About the MT Dramaturg

"The Musical Theatre Dramaturg" was started in August 2022 as a consultation service for musical theatre producers across the United States. Through this, I work to bridge the gap between scholarship and practice, helping producers, directors, designers, actors, and audience to take a closer look at the shows they're engaging with.

I have worked extensively with the J2 Spotlight Musical Theatre Company in New York City, a company dedicated to producing Off-Broadway revivals of hidden gems in the American musical repertory. Recent projects have included the Off-Broadway revivals of Lucky Stiff (featuring a revised libretto by writers Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty), The Goodbye Girl (directed by original lyricist David Zippel and starring Sierra Boggess and Santino Fontana), and The Baker's Wife (featuring a revised libretto by composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz).

I also hold an appointment as the resident dramaturg Cumberland Valley High School Musical Productions. Recent projects for Cumberland Valley have included Shrek the Musical, Anything Goes, Beauty and the Beast, and Footloose. In addition, I have previously served as the resident dramaturg for Keystone Theatrics. Recent projects for Keystone Theatrics have included Little Shop of Horrors, Anastasia, The Music Man, Something Rotten!, The Prom, Young Frankenstein, The Sound of Music, and Beautiful! The Carole King Musical.

Additionally, I have has worked with regional and educational theaters such as Music Theatre Wichita, North Shore Music Theatre, the Duluth Playhouse, the Forestburgh Playhouse, the Legacy Theatre, University of Texas - Arlington, Penn State University and University of Pittsburgh.

My work has been recognized by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, receiving the 2020 Region II Award for Outstanding Dramaturgy and a 2021 Special Commendation for Outstanding Research for my work on Penn State's productions of A Little Night Music and Angels in America, respectively.

Please click on the tabs under the MT Dramaturg to see samples of my work with a variety of institutions, both professional and educational. To see more, follow my Instagram account @themtdramaturg.

Services Provided

The MT Dramaturg provides a multitude of services for professional and educational theaters, including:

• Research packets diving into the show's dramaturgy, production history, and socio-historical context.
• Annotated scripts identifying and defining key terms used in the musical's libretto for easy identification and understanding.
• Dramaturgical essays for show programs, allowing for further engagement with audiences and community at large.
• Presentations for acting companies, designed to draw out key information from research packets and annotated scripts.
• Ongoing consultation throughout the production process, including pre-production, rehearsals, tech, and performances.

Materials Available to License

The musicals listed below have materials already curated and ready for licensing at a reduced cost:

Godspell
The Music Man
​Anastasia
John Proctor is the Villain
Cats
Anything Goes
Beauty and the Beast
​Next to Normal
The Addams Family
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Little Shop of Horrors

Nice Work If You Can Get It
​Shrek the Musical
Fiddler on the Roof
Something Rotten!
​The Prom
The Sound of Music
Young Frankenstein
Head Over Heels
Ragtime
Footloose
​​Smile

Producing a show not listed here? Contact me to start a conversation about getting dramaturgical materials prepared for you!

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Frederick D. Miller (@themtdramaturg) • Instagram photos and videos

Testimonals

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