Allie (she/her):

How does one look at a play, or a film, or a novel which has been successfully produced without any characters singing any songs... and decide that this piece of work would lend itself to being a musical?

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Dear Allie,

That is a very good question! I wish there was a checklist of sorts but honestly, there’s no formula. Does writing the Constitution beg to be made into a musical? (1776). Being Mayor of NY? (Fiorello). Being a long-suffering corpse? (Dead Outlaw). 9-11? (Come From Away). Cannibalism? (Sweeny Todd).  

There are a few things one might consider. Does the original material inherently have the kind of “heightened” dramatic affect that lends itself to singing? Are there central characters with really strong dramatic arcs? Is the character’s “I want” palpable? Ultimately, does this material really resonate with you? Does it feel to you that it must be sung to be properly expressed? Your passion is, as always, what really matters.

Break a Leg!

Fefu

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This Fefu is a professional playwright living in New York, who has worked On and Off-Broadway and at Regional Theaters across the country.