I'd love to start with the inspiration of this project. Andrew Lloyd Webber – I suppose the thing that I picked up on immediately was that it's about the incredible empowering force that music can be. And, therefore, it's really about how music changes the life of the kids in the show, and also... Continue Reading →
Creating SCHOOL OF ROCK
Andrew Lloyd Webber, composer of such megahits as Phantom of the Opera and Cats, wants audiences to have a “really good time” at his newest show, an unabashed musical comedy. “School of Rock is fun. Hopefully, I've fleshed it out with a few catchy songs and kept the spirit of the original movie.” But Lloyd... Continue Reading →
Q&A with the Songwriting Team for A CHRISTMAS STORY
Songwriting team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul -- the celebrated duo behind the music of Tony-winner Dear Evan Hansen and the Oscar-winning La La Land -- discuss the making of A Christmas Story, The Musical. How did you become involved with the musical version of A Christmas Story? JP: Similar to how an actor auditions... Continue Reading →
ALADDIN: Bringing the Classic Story to Life Onstage
by Courtney Potter Early in the evolution of Aladdin, composer Alan Menken, book writer and lyricist Chad Beguelin and director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw got together to write a brand new song for the stage musical – a unique collaboration that could only happen on Broadway. “We needed to write a new song for the Genie, [for]... Continue Reading →
ALADDIN: Musical Maestro
This feature is excerpted from Disney’s Aladdin: A Whole New World (The Road to Broadway and Beyond) by Michael Lassell. Earning a staggering number of accolades for his work on The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and the film version of Aladdin, amongst many others, Alan Menken is an undisputed master of the stage... Continue Reading →
Sara Bareilles on ‘Soulful Storytelling’ in WAITRESS
Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Sara Bareillis wrote the music for the hit musical Waitress. Broadway in Cincinnati caught up with her in New York in January 2017. Broadway in Cincinnati: How did you get involved in this project? Had writing music for the stage been something you’d always wanted to do? Sara Barellis: I actually never thought... Continue Reading →
A Look Inside the Scenic Design for ‘Wicked’
Eugene Lee won a Tony Award for Best Set Design for Wicked. Below, he and Edward Piece, his associate set designer, share their thoughts on designing the unique set that makes Wicked so special. What were some of your difficulties at the beginning in designing the set? Eugene Lee: The script for Wicked is like a... Continue Reading →
Book Writer Winnie Holzman on Making a ‘Wicked’ Heroine and Shunting Dorothy Aside
Winnie Holzman received a Tony nomination and a Drama Desk Award for writing the book for Wicked. She's also known for having created the memorable television drama "My So-Called Life" and she got her start writing for the acclaimed drama "thirtysomething." Here she shares some of the background to writing Wicked. What attracted you to Wicked?... Continue Reading →
‘Wicked’ Composer/Lyricist Stephen Schwartz on Putting a Spin on a Familiar Villain
Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz has contributed music and/or lyrics to Godspell, Pippin, The Baker’s Wife, and Children of Eden among many more, and has collaborated on scores for the films Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Enchanted and The Prince of Egypt and more. Here he shares how he brought his vision for a Wicked musical to life. How long... Continue Reading →
‘A Christmas Story’: Enduring Affection for a Cult Holiday Classic
A Christmas Story began life in the mind of author, radio host, raconteur and comic genius Jean Shepherd. During the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, Shepherd was the sardonic host of a nightly radio program in New York where his scorching comedy and witty observations on the human condition made him one of radio’s most popular... Continue Reading →
