Showtuned

This is Part 2 of a 2 part episode where Brett and Josh discuss the "10 Commandments of Musical Theater Lyric Writing" as written by Pat Cook, former moderator of the BMI Workshop: Thou shalt be singable. Thou shalt be understandable. Thou shalt be about one thing and one thing only. Thou shalt be specific. Thou shalt write dramatically. Thou shalt not self pity (except in comedy). Thou shalt not...

This is Part 1 of a 2 part episode where Brett and Josh discuss the "10 Commandments of Musical Theater Lyric Writing" as written by Pat Cook, former moderator of the BMI Workshop: 1    Thou shalt be singable. 2    Thou shalt be understandable. 3    Thou shalt be about one thing and one thing only. 4    Thou shalt be specific. 5    Thou shalt write dramatically. 6    Thou shalt not self pity (exce...

2026 Tonys: Ragtime & Schmigadoon - Brett and Josh discuss the two big winners from the Tonys for Best Musical (Schmigadoon) and Best Revival of a Musical (Ragtime). Ragtime is Brett’s all-time favorite musical and he saw this production multiple times. Join us as we dive into what makes these shows so unique! Join for free or as a paid member to enjoy bonus content on: Patreon.com/showtuned C...

Lists are one of the most powerful brainstorming and creativity inducing processes of songwriting. Why are lists so helpful? What type of lists do we make when songwriting? Why did Sondheim love making lists? In this episode Brett and Josh dive into the importance of writing lists and the transformative effect it has on the songwriting process. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Showtuned 02:50 I Want...

In Part 2 of the Top 10 Types of Songs in Musical Theater, Brett and Josh discuss: The Charm Song, Conflict/Confrontation Song, Reprises, Act Finales, 11 O’Clock Numbers Join us on Patreon (free & paid): https://www.patreon.com/showtuned Follow on IG: https://www.instagram.com/showtunedpod Chapters 0:00 Introduction 0:34 Charm Songs 6:09 Conflict and Confrontation Songs 11:00 Reprise and Its I...

In Part 1 of the Top 10 Types of Songs in Musical Theater, Brett and Josh discuss: Opening Numbers, Character Establishment Songs, Ballads, Conditional Love Songs and Comedy Songs. Join us on Patreon (free & paid): https://www.patreon.com/showtuned Follow on IG: https://www.instagram.com/showtunedpod Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:55 What is Your "I Want Song" for the Week? 06:05 Every Song Ha...

In this episode of "Showtuned," Brett & Josh explore the fundamental differences between stage and film musicals, including storytelling techniques, audience engagement, technical considerations, and structural differences. Perfect for musical theater enthusiasts, songwriters, and filmmakers. Key Topics Differences in storytelling between stage and film musicals Technical tools unique to each...

In this episode of Showtuned, Brett Boles ( The M Tea ) and Josh Shelton ( Counterpoint Musicals ) delve into the exploration of song structure and form, emphasizing the significance of verse-chorus and AABA forms in musical storytelling. They discuss the role of song structure in character development and story momentum, providing examples from classic and contemporary musical theater. It explore...

Today we dive into the art and science of song spotting, exploring the 4 types of "pressure" in a scene that can trigger good moments for songs, and the pacing of songs in musical storytelling. We also do a fun exercise of Song Spotting the movie Toy Story as if we were adapting it into a musical. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 2:15 - I Want Songs for the Week 6:00 - Song Spotting Discussion 23:00 - Song...

The first episode of Showtuned: A podcast about musicals and storytelling through songs , introduces the concept of Song Mapping and its importance in the songwriting process. Brett and Josh ask each other to share their "I Want Song for the Week," they explore the structure and form of songs, providing examples and insights into the song mapping process. Join us on Patreon (free & paid) - htt...

Welcome to Showtuned! A podcast about musicals and the craft of storytelling through songs. Hosted by Brett Boles (The M Tea) and Josh Shelton (Counterpoint Musicals). Join the community and experience bonus content on Patreon: patreon.com/showtuned Follow on IG: @showtunedpod Each week we explore the layers of ways songs tell stories - from melodies to harmonies, lyrics to dialogue, characters to...