COHORT 4 Now Enrolling!
The MR Creative Studio
Flagship Musical Theatre Writing Workshop Course
Does Any of This Sound Familiar?
You want to learn to write for musical theatre, but you need somewhere to learn?
You have applied to BMI, ASCAP, or similar programs and haven’t been accepted, don’t live in NYC, or can’t spend grad school prices?
You know you have something unique to offer in your own voice, but everything always seems tailored to only one way of writing?
You desire a supportive community of musical theatre writers, but aren’t sure where to find them?
You want to experiment and try new things, but are paralyzed by fear of failure?
You know we are stronger together as a community, but you see competition everywhere you look?
You want to find like-minded collaborators, but don’t know where to look?
But what if it there was an easy solution for you to find what you’re looking for?
“I learned a thousand times more than I ever thought was possible, and I’m excited to keep writing!” - Megan Rayl
Are you ready to join in? Scroll all the way down!
What If…?
You could learn entirely online without having to move to NYC?
You had all course spaces and materials in one place that you could access from anywhere?
You could learn all the major foundations in just 5 months?
You could meet and work with collaborators from all over the world without leaving your home?
You could actually afford the education with payment options tailored to your needs?
You had the flexibility to share your work live or pre-recorded with just the click of a button?
You could revisit any course days you missed or revisit the ones you loved through easy-access recordings?
There was a place to learn musical theatre writing that was warm and welcome?
There was no audition, but a short 1-on-1 application process centered on you?
You could learn, experiment, and grow without fear of failure or judgement?
You knew you could be a part of a community forever, who will lift you up when you succeed and catch you if you fall?
You could discover the musical writer within you, and be celebrated for it?
“So much more than I ever anticipated” - Andy Lebon
My Goal for You:
Is for you to be able to leave behind the mindsets of zero-sum, status quo, gotta-do-it-alone, and “what if I fail”…
as you join me in an open and easy-to-navigate space of:
Affirmation, Education, Community, Support, Experimentation, Open Minds and Open Hearts.
“Lead with Heart, Open Minds, and Unlock One’s Greatest Potential.”
Ready to show what you’ve got?
Scroll all the way down!
*NOTE: The course name recently changed to - “the flagship musical theatre writing workshop course”
“I feel like this class has supercharged my writing in ways that I didn’t expect” - Julie Richardson
The Idea
The entire collective community is built upon the idea that anyone who considers themselves to be - or would like to be - a musical theatre writer should have access to a collaborative, supportive, educational environment to learn about musical theatre writing.
This environment is based on a willingness to learn, experiment, collaborate, grow, be open, support others, and be supported.
You may feel uncertain about how to give positive and supportive feedback, but I’ve got you. I will lead us through the specific Feedback Process we will be following, which focuses on what is best for the writer in the vulnerable moment of sharing in order to most effectively help them grow and succeed moving forward.
The 5 Course Pillars
The Core Curriculum - The Major Foundations of Musical Theatre Writing, both in songwriting and beyond. (listed out below)
Songwriting Challenges - 9 challenges for 6 songs, focusing on speed, genre, collaboration, pushing boundaries, rewriting, editing, and rapid growth.
Collaboration - Learning to collaborate, experimenting with different types of collaboration, writing with multiple partner pairings, and allowing for new approaches to songwriting.
Feedback - Using our Feedback Process to learn how to give and receive useful feedback, learning to center the writers’ goals and take care of everyone in the room, and learning to rewrite from the feedback received.
Curriculum Flexibility - Allowing space in the curriculum for sessions influenced by questions and special topics of interest (beyond the Core Curriculum), in addition to occasional guest lessons.
At the End of this Course You Will Have…
A foundational understanding of musical theatre song-writing in various forms.
3 songs written with various collaborators.
3 revised songs written with various collaborators.
Multiple approaches to writing songs.
Insights to creating a full musical, from structure to development and plenty in-between.
Free membership to the Musical Theatre Writing Collective online hub for the course duration.
