Writing the Musical Book

Study and create the dramatic text of musical theater. Course starts with grounding in the basics of text writing by studying outstanding examples of book writing, from Arthur Laurent's Gypsy to Brian Yorkey's Pulitzer-winning Next To Normal. Students write a series of short scenes (5-10 pages) to be read aloud and critiqued in class, with ultimate goal of completing an original or adapted book for a one-act musical (30-60 pages.)