Appreciating is not as easy as producing. do you agree? In fact, for most connoisseurs of the musical genre, writing a musical script is not as easy as turning the palm of the hand, no matter how broad their knowledge of the genre is. If you're currently having the same problem, try reading this article for some tips that you can put into practice. First of all, try to determine the plot of the story first. Once you have a solid plot, you can only begin to determine (or write) music and songs that better represent the story, attract and touch the audience.
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Part 1 of 3: Planning the Show
Step 1. Gather the story ideas that come to your mind
Sit down and try to write down some show ideas that come to your mind. Think of some questions or problems you could represent in a musical, such as “What is love?” or “How does it feel to be the marginalized person?” Also think about personal experiences that upset you, left you unresolved, or made you question the meaning of life. Trust me, that kind of personal experience can also inspire your musical performance.
- Consider why an idea is better represented in the format of a musical performance instead of a short story or written novel. Indeed, the existence of music and songs in a musical performance is needed to emphasize the concept of the story. For example, you may find that the story of the meeting of your parents can touch the hearts of the audience more if it is complemented by romantic Indonesian songs in the 70s.
- Take a leisurely stroll in a city park or just sit alone in a public place for inspiration. Observe how each person interacts and notice any behavior or action that looks appealing to you. After that, try to create a storyline that is inspired by the way of life of the people around you.
- Try to pick a story idea that you really like. Writing stories about topics you truly enjoy can keep you motivated throughout the scriptwriting process and can't wait for the script to be shown one day.
Step 2. Summarize the story in one sentence
Once you've come up with a story idea, try to summarize the story into one sentence to help you understand it better. Try answering the question, "What is this manuscript about?" in your summary. Make sure you focus more on the dramatic moments that make up a character's life instead of on character names and other trivia information.
- For example, a one-sentence summary for the musical “Fiddler on the Roof” might read, “A poor Jewish farmer tries to marry off his three daughters and must confront anti-Semitic principles that threaten his village and the way of life of the people in it.”
- The summary lists the plot as well as the show's main themes, such as "way of life" and "antisemitism".
Step 3. Study the content of other musicals for your inspiration
To find the right story idea, you must study and watch a variety of other musical performances. For example, try watching a live musical in a theater or reading a script for a popular musical in the library, and learn how the creators combine songs, music, and dialogue to create an effective and memorable performance for your audience. Some examples of classical musical performances that you can use as references are:
- Cats
- Fiddler on the Roof
- The Phantom of the Opera
- My Fair Lady
- Sweeney Todd
- Guys and Dolls
- Hamilton
- Be More Chill
- Dear Evan Hansen
Part 2 of 3: Writing the Screenplay
Step 1. Determine the main meaning of your story
After deciding on a story idea, try to think about the main meaning of the story. Ask yourself, “What is the main theme of this story?”, “What is the most important issue that this story is trying to convey?”, etc. Trust me, identifying the main meaning or message of a powerful story helps you focus on creating content that conveys every emotional aspect of the script with greater precision.
In a musical called Sweeney Todd, by and large, the show tells of a barber in the Victorian era who wants to kill a judge after the judge – who turns out to be in love with Sweeney Todd's wife – imprisoned him on baseless charges. Despite the general meaning of this, the show is actually about the price a vengeful person has to pay, and how anger and hatred can destroy a person's daily life
Step 2. Create a storyboard or script sketch
To make the scriptwriting process easier, try creating a storyboard that serves as a visual representation of each scene. You can draw a simple storyboard on standard-sized paper or even drawing paper. Using this method will help you to better understand each character's actions and motivations. As a result, it will be easier for you to write music and songs to complement your performance.
First, try to make a rough list of each scene and start creating a visual representation of each. There's no need to create a perfect visual image and most importantly, make sure your storyboard contains the most important visual elements for each scene. Don't be afraid to create multiple storyboards or sketches for one scene. The more detailed your sketch of the scene, the more intense and quality your performance will be
Step 3. Create a song for your show
One of the most important parts of a musical performance is the score of the song. In fact, there are four types of musical performances based on the way they are presented, namely all-sung (wholly sung), opera, integrated, and non-integrated. In an all-sung musical, all the dialogue in the script will be sung by the actors, as is the case with opera. By far, the most popular type is the integrated musical performance. Simply put, this type of musical performance combines singing and verbal dialogue on stage.
- Have you ever composed a song before? Why not try writing a song for every scene in your storyboard? If you want, you can also start writing a title song or two (for example, the theme song for your musical).
- Try using the help of software to translate your hums, songs, or even whistles into scores. This method is worth trying for those of you who have never composed stage music, but have talent and interest in music and want to translate your musical ideas into sheet music.
Step 4. Create the lyrics of the song
In fact, you can even write songs and lyrics for a musical, especially if you really understand the story and have good musical skills. If your musical skills are not good, try to find a partner who is good at composing stage music. In fact, most musical scripts are not written alone. On average, it takes at least one person to compose the music and another to write the lyrics.
Try making a list of the songs you've prepared for the show. Notice if the amount of music and scenes is worth it. Setting up more music than scenes isn't wrong. However, at least make sure the flow of the show and the transitions between scenes remain smooth
Step 5. Make sure the music and the story you prepare blend well
Organize your script so that every scene, music, and lyrics can be put together in the same document. Make sure the music sequences and scenes you create also sound coherent, cohesive, and related. In other words, make sure the transition between spoken dialogue and sung song sounds smooth.
For example, there is a scene involving a father and daughter character. Then, the scene is followed by a song sung by the princess. If that's the case, make sure the song tells the relationship between the two characters so that it sounds coherent with the previous scene. Surely, the flow of your musical performance will look better
Part 3 of 3: Perfecting the Show
Step 1. Evaluate your manuscript
Do this alone or with the help of those closest to you. If possible, prepare a piano or other instrument that is important in sheet music. After that, read your lines out loud and sing the entire song according to the listed notes with the help of a musical instrument. Listen to how the dialogue and songs you sing sound, pay attention to any dialogue that sounds strange or confusing, and make sure all songs and dialogue sound coherent and neat.
Underline or mark the parts of the scene that don't feel right. After reading the entire manuscript, return to revise the marked sections and improve their quality
Step 2. List the scene directions on the stage
Scene directions provide an explanation of where the actors are on stage and how they enter a scene or song. Make sure the direction of the scene is as simple, short, and clear as possible! Do not include scene directions that are too long or complex to make it easier for the actors concerned to understand.
- If you want to explain that scene A will be filled with a certain song, include the caption “Music starts (insert song title here)” in the script. That way, the actor who plays the role will know that at that time, there will be a song being performed.
- Also include details about the entry and exit positions of each actor, for example STAGE RIGHT or STAGE LEFT.
- Include a description of the character's reaction, only if the reaction is really important to emphasize the feel of the scene. For example, “VELMA (shocked), why did you do that?” or “JOHN (crying), I can't sing anymore.”
Step 3. Find actors to perform your script
After perfecting the script, the next step is to present it on stage! For that, try hiring a professional musical actor to perform your musical script in public. If you wish, you can also work with a local musical theater group.