A forever community of musical theatre writers in the online hub, which will only continue to grow.
Recordings of the classes which include lessons, shares, and feedback sessions.
Experience giving and receiving feedback on new musical material.
The ability to blend your unique voice with tried and true structures.
The knowledge that you are a writer and you can do this.
“What a dream space and community for musical theatre writers!” - Amy Andrews
The Details
Course Length & Time
The course will be 20 weeks with one 2-hour session each week.
Class sessions for Cohort 4 will begin August, 30th 2023 and run through January 24th, 2024 (OFF 11/22 & 12/27)
Sessions take place on Wednesday evenings, from 7:15pm - 9:15pm (EST).
*Please note that a second time option on Fridays from 12:00pm - 2:00pm (EST) might become available dependent on interest. This would be for our friends in Europe and those who are more free in the daytime.
What We Will Do Together
Together we will walk through the curriculum of the course in an open, discussion.-style format. Since this course is live and synchronous, you will have the ability to ask questions, receive examples and demonstrations, and add to the discussion as we move through the foundations as a group.
There will be 6 song challenges of varying types and complexity, and you will be paired with different collaborators for each song. Each team will have two weeks to complete the challenge before presenting their song to the class in a Feedback Process that centers around support, growth, and what you brought to the table.
The latter 3 songs will include rewrite weeks, where the team will have the opportunity to revise their work based on the feedback given. Everyone will take part in the feedback process, which will be moderated by myself and occasional guests who fit the atmosphere of the community we are building.
Throughout our time together, you will have the ability to speak and grow as a community through a connected online group and the Musical Theatre Writing Collective, where you can seek answers to questions as well as support. Your class will have their own private space to connect, in addition to all of the resources, tools, opportunities, and semi-weekly labs available in the MTWC online hub!
How to Apply
There is no audition for this program. Instead there is a personalized and collaborative application call (scroll to the bottom for a quick form), the purpose of which is to be certain we are creating the affirmative, supportive, and safe educational community that we all need and desire.
The class size will be capped at 16 writers who can be paired into 8 composer/lyricist pairings - purely for logistical reasons in the foundational stage of the course - but anyone is welcome. Also, since this is an online course, geography is much less likely to stand in our way!
The official enrollment period begins one month before the start date and goes until Cohort 4 begins or until 16 spots have been filled.
Scroll down to apply now and save your spot!
“The material is so well thought out with all sorts of examples that you definitely won’t find anywhere else.” - Rafael Santos
Your Investment
Your investment in this 20-week educational adventure will be $2,200 for the official enrollment period for Cohort 4.
This price includes everything mentioned above for less than the average college course, and with no need to move to a big city.
If this number gives you hesitation, do still schedule a chat with me, knowing that we will have a conversation and I will do my best to make this work for you.
Payment options and limited scholarships are available. For example, standard payment options are:
1 payment of $2,000 ($200 discount)
2 payments of $1,100
4 payments of $550
5 payments of $440
20 payments of $110
The Core Curriculum
These lessons are part of the Core Curriculum and are included in every cohort of the course.
The 32-Bar Chorus - AABA & ABAB/C and their various uses
Rhyme - The Different Types & Their Uses
Lyric Scansion - What it is & Why it’s Important in MT
Crafting Song Journeys
The Structure of a Musical - A Look at Various Types
Song Placement - aka Song Spotting
Verse / Chorus Songs and Pop Structure
Character Establishment - In & Out of Songs
Composition Foundations
Collaboration - Types & Tips
Show Development
Charm Songs
Crafting a Musical World
Musical Motif
Comedy Songs
Writing for the Voice as an Instrument
Flexible Curriculum Examples
These are examples of lessons included in the curriculum from past cohorts.
Orchestration & Orchestrators
Stage Actions & Direction - How much to use and when?
The Jobs of the Dramaturg
Knowing Your Audience
Writing Underscore & Incidental Music
Guest Topic Examples
These are examples of guest lessons included in past cohorts.
