Musical theatre is largely a genre for the masses -- and what appeals to Broadway masses more than a play full of singing, acting, dancing moppets?   Okay, maybe it doesn't appeal to everyone, but to some, the presence of singing children is a charming reminder of youth and joy.   From classic musicals like "Oliver" to "Annie", to "The Sound of Music" and "Mary Poppins", the Great White Way has long been a home for stories either about or featuring the very young and the adults that accompany them.  As a writer of musicals -- check out musical revue HOW RUDE -- I have a great appreciation for the charm that young actors bring to the theatre.   What follows is a list of some of the best of them.

This blog discusses the basics of sidewalk etiquette for most pedestrian situations. Comedy writer of the musical HOW RUDE gives us the low-down.

Oh, Broadway -- you fickle mistress!   You lift some shows up to the stratosphere rewarding them with critical and financial success, and you bury others under mounds of financial loss and public humiliation.   You give, and you take away.  You award, and you punish.  Why would anyone in their right mind heed the siren call and offer themselves up to this sort of public pain and sacrifice?  Why would anyone voluntarily place their bets on the table and spin the wheel when, statistically, most players lose their shirt, and are forced to do the walk of shame in all forms of media?    And yet, they do.   Sometimes, "you can't stop the music" is a threat.

Every great Broadway musical has an 11 o'clock number: but what is the definition, where does it come from, and what are your favorite 11 o'clock numbers? Comedy writer Phillip George is here to discuss in this informative blogpost.

Cell phone etiquette, like most etiquette, is very much a “do unto others” sort of thing.  If you are concerned about the feelings of other people, you will do your best not to abuse the privilege that comes attached to using a mobile phone.  However, if you are not clear on the abuses, here they are now in order of public menace, irritation, and plain common sense.  

Over the years, Broadway has produced an incredible number of mega-hit shows that have captured the attention and love of audiences all over the world.   From The Phantom of the Opera, to Lion King, to Mamma Mia, to Hamilton, Broadway musicals tell stories that touch the heart, heal the soul, and provide emotional release for its many fans.   But if you're a musical theatre fan, then you know that some of the best comedy happens every night on Broadway, from Leopold Bloom's seduction of The Little Old Ladies in The Producers, to the various feckless contestants misspelling words in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.  Glitzy scenery, show stopping numbers, and slapstick gags happen every night, and audiences love it. 

If you are relatively new to music theory and music terminology, you might be staring at a piece you like and wondering what it all means.  For example, you may be looking at the fraction 4/4 on a piece of sheet music and you have no idea what you are looking at.   If that's you, you have come to the right place!  I will be your guide to time signatures!  So what exactly does time signature mean?   Read this simple blog post and you will be on your way to understanding the most basic organization of time in music, the time signature. 

Ghosting is when someone in a romantic relationship suddenly cuts off all communication with the other person, usually with no prior warning and without explanation.  Although the term is most commonly used to refer to a romantic relationship, it can also apply to friendships, work relationships, or even family relationships.   If you suddenly have no contact with your former date  and have been blocked by them on their phone and on social media – congratulations -- you are being ghosted.  This blog is mostly about the romantic form of ghosting, but it applies to all of it. 

The longest-running show on Broadway is “The Phantom of the Opera” which opened on January 26th, 1988, and closed April 16, 2023.   By the time the show set sail, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s smash hit musical operetta played 13, 981 performances on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre, giving a thrill to audiences worldwide.  Though it missed the Tony Award for Best Musical, at 35 years old, the original production made New York theater history and easily became the most beloved Webber musical.  The 2023 closing of "Phantom" immediately had Broadway gossip columns wondering what show would eventually pass the musical's record and become the NEW longest-running show in Broadway history.

The predominating culture of the West is a culture that embraces etiquette: don't blow your nose on your napkin, don't put your elbows on the table, and don't eat with your jaws agape.   Bad manners, it is thought, show that what you feel for others is less important than your own personal pleasure.  However, researchers from Oxford University led by Charles Spence experimented with a series of foods and their findings suggest that chewing with our mouths open makes food taste better!

Who doesn’t love a funny song?  Although they are not easy to write, the reaction of a targeted audience to a satirical composition is a joy for the writer.   I have been writing funny songs for more than 20 years (see my musical, HOW RUDE), and although I’ve picked up many tricks along the way, I’m always learning a few more from other lyricists, performers, and comedians. If you are interested in the process, you have come to the right place!   Whether you are writing showtunes, country western songs, rock ballads, or any other genre, the following tips apply to both beginners and professionals -- from Bo Burnham to you! 

A small-cast musical with limited production values can be the answer to a theatre company’s prayers.   These shows, many of which with long-running, New York off-Broadway pedigrees, can bring financial and critical rewards to a theatre season, pleasing audiences and employing actors along the way.  

If you have been to the theatre lately, Broadway or elsewhere, you might have noticed that the behavior of the audience has grown more informal along with the times -- this change is nothing new.   Like everything else, manners evolve over time (my musical, HOW RUDE, is entirely about that).  However, there are some things that have not changed, and one of them is common courtesy. Simply stated, going to the theatre means following the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  Here, then, is a simple guide to modern theatre etiquette for both beginners and veterans.

Have you ever wondered what it takes for theatre companies to bring new plays to life?  Do you want to produce your own?  Putting on a play sounds like a lot of hard work (it is), but a successful production is just a matter of imagination, organization, determination, and money.  This short guide is a great way for fledgling producers to get an overview of a production from inception to opening night.

The non-spoken part of a play includes stage directions, which are crucial in defining the play's action. They give essential information to the actors, director, designer, and other creatives about the location, timing, actions, and execution. Following these tips can help avoid pitfalls and enhance production.

Disney’s first Broadway musical was Beauty and the Beast in 1994.  This popular musical is based on the Academy Award-winning classic Disney film of the same name, which in turn was adapted from the classic French fairy tale. 

An aside is when a character in a play, movie, story, or television show talks directly to the audience while remaining unheard by the other characters in the story.  Unlike a soliloquy or monologue, an aside is a short comment quickly said before the character returns to the main action of the story. 

ONE-ACT PLAYS are as old as the Greeks (Oedipus). From the comedy of Chekov, to the Americana of Percy Mackaye, to Tennessee Williams' drama,  to the drawing room wit of John Galsworthy's, they are thrilling.  The short story of the theatrical world,  they play without intermission, have few subplots,  costume changes, setting or scenes, and move to a swift resolution.  A punchy, short form theatre piece teaches us the craft of playwriting. And what’s more fun than seeing your writing come to life on stage? But you might be searching for how to write a  play for beginners.  The rules here will also apply to any film and television format!  Read More here!