Class Description

Instructor: Cheryl Coons (Playwright, Librettist, Lyricist) A fun and inspirational class for fans of Stephen Sondheim, musical theatre creators who want to deepen their understanding of craft, and those who appreciate the behind-the-scenes stories of how great musicals are made! This summer, dive into six of the enduring musicals from early in Sondheim's career: "West Side Story", "Gypsy", "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", "Company", "Follies", and "A Little Night Music". You’ll learn about Sondheim’s collaborators, including Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents, and Harold Prince, as well as some of the actors who brought his early shows to life (such as Ethel Merman, Lee Remick, Angela Lansbury, Dean Jones, and Zero Mostel, among others). Besides the behind-the-scenes stories of the creation of these musicals, you’ll discover each show from the inside out, focusing on key concepts that are valuable to writers who are creating both original musicals and adaptations. While Sondheim's excellent books on lyric writing ("Finishing the Hat", "Look I Made a Hat") focused mainly on the specifics of songwriting craft, you'll examine these six musicals holistically, gaining insights about how musicals are built through the unique requirements of each story and the dynamics of each collaboration. Requirements for this Class: Students must obtain the required texts before the course begins; a detailed list with costs will be provided in advance. Expectations for this Class: Students will be asked to read the published scripts or watch filmed versions of each musical in advance of the session where the work is discussed and to prepare for a robust in-class conversation. After Completion of Class: Whether you're an experienced musical theatre writer, someone who is considering creating a musical, or someone who is drawn to the work of Sondheim, you'll have a richer understanding of the principles that underlie groundbreaking work, and the life's work of one of the foremost dramatists of our time. PlayPenn Summer Classes Starts July 23: Mondays * Summer of Sondheim – Starts July 28, 2025 Tuesdays * Writing Disability on Stage – Starts July 29, 2025 * Crafting Dialogue – Starts July 29, 2025 Wednesdays * Submissions Intensive – Starts July 23, 2025 * The New Canon: Plays by Visionary Women – Starts July 30, 2025 Thursdays * Script Rewrite Lab – Starts July 31, 2025 Fridays * Song Dramaturgy Intensive – Starts August 1, 2025