Creating Characters that Feel Real
Writing Outside Your Lived Experience
Lyric Mapping & Framing
Working with Collaborative Directors
Creating a New Character Perspective - with Maria Fornes Exercises
“Everything I could have been looking for as an aspiring musical theatre writer” - Lachlan Foster
Feeling ready? Scroll all the way down!
What Cohorts 1 and 2 Have to Say…
“It was a deep joy and an absolute privilege to be part of the very first Musical Theatre Writing Workshop Course cohort with Michael Radi. Michael expertly curated a Zoom room full of kind, intelligent, creative, and fun people with all different kinds of musical theatre writing experience. Over the 20-week course, we learned from Michael, from terrific guest professional artists, and from each other about the wild ride of musical theatre writing. It was AMAZING to watch everyone grow together as writers as we went from a room full of strangers to a close-knit group of supportive friends, colleagues, and collaborators. Michael gets all the credit for creating a space where we could all show up as our truest and best selves to learn and grow into a strong community. This is the very beginning of MTWC, and I cannot wait to see what it becomes. What a dream space and community for musical theatre writers!”
-Amy Andrews librettist/lyricist/dramaturg/producer, Cohort 1
“I am a Musical Theater actor who decided to take Michael’s class because I enjoy writing, I wanted a better understanding of Musicals, and I already had a great deal of admiration for Michael and his work. His class really delivered so much more than I ever anticipated. After 20 short weeks, I feel like I have a full tool belt to continue writing quality songs for the musical stage. Each lesson was engaging and taught in a way that anyone could comprehend (not just people with prior writing experience). The environment was as nurturing and supportive as could be. I developed trust and comfort with Michael and my classmates very quickly. Therefore, I was able to be vulnerable and accept complements/critique with an open mind. I now have 4+ original songs that I’ve written with different collaborators. Overall, if you’re looking for an experience thats equally parts artistic, fun, and cathartic, I couldn’t endorse Michael’s class enough.”
-Andy Lebon, Cohort 1
“This course was just what I needed to shake up my perspectives, explore new connections, and freshen up everything I thought I knew about songwriting. The opportunity to collaborate in new ways with new people in an affirming, supportive, and growth-oriented environment did wonders to pull me out of my own songwriting rut, and to feel like part of a community that will grow along with me for the rest of my career. Thanks Michael!”
-Sadie Bowman, Cohort 1
“Michael's course is a good step even for people who are new to the craft and are timid about moving forward, like I was. Now having completed the course, I am confident that I have what I need to create good work. The course helpfully focused on core principles of effective writing, and taught tried-and-true techniques that are a good foundation and good springboard for folks who want to do more experimentation. The amount of writing required was the perfect level for me: rigorous and challenging, but manageable for someone who works full-time outside the industry. I am thankful for the skills and confidence I gained from this course!”
-Christian Smith, Cohort 2
“Michael Radi's Flagship Musical Theatre Writing Workshop Course is everything I could have been looking for as an aspiring musical theatre writer. Michael ensured each lesson was fun and informative, especially in his knowledge on musical theatre voices and history.
Even as a professional composer, Michael's course was rigorous as much as it was welcoming. Aside from the many friends I have now made, I have taken away a newfound confidence in my ability to write musical theatre songs and lyrics, both crafts Michael was thorough in explaining. Participants are required to present, in total, six songs, and though I was nervous to present my work at no point did I feel discouraged to do so. Quite the opposite, I greatly awaited each presentation week thanks to Michael's efforts to ensure an enjoyable, positive atmosphere. I really felt my craft improve with each song!
I highly, highly recommend anyone who has an inkling of interest in pursuing musical theatre creation to sign up for Michael's course. International interest, too. I am from Australia, myself, and my experience was just the same as those based in the United States. Come join the cohort!”
