STEVEN L. ROSENHAUS |
* Composer * Lyricist * Arranger * Conductor * Educator * Author * Show Doctor * |
| 1. What is a "show doctor"? A show doctor is someone who observes a stage show (usually a musical) as a sort of proofreader; it is the show doctor's job to tell the writers, director, et al., what isn't working about the show and to give suggestions on how to go about fixing it. A show doctor does not usually do the actual writing. 2. Who uses a show doctor and when? The creative team (composers, lyricists, book writer, director, choreographer, and so on) and producers. Show doctors, when used, are most often called in during a workshop or tryout production. One of the most famous instances of a show doctor was when A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum was in tryouts. The creative team (with Stephen Sondheim writing music and lyrics) knew they had a great show but the audiences just weren't laughing as much as expected. They called in Jerome Robbins to take a look. In brief, he said the opening number gave a false impression of the show, and that they needed to let the audience know they were going to see "a comedy tonight." Guess what Sondheim wrote in response? 3. So, you're a show doctor? Funny you should ask that. Yes, I am. I have been called in for a variety of shows over the last few years. Most you won't know only because they didn't get a major (read: Broadway) production. 4. What shows have you worked on? Unfortunately I'm not at liberty to talk about which shows I've been called in on (it's usually in the contract), although I sometimes drop an occasional hint. I can, however, mention two shows. One show I consulted on was produced in Dresden, Germany, in summer of 2007. This is not a musical in the traditional sense, as it is based on Part Two of Goethe's poem-play Faust. The book and lyrics, based on Goethe's original text, as well as the music, were written by Karsten Gundermann. Karsten is a fine composer with a terrific theatrical sense, but he knew something wasn't working and was able to call me in for a look. (Full disclosure: Karsten was a Masters composition student of mine at NYU about ten years ago.) He is currently in the process of fixing the show, and I look forward to seeing the improved production. In another case I wound up being asked to join the creative team; I wrote additional music for the show Free-the-Music.Com. The majority of the show was written by William Strauss (book and lyrics) and Bo Ayars (music). It's a good, fun musical, and I hope to see it on a significant stage in the near future. |
| 5. What other experience do you have? I have written music and lyrics for several shows, including Critic, which ran for 41 performances at the Judith Anderson Theatre and received very good reviews. I have been teaching composition for musical theater (including music, lyrics, show structure, script writing, etc.) at NYU since around 1998. Last but not least, my friend and colleague Allen Cohen and I literally wrote the book on the subject, Writing Musical Theater (2006, Palgrave Macmillan). Writing the book required a lot of research and critically analyzing hundreds of shows. |
| 6. At what point do I need your services? There are lots of possible answers for that. If your show is in production and the audiences aren't "getting it"--you need me. If the show is great but too long, and you don't know where to cut or how--you need me. If...well, you get the idea. You can reach me by e-mail here for more information. |