As a budding novel writer in high school (yes, I know...all my embarrassing attempts are now buried FAR from the light of prying eyes), I was often inspired by songs and song lyrics - in fact, started a novel my jr year using Heart's "These Dreams" as a jumping off point. I was always looking to music to spark my creative juices, and so many of those wonderfully ambiguous 80's new-wave lyrics were perfect fodder!
So it was with great interest I attended the first meeting, last July, of a playwriting group that was talking about using music albums to write short plays...and from that very first meeting, we were off!
Each armed with our favorite albums to share, the five of us who showed up first discussed what we wanted out of the group while we ate delicious food (always an important component of any gathering). It was determined that we would select a different album every time we met, then write a short play inspired by that album, with the goal of presenting a night of short plays and live music at some point during Summer 2015. We would meet approximately once a month and read our pieces aloud for each other. Then we proceeded to list each of our five favorite albums and put them in a hat. YES! An actual hat, from which we selected the first pieces we worked on.
So it was with great interest I attended the first meeting, last July, of a playwriting group that was talking about using music albums to write short plays...and from that very first meeting, we were off!
Each armed with our favorite albums to share, the five of us who showed up first discussed what we wanted out of the group while we ate delicious food (always an important component of any gathering). It was determined that we would select a different album every time we met, then write a short play inspired by that album, with the goal of presenting a night of short plays and live music at some point during Summer 2015. We would meet approximately once a month and read our pieces aloud for each other. Then we proceeded to list each of our five favorite albums and put them in a hat. YES! An actual hat, from which we selected the first pieces we worked on.
Nine months later, we've each written five short plays for a total of 25(!) inspired by 13 different albums. The first two months, we each picked one out of the hat - the following three months, we all did the same albums. It was interesting using music in this way - sometimes, we were inspired by the mood and feel of the melody, sometimes by the rhythm, I found myself really looking for the hidden meaning in the lyrics a lot, and even occasionally by the musician's life stories and circumstances.
In February, we stopped the generative writing process to focus on the selection and production. Our dates and venue have been chosen - our plays are being furiously revised, and we are in the middle of putting together a very interesting and eclectic Metronome Society band!
I think our work will make for an entertaining, multifaceted and provocative evening, and I look forward to getting into the rehearsal process and the continued and additional collaborations it will bring!
The Metronome Society's Self-Titled: A Live (Theatrical) Mixtape debuts at the Rendezvous' Jewel Box Theatre, Thursday-Saturday, July 16-18 at 8pm. We hope you will join us!
In February, we stopped the generative writing process to focus on the selection and production. Our dates and venue have been chosen - our plays are being furiously revised, and we are in the middle of putting together a very interesting and eclectic Metronome Society band!
I think our work will make for an entertaining, multifaceted and provocative evening, and I look forward to getting into the rehearsal process and the continued and additional collaborations it will bring!
The Metronome Society's Self-Titled: A Live (Theatrical) Mixtape debuts at the Rendezvous' Jewel Box Theatre, Thursday-Saturday, July 16-18 at 8pm. We hope you will join us!
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