The SMBPR Scoop
Greetings Friends,
January 2009
Happy New Year! Here's an update about your favorite anti-princesses.
Two steps back, three steps foreward
We always imagine writing will go faster than it actually does. Last fall when we told you we would be "forging ahead through the next two acts," well, we forged but not that far. Two rewrites of the script have brought the story and characters to a stronger, more well-developed place. Read what's new in the story.
For Christmas Kristen got a copy of Steven Schwartz's bio -- and is comforted to know that even the well-funded WICKED, which seemed to burst onto Broadway fully-formed, went through its own grinding, painful rewrites and revisions to get the story "just right." (And yes, just the idea of writing a musical feels like we're trying to "defy gravity!") And even he, creator of Godspell, Pocohontas and so mch more, felt like an "outsider" — imagine that!
Together Again
The excitement of the moment is having time to work together. We've become competent long-distance collaborators since Michael relocated to New York, but things happen faster around a piano! He's musical-directing a new show in the Bay Area, which means we can write together every week. We hope to have some new demo tunes by the end of the month.
West Coast Sneak Peek Sunday, March 1st: At the end of Michael's visit, we will gather some talent around a piano and run through all the new songs and snappy dialog. If you would like to come see what all the fuss is about, write Kristen today!
Cross Your Fingers
Between rewrites, Kristen's been writing grants and applying for festivals. We'll post any good news as it comes in. Meanwhile, Michael is applying for the graduate program in musical theater at Tisch in New York and hopes to start there this fall. Please let us know if you spot any good musical development programs, and keep sending us your good thoughts!
As our economy tanks and everything shifts around, we must remind ourselves to stay focused on our visions for a better world. Someday things will straighten out, and then...Ashley will be ready to sing!
"If I were queen for just a day...Imagine how the world could change…"
CHEERS!
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In Other News
Kristen is fighting budget cuts to public schools. She's also written an upcoming article about putting the "Great" into "Depression." Post ideas about it on her latest blog.
Michael's new short musical, "A Curious Thing" (book by Chris Bell), opens on February 10th at Center Stage in NYC.
You never know where a new pair of shoes will take you....
