Writer Marco Pennette (an executive producer of "Ugly Betty" and "Desperate Housewives") is the writer. The development of new plot-and-music-rich musical TV series is not a surprise following the hit status of "Glee" on FOX.

The yet untitled ABC show will reportedly feature several original songs by composer Menken (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Leap of Faith and the current feature "Tangled") and lyricist Zippel (City of Angels, The Goodbye Girl, Princesses).

News of the series broke on deadline.com. "It's true," Zippel told Playbill.com on Dec. 8. "'St. Elmo's Fire' meets Rent is a good description. One of the central characters decides to turn her back on her accepted place in law school to become an actress. Marco, Alan and I are working on the pilot now. It's about kids leaving the warm embrace of college to enter the real world in pursuit of their dreams. It's about rejection, disappointment, triumph and friendship. And it will be a musical." 

Deadline.com reports that there are several musical series in development at ABC. Which one comes to light has yet to be decided.

Also in development at ABC, according to deadline.com, is a drama with music starring Tony Award winner Idina Menzel, and a musical comedy series.