Musical Theatre Writing Classes
Have you ever wondered what it takes to turn an idea into a fully developed musical theatre show?
Join a musical theatre writing class to find out! Spend the year working with other students to take your idea from the page to the stage. The class meets every week to allow students to develop and share their work, discuss their progress, and set goals for the week ahead. Classes also feature a lesson component, teaching students a variety of skills, including the following:
- Collaborative creation
- Brainstorming
- Story mapping
- Character development
- Music theory
- Composing
- Lyric writing
- Book writing (writing the script)
The class includes four Saturday workshops for script revision, set building, vocal rehearsal, and tech and dress rehearsals.
Musical theatre writing classes are offered at the following three levels:
- Introduction to Musical Theatre Writing (Ages 10 – 13)
This ten-month class introduces students to every role involved in writing a musical. Each student will compose music and write both lyrics and book (the non-musical part of the script). Each student will also be involved in set, prop, and costume design, and set, prop, and costume production. Students who wish to perform in the the final performance of the show will be cast as actors, and those who prefer to be offstage will work as stage crew. This format allows young students to try out a variety of activities and skills and discover which they most enjoy. - Intermediate Musical Theatre Writing (Ages 13 – 18)
This ten-month class builds on the skills developed in Introduction to Musical Theatre Writing by allowing students to specialize and choose whether they want to work as a composer, lyricist, or book writer. Once the show is written and enters the production and rehearsal phase, students will choose whether they wish to work as an actor, set designer, props master, costume designer, stage manager, or stage crew. This format allows students to work as a team and focus on individually developing the skills in which they are most interested. While this class is designed as a continuation of the skill-building begun in Introduction to Musical Theatre Writing, it is not necessary to have taken the introductory class before joining the intermediate class. - Introduction to Musical Theatre Writing for Adults (ages 18 and up)
This ten-month class introduces adult students to every role involved in writing a musical, while offering opportunity for specialization if desired. Each student will be given the opportunity to compose music and write both lyrics and book (the non-musical part of the script), and can focus on one specific role if they so chose. In the production and rehearsal phase each student will be involved in early discussion about set, prop, and costume design, and then students will specialize and choose whether they wish to work as an actor, set designer, props master, costume designer, stage manager, or stage crew. This format allows adult students to try out a variety of activities and skills and then to focus their creative energy where they are most interested.
Whether you’re a musical theatre fan or interested in learning to write with a group, sign up for a musical theatre writing class today!
For rates, please see the Rates page.
Musical Theatre Writing Camp
Musical Theatre Writing Camp is a one-week camp during which students write, produce, and perform an original musical! The week is packed with instruction, small-group writing, revision, design, rehearsal, and workshops by local theatre professionals. It includes a preview performance during which students receive feedback from professional theatre artists and musicians, and culminates in a final performance of their original show for family and friends.
Previous musical theatre writing camps have been run over March break and in July. 2026 dates have not yet been announced. Sign up below for the Kayleigh James Music newsletter to know as soon as 2026 dates are announced, or use the “Book Now” link to sign up for the camp waiting list today!
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