How musicals work : and how to write your own / Julian Woolford.
By: Woolford, Julian [author]
.
Material type: 
BookPublisher: London : Nick Hern Books, 2012Copyright date: [2024]Description: 376 pages : illustrations, music ; 22 cm.Content type: text Media type: unmediated Carrier type: volumeISBN: 9781848421752 (paperback).Subject(s): Musicals -- Writing and publishing | Musicals -- Production and direction | Musicals -- History and criticismDDC classification: 782.14 | Item type | Current library | Call number | Status | Notes | Barcode | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General lending | MTU Cork School of Music Library Lending | 782.14 (Browse shelf(Opens below)) | Available | Recommended reading for MTU Cork module MUSC7036 | 00219897 |
Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:
Musicals are the most popular form of stage entertainment today, with the West End and Broadway dominated by numerous long-running hits. But for every Wicked or Phantom of the Opera, there are dozens of casualties that didn't fare quite so well. In this book, Julian Woolford explores the musical-theatre canon to explain why and how some musicals work, why some don't, and what you should (and shouldn't) do if you're thinking of writing your own.
Drawing on his experience as a successful writer and director of musicals, and as a lecturer in writing musicals at the University of London, Woolford outlines every step of the creative process, from hatching the initial idea and developing a structure for the work, through creating the book, the music and the lyrics, and on to the crucial process of rewriting. He then guides the reader through getting a musical produced, with invaluable advice about generating future productions and sustaining a career.
The book includes dozens of exercises to assist the novice writer in developing their craft, and detailed case studies of well-known musicals such as Les Misérables, The Sound of Music, Miss Saigon, Little Shop of Horrors, Godspell and Evita.
An essential guide for any writers (or would-be writers) of musicals, How Musicals Work is a fascinating insight for anyone interested in the art form or who has ever wondered what it takes to get from first idea to first night.
Bibliography (page 367) and index.
Beginnings -- Forms of musical -- Source material -- Foundations -- Structure -- Song spotting -- Theatrical language -- Characters and scenes -- Songs -- Lyrical matters -- Musical matters -- Rewrites and workshops -- In production -- The lifetime after the night before.
"This invaluable inside account, written by a writer and director of many successful musicals, is jam-packed with great advice, information, and exercises designed to help new musicals reach their full potential. It's the ultimate guide to what to do and not do when you're putting your show together."--Publisher description.
Table of contents provided by Syndetics
- 1 Beginnings (p. 1)
- 2 Forms of Musical (p. 15)
- 3 Source Material (p. 31)
- 4 Foundations (p. 59)
- 5 Structure (p. 85)
- 6 Song Spotting (p. 143)
- 7 Theatrical Language (p. 181)
- 8 Characters and Scenes (p. 205)
- 9 Songs (p. 243)
- 10 Lyrical Matters (p. 265)
- 11 Musical Matters (p. 291)
- 12 Rewrites and Workshops (p. 315)
- 13 In Production (p. 337)
- 14 The Lifetime After the Night Before (p. 353)
- Finally... (p. 363)
- Acknowledgements (p. 365)
- Bibliography (p. 367)
- List of Topics (p. 368)
- List of Exercises (p. 371)
- Index (p. 373)
Author notes provided by Syndetics
Julian Woolford is a theatre director, playwright and lyricist, based in the UK and working internationally. Julian's productions have been seen in the West End, off-Broadway and in Europe, and he has directed many British national tours and productions in regional theatres, including the hugely successful 2010 national tour of Oklahoma! starring Marti Webb.