Consider the event of the scene Every scene should push the storyline further. What’s the major dramatic event taking place? How does this scene push the plot? What brings the characters on stage and how is the song going to carry them forward? Have conflict Conflict is a necessity in any good story and moves your characters forward. Each scene needs to address this conflict (or smaller related conflicts). Who is in conflict with whom or what? What actions or truths need to be realized to overcome this conflict? Is the character working through thoughts and emotions to better understand this conflict? Consider the arc of the scene Think about whether you want the characters to end the song in the same, a similar, or a different place (emotionally, psychologically, physically). Use the song to push the characters along their journey of stasis, regression, or growth. Identify the underlying emotion What’s the emotional core of the song? Fear, anger, sadness, joy, pain? Use this to inform your song structure, lyrics, and musical tone. Identify the characters’ intentions Figuring out what your characters want in each scene will help you drive the storyline along and make intentional choices for emotional arcs. What do your character(s) want in this particular scene? What are the obstacles to achieving those wants? Give characters something to do Giving your character(s) something to do during a musical number (even if it’s just plotting what they aim to do) will help you determine the lyrics, diction, and tone of the song. Examples: Naomi is furiously stitching a quilt Helen is going to manipulate someone to get what she wants Jeff is going to lie and cheat in hopes to come out on top Consider the environment of the scene Where a scene takes places can inform the lyrics, drive the action/blocking, and give your characters sensory information to work with to bring make the scene more realistic. Examples: Greta is on a balcony overlooking the twinkling city at night Dave is on a shipping vessel with dozens of fish flopping around on the deck Lucy is in a messy kitchen flooded with smoke and the smell of burning bread Study other musical numbers Watch some of your favorite musical numbers and get inspiration from how they are crafted, blocked, and performed. Notice how the actors’ movements emphasize emotional highs and lows within the song and how they transition from “doing” to dancing (and vice versa).