-Lachlan Foster, Cohort 2
“The Musical Theatre Writing Workshop Course is a phenomenal way to hone your skills as a lyricist or composer. The course does a great job of providing a foundation for musical theatre writing by having multiple interactive lessons. One of the best parts of this course is the collaboration you get to have with fellow participants. With fellow participants, you get to utilize the skills learned in class to work on several songs throughout the course. This not only allows you to focus your writing on building particular skills but allows you to start building a repertoire of completed songs. You get to work on multiple songs together and share your work in a positive and affirmative environment. The feedback given in the course is also extremely helpful and always done in a respectful manner. This course helps one develop further knowledge regarding musical theatre terminology, song structure, song types, show structure, etc. I think this course is perfect for someone with a good knowledge of musical theatre, who wants to further their musical theatre writing abilities.”
-Maria Cento, Cohort 2
“Before joining this course, I wasn’t sure if I was able to compose for Musical Theatre. After completing the course, I feel confident that I can compose for the theatre. More importantly, I feel supported and encouraged to continue writing.”
-Megan Rayl, Cohort 2
“This course is tailored for anyone who wants an extremely welcoming and positive environment to grow immensely as a Musical Theatre writer. The material is so well thought out with all sorts of examples that you definitely won’t find anywhere else. It’s equally amazing to find so many passionate like-minded people guided by such a mindful person as Michael. This experience will certainly help you evolve as an artist and enrich your skills as a creator!”
-Rafael Santos, Cohort 2
But, Who is this Michael Radi?
Hi there! Welcome to the community! You may be wondering to yourself: “who is this Michael Radi?”
In addition to being a musical theatre composer, lyricist, librettist, performer, musical director, vocal coach, and educator, I am a firm believer in life-long education of all varieties. Formally, I was trained in musical theatre writing through the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop, which was a transformational experience at that time and provided a solid foundation for my knowledge.
My informal training, however, has been extensive and includes such experiences as having worked for Pasek and Paul, classes in text analysis, composition, orchestration, and history, practical experience writing multiple musicals and being produced, hands-on analysis as a performer, musical director, and vocal coach, as well as a continued practice of self-directed learning through books, seminars, and masterclasses.
Professionally, I’ve seen my work performed in venues across NYC including the Gershwin Theater and Feinstein’s/54 Below, as well as two world premiere productions at the Bristol Valley Theater - The King’s Legacy in 2019 and ‘S Wonderful: An Evening With George Gershwin in 2021. I’ve worked with an incredible array of artists, including such wonderful human beings as: Jackie Burns, Teal Wicks, Libby Servais, Betsy Struxness, Paul Staroba, and Jen Wineman, just to name a few.
From all of my artistic experiences, I have formed a set of beliefs that I feel helps all artists to create their most extraordinary work, and forms an environment that cultivates that work to become the best it can be.
These beliefs are the foundation of my coaching and educational practice: 1) The more information you have available to you, the greater your chance of success, 2) Community and support can not be overvalued in the success formula, and 3) Every person, situation, and day are unique, and therefore all constructive feedback should be individually tailored to reflect this individuality.
We all learn differently, which is beautiful. We deserve a space where we feel safe to try new things and experiment, knowing that we will be supported and celebrated as we continue to grow our work, and ourselves.
I welcome you to this community with a big, open heart! I so hope you will join me!
All it takes is a zoom chat. Schedule now below!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have experience writing musical theatre in order to join?
Nope! General writing or composition experience is helpful, but if you want to learn how to write lyrics or theatre music, that is enough to come have a chat with me!
What if I can’t attend every session?
I understand that perfect attendance will be hard for most people. Every session will be recorded for you, and we’ll do our best to make the share schedule work!
What if I can’t afford the listed price?
Payments do not need to be made upfront - there are options available! Come schedule your call with me and together we will do our best to figure out what works for you. Education and community are the big goals here!
What if I’m nervous?
That is completely normal and totally understandable. Trying new things and meeting new people can be scary-making. But so often, the reward is so worth it. Plus, we’re here to create a supportive and lasting community of good company - I’d love for you to join!
Will there be more to the community?
Oh yes. Definitely! This course is just the beginning. The plan is to grow the Collective into a forever community with opportunities and events for writers at all stages. And it all starts here!
