Educational Series

The ASCAP Foundation Presents

The NYMF 2008 Seminar Series

Join us for this exciting series where you'll learn inside information about some of the hottest topics in musical theatre today!  Discussions will be led by industry experts and current festival participants, so don't miss out!

 

Comedy Tonight:  Composers and Lyricists Who Write For Laughs

Moderator:  Peter Filichia (TheaterMania, The Newark Star Ledger)

Guests:  Chad Beguelin & Matthew Sklar (The Wedding Singer), Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde), Hal Goldberg (Nerds), Mark Hollmann (Urinetown), Zina Goldrich (Junie B. Jones), Bobby Lopez (Avenue Q), Matt Prager (She Can't Believe She Said That)

Writing the perfect music and lyrics to accompany a musical comedy can be an arduous task.  The composers and lyricists must write songs that don't drag down the comedic stript, but instead, bring it to the next level.  After all, a musical comedy without funny songs is laughable - in a bad way.  Learn what it takes to write the music that complements some of today's funniest musicals as our panelists give you the scoop on how they create show-stopping musical hilarity.

WHEN?  September 18 at 5:30pm

 

 

An Original Musical:  [title of show] Goes from NYMF to Broadway 

Moderator:  Isaac Robert Hurwitz (Executive Director and Producer, NYMF)

Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen are pretty candid about their journey to Broadway fame - after all, their musical, [title of show], documents the highs and lows they've encountered on the path from NYMF to the Great White Way.  Find out how Hunter and Jeff have adapted, updated and developed [title of show] through each stage of its life.  We can't think of a better way to celebrate NYMF's success than to showcase our first musical to make it to Broadway!!  So join the fun, y'all, because we've got a panel about a musical about writing a musical about writing a musical that's sure to please all you tossers out there.

WHEN?  September 25 at 5:30pm

 

 

A Lot of Livin' to Do:  Up Close and Personal with Charles Strouse 

Moderator:  Michael  A. Kerker (Director of Musical Theatre, ASCAP)

Special Guest:  Craig Carnelia

One of America's foremost musical thatre composers, Charles Strouse, is the winner of three Tony Awards.  From his first Broadway musical, Bye Bye Birdie, Mr. Strouse has made an indelible mark on American music and Broadway for the past fifty years, including Annie, Golden Boy, and Applause, and continues to make his mark today.  Michael A. Kerker, ASCAP's Director of Musical Theatre, conducts an intimate one-on-one interview with Charles Strouse to discuss his craft and compositions, up to an including his most recent musical, The Night They Raided Minsky's, due to open in Los Angeles in January.  The panel features special guest performances of Strouse's beloved songs, both classics and new.

WHEN?  October 2 at 5:30pm

 

Remember to support NYMF by shopping at

our Barnes and Noble Book Fair on September 25!

 

All seminars will be held at Barnes and Noble Booksellers at Lincoln Triangle 1972 Broadway at 66th Street. All Seminars are free with seating based on space and availability.