Executive Production Team Application

Freshman Musical 2018

Executive Production Team Application

Each year, the freshman class comes together to produce an original musical. The show, an adored Harvard theater tradition, is entirely student-created: written, produced, directed, designed, staffed, and acted exclusively by Harvard freshmen. The musical goes up each spring and is always a highlight in Harvard’s theater season. The Freshman Musical is the best opportunity you’ll have as a freshman to get fully involved in Harvard theater—no other show will allow you, this year, to have as much responsibility and creative control. It’s a truly incredible thing to be able to create something with your peers and watch it come to life on stage. Being on the Freshman Musical production team (Director, Producer, Book Writer, Lyricist, and Composer) is one of the most unique and fulfilling experiences you will have at Harvard. We hope you’ll apply!

Although we are only looking for the core production team right now, please email Georgia Stirtz, last year’s Producer () if you’re interested in any other aspects of production (stage management, tech, lights, sound, set, etc.). We’ll pass your name along to the new team.

Applications are due no later than 11:59pm, Friday, Sept. 26th. Please bring hard copies to 20 Dewolfe 43.

Thank you!

We look forward to reading your applications! We will contact selected candidates via email to schedule interviews.

Contact Information

Name:______

Phone:______

Email:______

Room:______

Position(s)—please check all positions you are interested in; please rank in order of preference.

Executive Producer: ______Director:______Book Writer______

Lyricist:______Composer:______

Statement of Interest

Please attach a brief statement detailing why you would like to be a member of the Freshman Musical production team.

Short Answer

What is your favorite musical and why? (Attach a brief response).

Resume

Please attach a brief resume including your previous involvement in theater and any other relevant experience or training.

Position-Specific Requirements

Executive Producer:

Please submit responses to the following prompts.

1. Why would you make a strong Producer? What experiences have you had that make you a good fit for producing a musical?

2. Imagine you are producing a stage adaptation of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off or Fight Club. Write a few paragraphs telling either the IOP or the Women’s Center why they should provide funding for your show.

Director:

Attached is a scene. Please submit a proposal for how you would direct the scene. This can include mark-ups on the script itself and/or up to 3 additional pages. Use any tools (sketches of characters, costumes, key concepts, ideas for set design & lights, etc.) to convey your vision.

Book Writer: Please submit a short scene of about 5-7 pages that is about one of these topics:

1. Unexpected elevator meeting

2. Love is a battlefield

3. The elephant in the drawing room

4. Pole-dancing pandas (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6AZLg9oMKA for details)

Humor is mandatory but not required.

Lyricist: Please write the lyrics to either an ode to plagiarism or to a love song written by a bear.

Composer: Choose one song excerpt from the attached set and compose the music for those lyrics. Please include chord markings on your sheet music. If possible, turn in a CD with a mock-up or piano recording.

For potential Book Writers, Composers, and Lyricists—you may attach an additional sample of previous work if you’d like to show us something else. Composers and Lyricists—1 song max.; Book Writers—5 pgs max.

Composer Application Lyrics Excerpts

all excerpts are from Freshman Musical 2016

(choose one)

Option 1

PIZZA GUY: There’s a throbbing in my loins

It’s surprising- and my groin’s

Reacting, she’s distracting

I can’t look away…

This jewel oriental

She’s so gracious and so gentle

Regal and out of my league’ll

Make my day…

Princess may I kiss your hand

Know that I’m yours to command

I have no chance for a romance-

But I’ll persevere…

I’ve no carpet you can ride

But we can walk it side by side

You’re so exotic and erotic-

PRINCESS: My eyes are up here…

Option 2

EVIL MONK: Oh what a thrill, oh what a joy

To shatter your ritual, and destroy

The balance, your efforts have come to naught-

You failed, I’m triumphant in my plot

Vengeance through patience long-awaited

Carefully planned and anticipated

Scorned you suborned me to this pass

Finally the chance to own your--

But I digress.

You balked and you mocked and now look at me,

You sneered and you jeered well now look at you

Helpless and hopeless at my mercy,

Weak while I wreak havoc, stage a coup.

Option 3

COMPANY: You had to wait longer than most

You took a big detour

But now when it was needed most

You fin’ly got mature-

Just a little late

You stepped to the plate

Set yourselves straight

Burst from the gate

You’re worth the wait

TWINS 1 AND 2: We’re worth the wait!

TWIN 1: Pass the fake ID I’m ready!

I can feel my growth is spurting

And I feel renewed, reborn-

TWIN 2: Why are my arms hurting?

Oh my god! Biceps! Nothing really preps

TWINS 1 AND 2: You for puberty.

Director Application Scene

Attempts on Her Life, by Martin Crimp

Scene 5 - The Camera Loves You

Attempts on Her Life by Martin Crick is a free play, with minimal stage directions, no prescribed characters, and essentially no background whatsoever. It is, however, centered on the character of Anne - little else is clear. As such, it is a director’s best friend (or nightmare!). Feel free to let your imagination run wild.

The camera loves you

We need to sympathize

We need to empathize

We need to advertise

We need to realize

We are the good guys

We need to fell

What we’re seeing is real

It isn’t just acting

It’s far more exacting

Than acting

We’re talking reality

We’re talking humanity

We’re talking of a plan to be

OVERWHELMED
by the sheer totality

And utterly believable three-dimensionality

THREE DIMENSIONALITY
Of all the things that Anne can be

ALL THE THINGS THAT ANNE CAN BE

What’s Hecuba to him or he to Hecuba?

A megastar

A MEGASTAR

The camera loves you

We need to fantasize

We need to improvise

We need to synthesize

We need to advertise that

We are the good guys

We are the good duys

We need to go

For the sexiest scenario

It isn’t just writing

It’s much more exciting

Than writing

We’re talking actuality

We’re talking contemporary

OVERWHELMED by the sheer quantity

YES BY THE SHEER QUANTITY

Of all the things that Anne can be

ALL THE THINGS THAT ANNE CAN BE

What’s Hecuba to him or he to Hecuba

A megastar

A MEGASTAR

(A megastar? The fuck you are)

The camera lover you

The camera loves you

The camera the camera

THE CAMERA LOVES YOU