Musical Theatre Writing Course
Full Course Information
This complete four-module masterclass takes you through the full creative journey of musical theatre songwriting—from the first spark of story to the moment your show is ready to share with the world.
You’ll discover how character and structure shape great songs, how to craft lyrics that truly sing, how to compose music that reveals emotion, and how to integrate and present your finished work with confidence. Blending professional insight with hands-on technique, this course gives you the creative tools, storytelling instincts, and musical awareness to write songs that move, entertain, and endure.
Whether you’re an emerging writer or an experienced musician exploring theatre, this is your complete guide to creating songs that live and breathe on stage.
Module 1 — Foundations of Musical Storytelling
Every great song begins with a story. In this module, you’ll discover how dramatic structure, character motivation, and emotional truth shape every successful musical. You’ll learn the difference between dialogue and song, where numbers should fall in a show, and what each one must accomplish. Through case studies from Wicked, Dear Evan Hansen, and Company, you’ll learn to identify “song moments” and outline your own show concept. By the end, you’ll understand not just how musicals sound—but why they exist.
Module 2 — Lyrics That Sing
What makes words sing? This module reveals the craft behind great theatre lyrics—the marriage of rhythm, rhyme, emotion, and voice. You’ll learn how rhyme creates structure, how stress and syllable make language musical, and how to write lyrics that sound like heightened speech. We’ll explore imagery, metaphor, and subtext, and show how to polish a lyric from first draft to performance-ready truth. By the end, your words won’t just fit the music—they’ll create it.
Module 3 — Composing the Score
Now we turn language into sound. This module teaches you how melody, harmony, and rhythm express emotion and drive story. You’ll learn to set lyrics naturally, craft memorable motifs, and use harmonic colour and tempo to reveal character. From underscoring to orchestration, we’ll explore how every musical choice supports dramatic intent. By the end, you’ll understand how to write music that doesn’t just accompany a scene—but tells the story within it.
Module 4 — Integrating & Presenting Your Work
The final module brings it all together. You’ll learn how to integrate songs into a cohesive score, shape the arc of a full show, and refine your work through rehearsal and collaboration. We’ll cover workshopping, presenting demos, and communicating with directors and producers. Finally, we’ll look at practical steps for pitching your musical and navigating its first production. By the end, you’ll have the tools—and the confidence—to bring your show from page to stage.
“The realm of the possible is much bigger than you think it is.”
–Jeremy McCarter