@dramatistsguild @bystephenkaplan 

For this report, I want to highlight three diverse NJ members who are writing for musical theatre. Each shared their current projects and some suggestions for would-be musical theatre writers. 

Noemi de la Puente is the librettist/co-lyricist for Manuel Versus the Statue of Liberty, co-written with composer/co-lyricist David Davila. The show is inspired by the true story of an undocumented student at Princeton University who won a scholarship to Oxford but could not leave the USA because of his immigration status. It won the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) Developmental Reading Series Award, and then the 2015 NYMF Special Award for Social Relevance and Impact in addition to being nominated for Best Musical. Earlier this year it had a workshop produced by the student organization Princeton Latinos y Amigos at Princeton University. 

Suggestions from Noemi: “Outline outline outline!! There are so many complicated steps in the musical writing process and they all hinge on story and structure. If your story sucks, and your structure sucks, the outline will help you see that faster. Also, it is key that you select collaborators who are kind, easy to work with, and not too territorial. It really does take a village to make a musical, and that village better be populated with happy, respectful people.”

Eric Sirota is the lyricist/librettist/composer for Your Name On My Lips, an original story about a young artist fighting to hold on to the love of his life as the materialistic world tugs at her. Last year it had developmental festival performances at Theater for the New City. His Day of Wrath, based on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, was an official selection of the 2015 NYMF Reading Series. 

Suggestions from Eric: “Theatre Resource Unlimited (TRU) is an amazing organization run by Bob Ost. While TRU’s main mission is mentoring and providing resources for producers, it provides many opportunities for writers including musical-theatre writing feedback workshops, writer-director communications labs, writer-producer “speed-dates,” and panels on topics relevant to developing new works. Emerging Artists Theatre’s New Works Series is also a great place to get work up on its feet for the first time. Finally, the ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop readings, run by Michael Kerker and Stephen Schwartz, are extremely helpful, even attending as an observer. 

“I can’t compare it to rocket science, but I am a soft-condensed matter physicist, and writing a musical is much more difficult. Learn about the structure of musicals and the rules. Musicals are not simply plays with songs. It’s not that rules need to be followed, but understanding them will help structure a piece that works. (Check out Carol de Giere’s www.musicalwriters.com) Most important, choose or write a story that you are passionate about and that sings in your head and in your heart.”

Gonzalo Valencia is currently working on two full-length musicals with writing partner Michael Campbell. One is an adaptation of a true story (a book) and the other is completely original. They have been fortunate enough to develop their work alongside many NJ-based groups and organizations such as 4th Wall, Irvington Theater, NJYT, and Bergen Performing Arts Center. Look out for more readings/workshops in the coming future!

Suggestions from Gonzalo: “Just write. Don’t put it off or think that you can’t do it. People do it all of the time. Everyone makes the same mistakes. Sure, there may be writers out there that faster and more talented in their own ways, but you need to believe that your voice is important and, therefore, only you can write what you are going to write. It sounds kind of hokey but it’s true. Just believe in what you have to offer and do it. If people like it, that’s a bonus. However, I promise that not everyone will and that’s part of the beauty. Ultimately, theater celebrates what it means to be human and is all about providing an aesthetic experience. The last thing I want to say is something that Jeanine Tesori told me, ‘Don’t make fear based decisions. Just do the work.’ I’ll never forget that and hope that mantra gets out there to all writers who are struggling to get started.”

David Davila and Noemi de la Puente accepting 2015 NYMF Special Award for Social Relevance and Impact 

Eric Sirota; photo credit: Julia Sirota 

Cast of Manuel Versus the Statue of Liberty July 2015, photo credit: Shira Friedman 

Alec Lee and Jade Genga in Your Name on My Lips by Eric B. Sirota at the Theater for the New City (September 2015)

skaplan@dramatistsguild.com