The CreateTheater NYC Musical Development Workshops
NYC Musical Workshop 3: Back into the World & the “Big Gloom”
Sunday, September 27, 12 noon ET
Panel: Skip Kennon (BMI Workshop), Linda Bonadies (Ph.D. in Musicology), and Cate Cammarata (OB Producer, Artistic Director, CreateTheater)
Presenters: $97 if accepted (ETC members free)
Observers: $49 (ETC members free)
Cate Cammarata
Artistic Director
NYC Musical Workshop 3: Back into the World & the “Big Gloom”
Sunday, September 27 | 3-Hour Online Workshop
Once your musical has established the world of the show and your protagonist’s central I WANT, the next question is the one that drives the entire first act:
Why can’t they get it?
In this 3-hour workshop, we’ll focus on the dramatic engine that keeps a musical moving: conflict, obstacles, rising stakes, and the major Act I turn that sends the audience into intermission eager to come back.
Participants will learn how to identify what is standing in the protagonist’s way, how to make the stakes high enough to sustain the story, and how to build toward the end of Act I with a reversal that changes the direction of the musical.
We’ll look at how conflict operates not just as “problems,” but as the pressure that forces the hero to grow, make choices, and take action. By the end of Act I, the protagonist should not be in the same place emotionally, dramatically, or strategically as they were at the beginning. Something has shifted. Something has been revealed. And the audience should feel that the story has now reached a point of no return.
This workshop is especially useful for writers who are struggling with a sagging middle, unclear stakes, passive protagonists, or an Act I finale that doesn’t yet feel big enough.
In this workshop, participants will learn how to:
- Act 2 accelerates the action that Act 1 sets up
- Is there a “Big Gloom” before the climax?
- Is there a fun song (the “11:00 Number”) before the climax?
Important Note: This is excellent for networking, as you will allow them to read your work and get to know YOU.
This level of 1:1 professional networking and feedback is rare in online development at this price.
Broadway Producers Neal Rubinstein & Neil Gooding, Regional Director James Rocco, and former BMI faculty Skip Kennon in a 2024 CreateTheater Musical Workshop
In This Workshop, You Will:
- Present and pitch your work to experienced NYC industry professionals
- Receive targeted feedback to strengthen your storytelling
- Learn how to clarify and heighten your protagonist’s central want
- Understand how to build a theatrical world that supports your narrative
- Observe other musicals in development and learn from their feedback
- Connect with fellow writers, collaborators, and industry insiders
Good for observers, too, to learn how to apply the feedback to their own work.
The 2026 NYC Musical Development Workshop Series
A Complete Development Arc to Refine Your Musical
Workshop 1: Developing the World and the Want
- Define your world and storytelling devices.
- Clarify your protagonist and their want
- The I Want song
- Understand and show your musical’s inciting event.
Sunday April 26 12pm Online
Workshop 2: Conflict, Obstacles, and the Act 1 Finale
- Who or what is the antagonist? Define the conflict
- What’s blocking your protagonist’s want?
- Set up the closing of Act 1 as the midpoint plot reversal.
Sunday July 26 12pm Online
Workshop 3: Back into the World & the “Big Gloom”
- Act 2 accelerates the action that Act 1 sets up
- Is there a “Big Gloom” before the climax?
- Is there a fun song (the “11:00 Number”) before the climax?
Sunday Sept. 27 12pm Online
Workshop 4: The Climax, Resolution & Finale
- Does your main character get what they want?
- Are there 3 parts of complete climax?
- Is the plot resolved? The subplots?
- Does the Finale deliver your message in a song?
Sunday Oct. 11 12pm Online
Commit to the Series – Not Just One Workshop
You can take one workshop. But here’s what happens when you commit to all four:
- You apply feedback, then test the revision in the next session
- Industry professionals begin to track your work and get to know you AND your musical
- Your musical develops with continuity, not guesswork
- You build real relationships—not one-off impressions—within the industry
This is how you make opportunities. This is industry networking.
2026 NYC Musical Development Workshop Package Discounts
Presenter Series Package
$298 (Save $90)
Best for writers actively developing a musical, or preparing for an industry reading or important submission.
Includes:
- Presentation slots in all 4 workshops
- 80 minutes of professional industry feedback
- 4 industry presentations to engage NYC theater professionals
- Access to all teaching sessions and networking
This Development Series is professional development – without a thousand dollar tuition.
Observer Series Package
$90 (Save $50)
Best for writers learning musical structure, refining their own work, or preparing to present later.
Includes:
- Access to all 4 workshops
- Full visibility into the process of multiple projects evolving over time
- All teaching + networking sessions
Watch how musicals actually get built—and what makes them work.
Note:
- Only a small number of presenters are accepted per workshop, so apply early
- Series package holders receive priority placement if approved
- Individual workshop spots may sell out before each date
Once 6 presenter slots are filled, applications close.
Which Option is Right for You?
Choose the Series Package if:
- You’re serious about moving your musical forward in 2026
- You want continuity, not one-off feedback
- You’re ready to be seen by industry professionals more than once
Choose a Single Workshop if:
- You want to test the experience first
- You’re early in development
- You’re observing before stepping in
- You’re just learning about Musical Theater structure
Remember:
You can keep working on your musical in isolation…
Or you can put it in a room, hear what’s actually landing, and start shaping it into something producible.
Common Questions
NYC MUSICAL DEVELOPMENT LABS — FAQs