Just as NY has its ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop, so the West Coast has it's ASCAP/Disney Musical Theatre Workshop -- which this year commenced on Mar. 16 and continues through Mar. 31 at Disney Studios in Burbank.
The workshop, directed on both coasts by composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz,allows participants to present selections from their original works-in-progress for professional critique.
The four musicals being workshopped this year include Love and Order, by Doug Harvey (librettist/lyricist) and Adryan Russ (composer/lyricist); The Last Princess, by Larry Johnson (librettist/lyricist) and Allen Hong (composer); 4 A.M. Boogie Blues, by Marsha Meyers (librettist/lyricist) and Jim Owen (composer); and Avenue X, by John Jiler (librettist/lyricist) and Ray Leslee (composer).
The industry professionals who are critiquing the works-in-progress include lyricists Alan Bergman and Lynn Ahrens, composer Stephen Flaherty, composer/lyricist David Zippel and actor Jason Alexander.
The program is overseen by Michael A. Kerker, ASCAP's director of musical theatre. -- By Rebecca Paller