30 Days of NYMF on BroadwayWorld Day 15: Monica! The Musical

And now, a conversation occurring all over New York City at this very moment:

Man: So, did you hear there's a new musical that's all about Monica Lewinsky?
Woman: Really? What's it called?
Man: Get ready for the massive creativity that went into coming up with THIS title. It's called "Monica! The Musical."
Woman: Wow. Clever.
Man: Isn't it? It's playing as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival.
Woman: Did someone forget to tell NYMF that it was not, in fact, 1999? Because it's not.
Man: Seriously. Pass me my pashmina shawl and let's all go listen to the Backstreet Boys.
Woman: Heh.
Man: We're funny.

We understand those who have had this conversation. If we hadn't written the show, we'd be having it, too.

The process of writing "Monica!" actually did begin during the scandal proper. What began as a series of private jokes between its creators eventually grew into real, full-scale, performable musical, one with compelling characters, real storylines, and really, really, really awesome music. But the question remained: did people really want to watch a play about Monica Lewinsky? For two hours? In 2005? Really?

The answer lay in our development period, where each reading, workshop, and performance was better received than the last. After a while, some of the compliments and positive feedback was coming from people other than our moms!

What we learned, ultimately, is that the subject matter of this show works far better in 2005 than it would have in 1999. If we had rushed the production through (or had a billion dollars to have done the whole thing ourselves, heaven forbid), the show would have lived its short life as a slightly lame series of comedy sketches in the basement of some dusty cabaret theater on the Lower East Side. But considering the currently divisive (and often downright scary) political climate in America right now, we think it's healthy to look back and say, "Wow. Remember that time when the President got a little naughty and everybody was all upset about it? That was kind of funny." And really. It was. But it's even funnier in song.

So now is the perfect time. Besides, seeing as the reAl Hillary Clinton could pass a law against this show once she becomes President, we only have about two more good years.