While it is possible for folks to give you a valuable
pointer or two about writing the book (script) for a musical, if you've never
done it before you'll need more than a handful of tips from colleagues. The expectations and constraints that relate
to the writing musicals are different from those concerning the writing of a
play. As the author of the critically
acclaimed show, The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie
Smith, and Playwriting for Dummies, I would strongly suggest
you go to Amazon.com for a book or two about writing musicals. There are lots of them, like The
Musical Theatre Writer's Survival Guide by David Spencer or Making
Musicals by Tom Jones. If you're a
beginner when it comes to musicals, it almost doesn't matter which book on
musicals you read, but do do your homework.
All that being said, I do have one important piece of
advice: remember that the songs in a musical
are part of the storytelling. Songs (and
dances) are not thrown in randomly for the purpose entertainment only. The songs in a musical are, in effect,
musical dialogue, and must either reveal character or advance the plot. If you can take a song out or move it to
another spot in the show with no impact on the show, then that song is
superfluous. If you were to take "I
Feel Pretty" out of West Side Story, you would not understand
the depth of Maria's elation and the validation she is experiencing over having
connected with Tony the night before.
And the song helps explain why she is willing to so quickly and fully
commit herself to Tony. In other words
"I Feel Pretty" is a wonderful song and dance, but it serves an
important dramaturgical purpose.
