Holly's back! In this episode, Holly shares 6 points of advice for staying sane in the journey of writing musical theatre.

1) Let go of the fact that there is no set path to success
2) Listen to others' work and applaud them; keep abreast of what's happening
3) Work on your mindset - there is room for everyone to be successful
4) Make your bed and work in a different space
5) Celebrate your wins, no matter how small
6) Go about your path in your own way; embrace your unique journey

As always, Holly can be reached through her website: https://www.hyrichards.com/

Happy writing, everyone!

Oh, no! You can't mean it! Not my favorite song! Noooooooooo.....

Yes. She does mean it. Sometimes we have to be willing to "kill our darlings" in order to make our show the best it can be. Join Holly as she discusses just a few of the reasons why we must, at times, make the ultimate sacrifice for the benefit of our art.

What makes a strong melody? What is it about certain songs that people simply cannot resist singing along ("Sweet Caroline...Ba Ba BA")? 

In this episode, we take a look at things like melodic patterns, melodic leaps, melodic range, and more.

This episode marks the first of many in the fascinating and satisfying realm of lyric writing. Today Holly talks about three main concepts to keep in mind while writing lyrics for your show: 

• You Get One Chance
• Write the Way People Speak
• Find Integrity in True Rhyme Schemes

The subject of lyric writing is so vast and nuanced that Holly looks forward to exploring more with you in subsequent episodes. Also, shout out to NAMT and the Festival of New Musicals!

In this episode, I go more in depth into the beginnings of my show Welcome to Zion and why its premise matters. It's no secret that LGBTQ people can often feel on the outside of their faith communities, for many reasons. There is no denying that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - aka Mormon or LDS - has an especially troubling dichotomy between what is taught to be necessary for salvation and the experience and mental health of its LGBTQ members. Why is it so distressing to be a gay Mormon? Come listen to me - a straight quasi-Mormon - discuss how I am trying to bring much-needed light to this urgent issue.

In this episode, Holly talks about her music training and the wide spectrum of skill level that exists in the world of theatre writing. She also shares some resources for learning music theory without having to pay for a college degree.

In this episode Holly discusses her recent time in the recording studio with Austin Comfort laying down some demo tracks for Welcome to Zion. She also gives a brief overview of her trip this week to New York City, as well as discussing why the magic and voyeuristic component of live theatre is important.

Today Holly discusses the question she gets asked the most - what comes first, the music or lyrics?

Every writer gets to find what process works best for them. Learn about Holly's process and glean some tips to discover your own!

For show notes, visit my website at www.hyrichards.com/podcast

In this episode, Holly gives you a glimpse into her upbringing and history as a writer of musicals, as well as insight into how she began writing Welcome to Zion and why.

The teen suicide rate in Utah has been rising exponentially in the last decade, especially among LGBTQ+ youth. This new musical follows one Mormon family who, upon learning their son is gay, must confront the beliefs that have been the foundation of their faith. Maya and Jason are devastated when their son, Tyler, lets them in on his long-held secret. Jason goes into denial, Maya seeks solace in a new neighbor, and Tyler must find a way to navigate the world of both hate and love that his coming out has introduced—a world where, sometimes, suicide feels like the only option.

One thing that you learn reeeeally quickly in the musical theatre writing world: there aren’t a whole lot of us out there doing this. 

Because of that, there isn’t a sure-fire, beaten path to follow when it comes to building your career as a playwright/composer. And that’s okay. You’re gonna do it ANYWAY. Because a life spent creating what you know you were born to create is ALWAYS a life worth living, no matter the challenges.