MUSICAL THEATRE FEST 2024

Since its inception in the late 1990s, DreamWorks Animation Television has produced some of the most popular, imaginative programming on family-friendly TV. And high-quality music plays a huge part in keeping their roster of shows so engaging. In this seminar, DreamWorks music executives present their creative process, soup to nuts. They’ll cover how they hire their composers and lyricists, narrate a song’s lifecycle from pre-production all the way to air, lay out how they collaborate with both internal and external teams and explain current musical trends in the animation world.

Panelists: Alexandra Nickson (SVP of Music, DreamWorks) and Vivian Buff (Director of Music, DreamWorks)

What does it take to write lyrics that can unite audiences of all ages? Find out in this intimate conversation with Glenn Slater, the acclaimed lyricist of award-winning songs from Tangled and Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure, and stage musicals like The Little Mermaid, School of Rock, Sister Act, and A Bronx Tale. Slater's portfolio has captivated audiences worldwide, and he’s known for collaborating with mega-composers like Alan Menken and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Here, Slater will discuss his creative process from concept to composition, and his insights on what makes a masterful lyric for musical theatre and film.

Panelist: Glenn Slater

This panel will take the audience on a journey to the past to revisit one of the most beloved animated films, Anastasia. You’ll hear from three people who were intimately involved with the film’s creation: Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty – the award-winning songwriting team behind its immortal music – and producer Kevin Bannerman. These three will reminisce on how the storyboard came together, discuss the influences that led to its inception (from a live action film to a French play!), and celebrate the songs and hit soundtrack that made the film such a success.

Moderator: Kevin Bannerman
Panelists: Lynn Ahrens (lyricist) and Stephen Flaherty (composer)

Much of Hollywood A-list composer Heitor Pereira’s (Despicable Me, Puss in Boots, The Angry Birds franchise) career has been spent crafting wildly creative and engaging scores for animated films to high acclaim. In this intimate one-on-one conversation with songwriter and Schmigadoon creator Cinco Paul, he’ll discuss the art of collaboration, crafting a score that seamlessly blends both original songs and cues, and the benefits of going your own way in your music career. Don’t miss this panel journey through Pereira’s impressive animated repertoire of contemporary classics and hot new hits alike.

Join a group of pro music creators for a wide-ranging discussion about their experiences working with top Hollywood studios on award-winning animated series and films. In this rollicking roundtable, our panel of in-demand songwriters and composers will cover subjects like career motivations, creative approaches and tips for how you can snag that dream role writing music for your favorite animated projects!

Moderator: Michelle Lewis
Panelists: Jeannie Lurie, Vidjay Beerepoot, Layla Minou, Ryan Lofty & Courtney Lofty, and Raye Zaragoza

Join us for a musical tribute to Howard Ashman, the brilliant lyricist behind many of Disney’s most beloved songs of all time. This performance will celebrate Ashman’s unparalleled talent and contributions to musical theatre, from the charming standards of The Little Mermaid to the unforgettable ballads of Beauty and the Beast and the doo-wop sci-fi satire of Little Shop of Horrors. Celebrate the lyricist who defined animated movie musicals for an entire generation with this night of show-stopping performances, surprise guests and nostalgic musical theatre magic! Steam your vocal cords and get ready to sing along – we KNOW you know the words

This first session finds these two industry dynamos discussing how they hire and work with music creators on programming produced by Sony Pictures Television – Kids for Disney Junior. This first session will feature these two industry dynamos discussing the current programming slate at Disney Junior, their hiring practices, and advice for emerging songwriters and composers. At the close of the panel, Joe and Jay will announce a songwriting assignment. Six previously selected songwriting teams will be given the opportunity to write a brand new song based off of an assigned brief. They will then have until 3:30 PM to write and prepare to present their songs live (on the piano) during the second session.

Panelists: Joe D’Ambrosia (EVP & General Manager of Sony Pictures Television - Kids) and Jay Stutler (SVP, Music - Disney Television Animation)

During session two of this workshop, all six songwriting teams will present their work (live on the piano) to Joe and Jay. The two executives will provide constructive feedback on tone, style, lyrical content, and melody. They’ll also provide best practices for submitting demos in real-world scenarios, to further set up any emerging composers and lyricists for success.

Panelists: Joe D’Ambrosia (EVP & General Manager of Sony Pictures Television - Kids) and Jay Stutler (SVP, Music - Disney Television Animation)