The last assignment in the first year of the Theatre Building Chicago Musical Theatre Writers Workshop is to write a 10-minute "mini-musical". The class is divided into seven groups, each with a lyricist, book writer and composer. We are all given a theme: This year's theme was "Saints and Sinners". We are also given access to five fresh-faced Loyola University musical theater students (there are two groups of five students). These students do a mock audition for us so we can size them up and get an idea of their range and talents.

Then all the lyricists get together and come up with a visual phrase, the book writers come up with one line of dialog and the composers come up with a four-note sequence. All of these must be used somewhere in the musical. I guess it's kinda fun for the audience to try and figure what those phrases are and where the notes might pop up. Even when you know the phrases, it's fun to try and see where they might be used. I quickly regretted the lyrical phrase we lyricists came up with -- "a jelly filled balloon" -- but I think I was able to work it into the lyrics somewhat naturally (HA!).

We've spent since mid-February writing and re-writing these mini-musicals with a couple of peeks into the rehearsal process to see how the piece was working. To be honest, it's been a challenge doing this long distance, but thank god for MP3s! I'm doing lyrics with Greg Silva (composer), and Bill Zorn (book writer).

Bill has entitled our musical "The Day Sister-Sister Found Her Husband Getting A Blowjob From A Member of His Flock While the Deacon Confesses His Secret Love". I'm not sure that would play in Peoria, but at least I finally got a chance to write a hymn...

The rule is that each person has the final say over his/her domain. The book writer has final say on the book, lyricist on the lyrics, and composer on the music. Thank goodness that Greg and I fell into a writing relationship pretty easily!

There are six other musicals to choose from (one is on speed dating, which I think is a brilliant idea for a 10 minute musical!). They will all be presented at Theatre Building Chicago on Sunday May 1 and Monday May 2 in the evening and at Loyola on Tuesday May 3. Tickets are $15 -- hey, not bad for seven shows!

Call Theatre Building Chicago box office for more info on how to buy tickets at 773.327.5252.

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