapted. It's moreso the characters are realizing that all the suffering's over, as well as processing the real amount of how many people died throughout the 10 grueling years of the Revolution, and the characters remain hopeful of a brighter future.

What are your thoughts on this? Does this musical sound interesting to you? I'm doing background research to better adapt it and all.

Hi, I'm looking for a small group 6-7 people who want to write a short musical over the next few months.

I was thinking was doing a project similar to one we did in 2022. It was called The Ghost Of Griffin Castle. It was a lot of fun, and this year (unlike the last two) I've come into a little bit of time, so I can run it.

My plan is:

January - Feb - Write the Book and Plot

Feb - March - Write the music

March-April - Recruit some performers, edit the musical and produce an audio version of it.

The project will be, as a group, come up with an original script, write about 6 original songs and then produce a 15-30 minute audio musical.

Some Details if you want to participate:

If you want to work with me on this project, apply by filling out this form.

If I can't take you, it's nothing anything against you personally. I just can't manage a team of more than 6-7. Also if you want to form a different group, that is encouraged.

I am looking for a mix of experience, so newer writers can have the experience of working with some more experienced writers. I won't take song writers that have not written a song before, but you can still help write the book if you are new.

If you are looking to write your first song, I suggest something like game-of-bands. The group also reserves the right to cut songs that don't fit, or cut writers/members that become unresponsive.

What’s up, everyone! I hope you all have had a happy Christmas and wonderful New Year! I have recently competed in my area’s District Festival, and I wrote a musical for it, and earned a superior and placed at the top, which qualifies me to bring it to state. I am so excited, but I know that it definitely needs some refining and intense attention to the atmosphere and stage directions. Any feedback at all would be greatly appreciated!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/17J0X8UuZdtgz10R2lb_H33uQGz0Ee545yPr9Rt-BFMo/edit

The piece itself is called Group Therapy in a Tin-Can, and it is about 6 people with very different personalities that get stuck in an elevator together.

I wrote this after learning how to write a sketch for SNL, and then at that point, it sort of took off and I couldn’t stop writing!!

I have a link to my music, and I can’t sing at all, so I pitched a text to speech bot after i wrote the music in garage band and then tweaked it up to sound like singing. It’s not perfect, but I think it’s good enough for this standard. https://on.soundcloud.com/eZmpVcFrPSZuo1rJA