What Musical Theatre Writers Need
Last night I went to a meeting held by Writing Lab. It was an opportunity to network and also to discuss "what writers need". There is plenty around for musical theatre writers at the very beginning of their career but very little for writers who have proved themselves but not become a household name.
The Writing Lab was created by Mercury Musical Developments but has now come under the umbrella of the BML Librettists Workshop. The group is run by Librettist/Lyricist Christine Denniston - who is also a member of BML. Christine was a member of the BMI Lehman Engel Workshop in New York for some years. She is also the librettist of a wonderful new musical I went to see at the Watermill Theatre last summer, based on Terence Rattigan's AFTER LYDIA, with lyrics and Music by pop star Gwyneth Herbert.
Christine brought together a very interesting group of librettists, composers and lyricists working in musical theatre. We discussed possibilities like: mentoring, dramaturgy, networking evenings, musical theatre directors, choreography for musical theatre and exchanged news about the BML Workshops and what they offer. The discussion was heated and interesting. We now plan to meet again in a months time to have time to think about the discussion and to plan a direction ahead to make these things happen.
It was a very worthwhile evening, where I met a lot of fascinating people, and felt that we were really trying to make a difference to musical theatre development in the UK.
The Writing Lab was created by Mercury Musical Developments but has now come under the umbrella of the BML Librettists Workshop. The group is run by Librettist/Lyricist Christine Denniston - who is also a member of BML. Christine was a member of the BMI Lehman Engel Workshop in New York for some years. She is also the librettist of a wonderful new musical I went to see at the Watermill Theatre last summer, based on Terence Rattigan's AFTER LYDIA, with lyrics and Music by pop star Gwyneth Herbert.
Christine brought together a very interesting group of librettists, composers and lyricists working in musical theatre. We discussed possibilities like: mentoring, dramaturgy, networking evenings, musical theatre directors, choreography for musical theatre and exchanged news about the BML Workshops and what they offer. The discussion was heated and interesting. We now plan to meet again in a months time to have time to think about the discussion and to plan a direction ahead to make these things happen.
It was a very worthwhile evening, where I met a lot of fascinating people, and felt that we were really trying to make a difference to musical theatre development in the UK.
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