Writing the Broadway Musical, Paperback

Brimming with advice and techniques, this essential reference for book- and songwriters clearly explains the fundamentals of the three crafts of a musical--book, music, and lyrics. Using copious examples from classic shows, Frankel has created the quintessential musical writers' how-to. Among the topics: definitions of musical theater; differences between musical books and straight plays and between poetry and lyrics; what a score is and how it develops; how to write for the voice; and how to audition musicals for producers. With a new introduction and revised text, Frankel's work is ready to guide a new generation of aspiring writers.

Aaron Frankel has directed over a hundred musicals and plays, some twenty of them new, in addition to collaborating as a writer both on and off Broadway. He has taught at ten universities, including Columbia University, NYU, and the New School, where he has led a musical theater writing workshop for more than thirty years. He lives in New York City.