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Creating the Musical

Students in the Creating the Musical Module will explore the arts of book writing, lyric writing and composition, while also cultivating an understanding of what constitutes effective and healthy collaboration in Music Theatre. Offered in collaboration with The American Music Theatre Project (AMTP), the Creating the Musical Module is designed to maximize the opportunity for the highest caliber of Music Theatre writers to offer mentorship, master classes and course work to the module’s students. Northwestern already offers an unprecedented variety of extra-curricular writing opportunities (Mee-Ow, The Waa-Mu Show and the Johnny Mercer Workshop); this module advances knowledge and practice of the Music Theatre writing craft through focused curricular opportunities. These include courses in Music Theatre book and collaborative writing, musicianship, composition, music direction, lyric writing, theatre orchestration, and song styles and genres.  The module also offers a wide variety of co-curricular opportunities. AMTP will construct master classes, seminars, focus discussions, and mentoring experiences, as part of the professional artists’ participation at Northwestern while producing a workshop, reading or production of their new musical work. Students will be encouraged to observe or participate in the creative process, as world class professional composers, lyricists, book writers, directors and music directors are in residence at Northwestern. AMTP annually brings fifteen to twenty international artists to the university and will encourage unprecedented access for our students to engage with them. The module also offers extensive practicum opportunities on musical productions both at the university and beyond.

Learning Objectives

  •  Analyze historical practices and forms in music theatre book writing, lyric writing, orchestration, and composition through discussion and interpretation of selected works.
  • Demonstrate foundational skills in book writing, lyric writing, and/or music composition by making deliberate creative choices that reflect an emerging artistic point of view.
  • Interpret music theatre works through critical analysis and collaborative discussion.
  • Develop and employ a writing practice that is anchored in a responsive creative process.
  • Curate a portfolio that reflects artistic growth and prepares students for professional new musical development or graduate study.

Courses

Creating the Musical Course Requirements

Co-Curriculars

All students are required to participate in a new play development experience, on or off campus. They may participate in any number of ways (e.g., writer, director, music director, composer, choreographer, actor, producer, designer, etc.). Activities that may satisfy this requirement include but are not limited to:

  • The American Music Theatre Project (AMTP)
  • The Waa-Mu Show
  • The Agnes Nixon Playwriting Festival
  • An independent studio project or StuCo production of a new original work
  • The Mee-Ow Show
  • An internship or assistantship at a professional theatre working on a new musical

Capstone

The Creating the Musical capstone project is a mentored process resulting in a final portfolio which includes a full draft of an original one-act musical and/or a collection of short-form music theatre writing pieces. This process culminates in a final presentation where students will share their original musical theatre writing with a panel of industry professionals and NU faculty. The final submission will consist of a fully revised draft of all materials and demos of the songs, as well as a capstone paper reflecting on the creative portfolio and articulating artist values and creative goals.

 

Sponsoring Department: Theatre 

Module Coordinator: Alex Gemignani

Instructional Committee:  Masi Asare, Ryan S. Cunningham, Ryan T. Nelson, 

Module Advisor: Aaron Godwin

How to Enroll 

This module is open to all NU undergraduates.

The application process closes on the last day of spring quarter classes of the student’s sophomore year, and after the completion of the prerequisite course(s). The application should include a short (300 words) description of a musical you intend to create as a capstone project and a sample of the applicant’s writing by submitting one of the following: 

  1. A song composition, with a piano/vocal score and a demo. 
  2. A complete song lyric, with a scene that leads into the song (5-10 pages).

Grade Policy

Students must achieve a GPA of B- (2.7) or higher in courses counted toward the module to be eligible to submit a Capstone. Courses to be counted toward fulfilling module requirements may not be taken P/N with the exception of CMN capstone courses.