The Craft of Writing Musical Theatre
Twenty years in the making…at last, ANMT’s famous year-long course, now in book form!
Master Professional Bookwriting Techniques
Unlock the Secrets of Song Spotting
Deep Dive into Lyric Progressions & Rhyme
Learn Advanced Topics like Adaptation & Metaphor
Includes craft essentials as well as several Masterclass-level topics.
The Craft of Writing Musical Theatre
What’s inside
Bookwriting
Outlining, plot, dialogue, exposition, rough draft, feedback, final draft, &c.
Composing the score
Ballads, comedy songs, ensemble songs, musical scenes, writing for piano, vocal ranges, etc.
Toolbox
Format score, script, and lyrics. 168 pages of examples and annotations.
Lyric writing
Structure, rhyme, progression, prosody, song-spotting, metaphor, list songs, &c.
The Biz
Rights, agreements, copyright, marketing, approaching producers, &c.
And more!
Insider tips, format guidelines, idea-generators, “Five Musicals (Most) Every Musical Makes” &c.
topics in the index
Pages
“It took ANMT to lead me through the steps to learn the craft, develop the skills, and ultimatley find my own voice as a writer.” (Robin Share, Windjammers.)
“We can’t imagine how we would produce an original musical again without NMI.” (Tim Dang, East West Players.)
“For the person interested in musical theatre, there are few places greater at bringing together support, critique, and artistic collaboration than The Academy of New Musical Theatre.” (Sachi Oyama, IMELDA.)
Excerpt from the section on bookwriting
Excerpt from the section on lyric writing.
Excerpt from the section on composition
"The Craft of Writing Musical Theatre"
Master bookwriting, music, lyrics. Explore theatre structure, lyric, song writing. Essential guide for musical storytellers of every level.
The Craft of Writing Musical Theatre
Folks who bought this book also bought one of our three other essential textbooks. Plunge into the deep-end with A Crash Course in Musical Theatre. Gain industry insights on producers (and how to approach them) with The Business of Musical Theatre. Expand your writing toolkit with Format Guidelines to Musical Theatre, a priceless resource to help you make your submissions look like the pros! All in one indispensable collection. Master the art, business, and craft of musical theatre with this quartet, ensuring you’re well-prepared for a successful journey into the heart of the musical world.
A Crash Course in Writing Musicals
Your fast track from idea to stage essentials. This compact guide offers a quick, engaging overview of the core concepts—from outlining and song spotting to basic formatting and business steps. Perfect for writers with deadlines, collaborators needing a quick study, or anyone seeking a foundational understanding in just a few hours.
The Business of Musical Theatre
Navigate the industry like a pro. This essential handbook demystifies the world beyond the writing desk, covering collaboration agreements, copyright, underlying rights, pitching to producers, finding agents, understanding development paths, and avoiding common pitfalls. Equip yourself with the knowledge to get your musical seen, supported, and produced.
Format Guidelines for Musical Theatre
Ensure your work meets professional standards. This detailed technical manual provides industry-standard formatting rules and examples for scripts, scores, lead sheets, and lyrics. Make your musical readable, producible, and submission-ready with clear templates and best practices crucial for collaboration and evaluation.
- Get writing right away with A Crash Course in Writing Musicals
- Perfect your craft and sharpen your skills with The Craft of Writing Musical Theatre
- Be ready to meet producers with The Business of Musical Theatre
- Format like a professional with Format Guidelines for Musical Theatre
“Unlock the full spectrum of musical theatre artistry.”
“Elevate your story-telling skills.”
“Exactly what every musical theatre writer needs. At last!”
About the author.
SCOTT GUY
Scott has been actively involved as a writer and producer in both theatre and television. He has six Emmy nominations, and over 100 produced television scripts for Warner Bros., FOX-TV, Disney, Discovery Channel, PBS, etc. Scott is the Executive Director of New Musicals Inc. where he supervises the development of musicals for live and digital platforms. He created the Lyric Lab over fifteen years ago and has supervised the development of hundreds of musicals. He has been Winner/Finalist for the Richard Rodgers Award, Eugene O’Neill Musical Theatre Award, four-time winner for Stages Musical Theatre Festival, and many other accolades. His theatre scripts, including The Fish Whisperer, The Maltese Falcon Musical Nightmare, Just-So Stories, Der Strunkenwhitenlieder, and Rootabaga Stories have had multiple productions throughout the United States.
THE ACADEMY FOR NEW MUSICAL THEATRE
ANMT was founded over 40 years ago. Under its parent organization, New Musicals Inc., The Academy continues to offer a comprehensive, multi-year musical theatre curriculum for bookwriters, lyricists and composers (the Core Curriculum), as well as an on-going writers’ workshop. ANMT develops several dozen musicals each year for producers and writers all around the country through table readings, workshops, concerts, and occasional productions.
Scott Guy