Expert: Peter Messaline - 10/20/2010

Question
I've recently moved to a small town in Wyoming where there is little to no
culture. A friend and I would like to change that, but we are going to have to take
baby steps. We would like to start with a Broadway revue. The problem is that we
are both singers, not writers. Is there any place to find a revue that is already
written?

Answer
I'm not a singer (pure idleness on my part) so I think your best bet would be to contact the AFofM, which has two locals covering Wyoming. I imagine they would be able to steer you towards local people who could help you.
http://tinyurl.com/AmFedofMus

Here is a list of Wyoming schools with music courses, where you might find advice and help:
http://tinyurl.com/wyomingschools

Some of these live performer venues may already have revues, and I'm sure they all have people willing and able to help a start-up, if you can only discover who's the key person:
http://tinyurl.com/wyomingtheatres

I should suggest that a way to proceed might be to start with a long-list of songs you'd like to sing, and see if a theme offers itself. A revue is not a book musical, so all you are looking for is some links, either from a character filling the backstory (like Drowsy Chaperone), or perhaps as a conversation between the performers. Make up your mind whether you are going to have live music -- perhaps a keyboard player, or go with recordings (not such a good idea, I'd say).

Part of your costs will be licenses to use the music or the recordings. If you are going to be around long, you don't want to get up the nose of anyone you'll need favours from in the future.

You may find this useful:
How to Start Your Own Theater Company  Reginald Nelson   Chicago Review
ISBN  978-1-55652-813-2
Some of his advice may seem unnecessary, but don't rely on your friendship and joint ambition to avoid disagreements and organisational tripwires as you get more successful.

Many congratulations on making the desert bloom. Here's wishing you Merde for fertiliser.

Peter M