A Year of Sondheim Milestones

We'd like to propose a toast to these six Sondheim titles!

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License The Prince of Egypt!

The epic musical adapted from the beloved DreamWorks Animation film is available for your stage.

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MTI Acquires & Juliet, The Larger Than Life Musical!

Audiences "Can't Stop The Feeling" with this high-energy hit!

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CANDIDE & WEST SIDE STORY: Opera? Operetta? Musical? What Do You Say?

By Kathryn Harris on August 25, 2009

in Show/Author Spotlight | Tags: Leonard Bernstein, Show Spotlight

by Yui Kitamura August 25th marks composer Leonard Bernstein's birthday. Born in 1918, this prolific artist created a wide variety of music until he died in 1990 at the age of 72. Bernstein was a great educator, conductor, and music director, as ...

Competition as Family in THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

By Kathryn Harris on August 18, 2009

in Announcements, Show/Author Spotlight | Tags: finn, sheinkin, New Shows, Show Spotlight

photo from playbill.com THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE is a hilarious peek into the world of competitive spelling. Rachel Sheinkin’s economical and brilliant book lends much to sketch comedy and improv, while William Finn’s score ...

Metatheatre in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE and DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS

By Kathryn Harris on August 18, 2009

in Show/Author Spotlight, Announcements | Tags: lambert, lane, martin, mckellar, morrison, yazbek, New Shows, Show Spotlight

Say the term "metatheatre," and most people will think of Bertolt Brecht. Brecht's shows, such as The Threepenny Opera, were groundbreaking for their use of metatheatre to provide social commentary. By having the characters in the play be aware ...

"Look Up From Your Page, Tom:" The Nature of Stories in THE STORY OF MY LIFE

By Kathryn Harris on August 18, 2009

in Announcements, Show/Author Spotlight | Tags: bartram, hill, New Shows, Show Spotlight

When writing your best friend's eulogy, it's only natural that you'd look to the past. That's exactly what successful author Thomas Weaver does in the recent Broadway musical, THE STORY OF MY LIFE. But in his quest to find the perfect story to ...

Reinventing Pure Imagination: Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka

By GERRY LIU on August 17, 2009

in Show/Author Spotlight | Tags: Anthony Newley, Charlie, Chocolate, Factory, Leslie Bricusse, Show Spotlight

Since the film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory first premiered in 1971, it seems that every child in America has thrilled to the songs of Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley. "The Candyman" alone could easily pass for the anthem of childhood, ...

"Tale as Old as Time": The Literary Origins of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

By GERRY LIU on August 14, 2009

in Show/Author Spotlight | Tags: Disney, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Show Spotlight

Over the centuries, the "tale as old as time" has seen multiple incarnations and adaptations. From fable to musical, the evolution of Beauty and the Beast is an extraordinary journey, rich in history. The motif of the beautiful maiden, forbidden ...

Make Me a Song William Finn! The Artist Behind the Music

By GERRY LIU on August 13, 2009

in Show/Author Spotlight | Tags: William Finn, Show Spotlight

st1:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } -->  For example, the song Passover, featured in MAKE ME A SONG but written for ELEGIES, is the story of a boy (Finn) and his family traveling to New Jersey to celebrate Passover with his wacky family. ...

Small Casts Equal Big Benefits!

By GERRY LIU on August 06, 2009

in Show/Author Spotlight | Tags: John & Jen, Small cast, Show Spotlight

When planning a season, many theaters turn to large ensemble shows, but there are special benefits in choosing two-person shows. The Story of My Life, the newest addition to MTI's canon of two-person musicals, features two equally strong roles for ...

Critical Analysis: Voiceovers as Oppression in SHOUT!

By Kathryn Harris on August 06, 2009

in Show/Author Spotlight | Tags: David Lowenstein, peter charles morris, phillip goerge, Show Spotlight

“England swings!” exclaim the women of the mod musical Shout!—named for the trendy mod magazine. The characters in this Phillip George, David Lowenstein, and Peter Charles Morris musical magazine struggle with what it means to be a woman in ...

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE: Now Available for Licensing!

By Music Theatre International on August 04, 2009

in Announcements, Show/Author Spotlight | Tags: Licensing, New Release, William Finn, New Shows

The Tony Award winning musical, THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, is now available for licensing! The William Finn/Rachel Sheinkin comedy opened on Broadway in the spring of 2005, where it delighted audiences, received critical acclaim, ...