Boston Singers' Resource News Bulletin, March 12, 2002


Featured in this News Bulletin is a very talented colleague and friend of yours, Mr. Michael Wartofsky. Mr. Wartofsky is a wonderful composer and professor of music at the Berklee School of Music. In 1997 he founded THE NEW OPERA AND MUSIC THEATER INITIATIVE, which features a weekly workshop for composers and lyricists and offers opportunities for singers and accompanists to perform new works. Membership has grown from 4 writers in 1997 to approximately 200 today.

MICHAEL WARTOFSKY AND THE NEW OPERA AND MUSIC THEATER INITIATIVE: Since September 1997, Michael Wartofsky has offered a unique opportunity for local composers, lyricists and librettists to participate in a weekly musical theater writing workshop entitled THE NEW OPERA AND MUSIC THEATER INITIATIVE (NOMTI); www.nomti.org. Filling a void in the Boston Musical Theater scene, The New Opera and Musical Theater Initiative (NOMTI) allows writers to find new collaborators, explore works-in-progress and refine their craft, specifically in writing for the musical stage. The organization features a weekly writers workshop, public presentations, and a week-long festival of new works in June. Local performers are used for the presentations. Auditions are held in April-May.

The weekly writing workshop offers participants a chance to share works-in-progress, give and receive constructive feedback, meet new collaborators, and explore writing techniques through collaborative exercises, discussion and analysis of standard repertoire. The format alternates between "craft" nights and "performer" nights. "Craft" nights feature exercises, activities, lectures, and analysis of classic works. "Performer" nights feature rehearsal and workshop-style performances of NOMTI based works by one or two local performers. NOMTI meets Monday Evenings at the Berklee College of Music. Email mwartofsky@aol.com if you are interested in participating as a writer or as a performer.

One of the goals of NOMTI is also to strengthen audience support and interest in new works through the presentation of works-in-progress. Several staged readings are planned for the general public throughout the year. The next NOMTI presentation is this Thursday, March 14, at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education in Harvard Square. Included in the program entitled "Something's Coming," are scenes from THE BIG CIGAR (based on the life of Oscar Hammerstein I and Nellie Melba) by Michael Wartofsky, THE PERSISTENCE OF MEMORY by John Surovy, and MAKING SCENTS by Steven Murray. Tickets are $10 ahead, $12 at the door 617-547-6789 x6789, .

The Open Call Festival of New Works is held in late June and features the talents of several performers and writers. NOMTI and the North Shore Musical Theatre (NSMT) of Beverly, MA team up to present this week-long festival, now in it's fourth year, which takes place in various locations around Boston. Activities include staged readings, workshops, panel discussions and critiques by guest artists. "Open Call marks a first step in transforming Boston into a spawning ground for new musicals and operas," says Michael. The deadline for writers submissions is March 15. Performer auditions will be held April-May. Dates TBA.

Michael Wartofsky was trained at NYU's Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program and is an Assistant Professor of Music at the Berklee College of Music. He has written several commissioned works, the latest of which is currently being debuted in an abridged children's format at The North Shore Music Theater. It is a wonderful work entitled FRIENDSHIP OF THE SEA (based on the true story of the historic ship) with lyrics by playwright Kathleen Cahill of Connecticut. The abridged FRIENDSHIP is being toured to over 25 elementary schools on the North Shore this month and will be performed on the NSMT mainstage for three public performances, April 12-13.

For more information about NOMTI or to contact Michael Wartofsky, please visit their website www.NOMTI.org or email
mwartofsky@aol.com