Hitting All The Right Notes

Weber Theatrical students spent an afternoon with Michael Finke, an award-winning New York-based musical theatre writer, during a special workshop led by Weber Theatrical Director Elissa Marele. Finke met with students for a Q&A and a fast-paced songwriting workshop that pulled back the curtain on what it actually looks like to build new work, collaborate, and revise until a show is ready. “For almost every show, I spend months brainstorming and outlining,” Finke shared. “And then once I’ve outlined it, I hit the ground running.”

 

The visit was especially meaningful because it brought the visit full circle. Finke was a former student of Ms. Marele’s, making his visit to Weber a reminder of the reach of a great teacher and the professional connections that can grow from sustained mentorship.

 

Finke began the workshop with a conversation about life as a theatre artist in New York, speaking from both a writer’s and performer’s lens. He talked with students about the collaborative process, what it means to develop new work, and the range of pathways that exist in theatre beyond the spotlight.