Applications for the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Librettists Workshop are now being accepted. This unique writing workshop, one of the four multi-tiered teaching environments sponsored by BMI, is devoted to the development of libretti or "books" for new works for the musical theater. Members of the Librettists Workshop have come to BMI from many diverse writing disciplines including theatre, journalism, fiction, non-fiction and education.
The BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop consists of approximately 250 composers, lyricists and bookwriters, most of whom are actively writing new works for the musical theater. Alumni include Edward Kleban (
A Chorus Line),
Maury Yeston (
Titanic, Grand Hotel, Nine),
Alan Menken (
Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors),
Michael John LaChiusa (
Hello Again, Marie Christine, The Wild Party), and
Jeff Marx and
Robert Lopez (
Avenue Q).
The Librettists Workshop was created by the late Lehman Engel to supplement the composer/lyricist workshops that Engel led from 1961 until 1982. Since then, writers who were developed and nurtured by Mr. Engel as well as other Broadway professionals have taught the workshop.
Susan H. Schulman, award-winning Broadway director, serves as Senior Moderator of the Librettist Workshop. Ms. Schulman directed the recent Broadway and touring productions of
The Secret Garden and
The Sound of Music. Schulman is the director of the touring production of
Sunset Boulevard, the City Center Encores! productions of
The Boys From Syracuse, A Connecticut Yankee and
Allegro as well as off-Broadway productions of
Merrily We Roll Along, Sweeney Todd, Time and Again and
Feathertop.
Veteran Broadway literary manager and dramaturgy Nancy Golladay serves as Librettists Moderator. Golladay has written a musical adaptation of
The Great Impostor, and is currently developing a project based on the life of Edgar Allan Poe with the working title
Annabel Lee. In recent years, Golladay has created a number of innovative programs where Workshop members collaborate on short-term projects with members of the songwriting workshops to stimulate networking opportunities and new collaborations among the groups.
Performing right organization BMI fully sponsors the Workshop so there is no cost to participating writers. The purpose of the Workshop is to bring writers together to work under the guidance and supervision of experienced professionals in order to develop new creative talent in the American Musical Theater. The BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop provides a learning environment where members are encouraged to experiment and take risks. Participants have opportunities to learn about musical theatre style from both the moderators and other members. The Workshop has become a springboard for new works, a resource for new collaborations, and a talent pool available to the theatrical industry.
Applicants for the Librettists Workshop are asked to submit samples of their scriptwriting work, as well as a resume and completed application form by Monday, May 1, 2006. Application forms and other information may be obtained by contacting Jean Banks, Senior Director, Musical Theatre, BMI, 320 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019, (212) 830-2508 or by email at
musicaltheatre@bmi.com.
