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As you may know, this blog started life as a resource aimed at the members and Alumni of Birmingham University's Guild Musical Theatre Group.















Since then, I have realised that a great many artists I know could use a serious resource for discussion and debate of the major issues.















So, I open this network to any and all arts professionals who would like to use it. Over the years, I have seen some awe inspiring performances and productions by a great many talented and high ranking individuals, whose knowledge would be an asset to the artistic community. I invite these individuals and others to come forward, so that their achievements may be celebrated.






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Its is also easy to forget, that we don't often have a chance to discuss or to think about the most serious issues affecting the arts. Despite all the progress made by online networks like Facebook and Twitter, there still needs to be a place where opinions can be viewed, and I hope that this will be such a place: a neutral ground, where all are welcome, and where knowledge can be shared.















Artists of all disciplines, I hope that this will assist your development and further networking. May this resource serve you well.















Best Regards,















James Megarry















Founder















Sunday, 10 December 2017

Tim Firth is Right

Following Tim Firth's assertion in The Stage Magazine, that there should be more 'mid-scale' venues for musical theatre, I think there is a way to support this, from what was written elsewhere in The Stage.

There was an interesting article, by Phil Willmott, about the various schemes that are used to developing the next big musical project. Reading through the article, these schemes certainly do seem to offer a lot of good support. And so, the is an idea I'd like to put forward, that may allow one to help the other. My idea is this.

What if the leaders and organisers of the schemes mentioned below, came together and co-ordinated their efforts, to form a new mid-level musical theatre 'federation' of sorts, to develop - and to house - new to mid level musicals?

This may seem quite a tough challenge, but I believe that the combined resources of all musical theatre schemes, could more than fund and supply key mid-level venues around the country. After all, there are now numerous musical theatre courses being offered at universities and colleges, so the recognition for musical theatre as an industry are on the up. And this kind of collaboration, would create even more opportunities for musical theatre performers and creatives.

The schemes include:
  • Stiles and Drew Prize and Mentorship
  • Mercury Musical Developments and BEAM
  • Book, Music and Lyrics (BMI)
  • The Other Palace
  • New Musical Development Collective
  • Perfect Pitch
  • Katy Lipson, Aria Entertainment and Page to Stage
That is my idea, and scheme leaders who are reading this: if you pool your resources, you will more than achieve your aims.

Sources: The Stage Magazine, December 7, 2017 pgs 3, 24

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