Midwest New Musicals to Launch Fall Workshops in September

Beginning in September 2013, Midwest New Musicals at Light Opera Works offers new programs for book writers, lyricists and composers at various levels of expertise, from experienced professionals to interested amateurs. Sessions take place at the Light Opera Works rehearsal center in Wilmette at 516 4th Street.

Midwest New Musicals, a writers workshop and development program, is an ongoing forum where lyricists, composers and book writers create and discuss their work and see it performed for the public. The musical theater writers program began in Chicago under the tutelage of John Sparks in 1986. Since 2009, Midwest New Musicals has been a resident arm of Light Opera Works, enabling the company to expand its programming and service to the field by providing an outlet for writers and for new works of musical theater.

Core Curriculum meets monthly in two, four-hour sessions on Saturdays and Sundays 10 AM-2 PM, from September 7, 2013 through June 22, 2014, led by workshop director John Sparks. Scene and song writing assignments lead to a public presentation in the Mini-Musicals Project. Application fee is $25. Once accepted, course fee is $1,200 (students 30 and younger with valid ID receive a 20% discount).

Craft Tutorials in book writing, lyric writing and composition meet weekly in two-hour sessions.

Musical Theater Bookwriting Tutorial
Tuesdays 7-9 PM. Led by John Sparks. Course fee $375(students 30 and younger with valid ID receive a 20% discount).
Participants earn the ABC's of musical theater structure and create an outline for a full-length work.
Fall session:
September 10, 17, 24, October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2013.
Repeats in winter:
March 4, 11, 18, 25, April 1, 8, 15, 22, 2014.

Writing Theater Lyrics Tutorial
Tuesdays 7-9 PM. Led by Larry Todd Johnson. Course fee $375 (students 30 and younger with valid ID receive a 20% discount).
Participants earn the ABC's of rhyme and rhythms, the value of clarity and structure, and the importance of diction in theater songs.
Fall session:
September 3, 10, 17, 24, October 1, 8, 15, 22, 2013.
Repeats in winter:
March 4, 11, 18, April 8, 15, 22, 29, May 6, 2014.

Writing Music for the Theater Tutorial
Mondays (some Wednesdays) 7-9 PM. Led by Philip Seward. Course fee $375 (students 30 and younger with valid ID receive a 20% discount).
Participants earn the ABC's of writing dramatic music and how to use music as a story-telling device.
Fall session:
September 9, 16, 23, 30, October 14, 21, 28, November 4, 2013.
Repeats in winter:
January 13, 22 (Wednesday), 27, February 3, 10, 19 (Wednesday), 24, March 3, 2014.