Hello Beautiful People,
As many of you know, I’m producing the third annual LOVE SONGS for V-Day concert (in association with thewriteteachers.com.) It’s February 13th, at Feinstein’s/54 Below, and the show starts at 9:30pm. Tickets are available here (use the code VDAY5 for a discount.) 
This year, I decided that I wanted to feature the work of female musical theater composers.
One of these composers is Georgia Stitt.
Personally, I consider Georgia a gift from the musical theatre gods. I was introduced to her by our mutual friend, one of my mentors and lifelines in this crazy life called show business, Susan Egan.
It’s a gift to be trusted with the music of a composer. For them to let you use their pieces in the visions that you have – well, to me there is no greater compliment.
One of the reasons why I adore her music, is not only are they undoubtedly pleasing to the ear, they are rich with story. You listen to them, and immediately can see the singer – their heart, their story, their hopes, their dreams, their humor, their pain – it’s an entire life story in one song.
This is the second time I’m using Stitt’s music in a LOVE SONGS concert – and my gratitude and excitement for her participation in this event is still as strong as ever.
Georgia was gracious enough to participate in this Q&A – something I hope all of you Write Teacher(s) Readers enjoy!
MM: Do you remember writing your first song? If so, when was it? What was it?
GS: At summer music camp (after 9th grade) I wrote a piece for my violist roommate and I to perform together at our final concert. It was called “Summer Daydreams” and it used only four chords. My Dad recently sent me a recording of it that we had made — on CASSETTE. I think the first thing I wrote with lyrics was a song called “So Beautiful” that I wrote when a high school friend of mine (from that same summer camp) was killed in a freak accident.
MM: Who are your musical inspirations?
GS: I tend to respond to classical composers and musical theater icons — lots of old white guys, I’m afraid: Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Poulenc, Ravel, Leonard Bernstein, Frank Loesser, Sondheim, JRB, Adam Guettel, Michael John LaChiusa. But I’m also inspired by music that digs deep into groove and harmony (Earth, Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, the many wonderful recordings by John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey) and chick singer/songwriters — The Indigo Girls, Joni Mitchell, K.D. Lang, Carole King, Susan Werner, Sara Bareilles, Shaina Taub.
MM: What’s the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome as a musical theatre compose, in regards to your work?
GS: Convincing people to commit to supporting the process and not just the product.
MM: Just for fun, what books are permanently on your bookshelf?
GS: Every novel published by Ursula Hegi. Also: Jose Saramago. T. Coraghessan Boyle. Lots and lots of female authors – currently Siri Hustvedt, Maggie Nelson, Caitlin Moran, Eowyn Ivey, Katherine Boo, Gloria Steinem. Lots of plays and books about theater and music.
MM: In ten years from now, what do you hope for the Broadway landscape?
GS: Gender Parity. Live musicians. Innovative storytelling and engaged audiences.
MM: What words of wisdom would you give to younger musical theatre writers coming up the rank?
GS: Find the people you want to work with and link yourself to them. Write for your favorite voices; sing the music of your favorite composers; hire your favorite actors and reach out to your new talent crushes. The alliances you make in your 20s are your lifelong relationships. Take care of each other and you can rise through the ranks with someone having your back.
MM: Who is/was your greatest teacher?
GS: My parents taught me that all people are worthy of respect, regardless of the categories the world wants to use to define them. I think that lesson has shaped every decision I’ve made in my adult life. And then I’ve had some pretty great colleagues who taught me by example: Marsha Norman, Paul Gemignani, Michael Kosarin, Tom Murray, Mary Mitchell Campbell and certainly Jason Robert Brown.
MM: In honor of LOVE SONGS for V-Day Volume 3, what’s your favorite love song…that you didn’t write?
GS: “I Walk A Little Faster” by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh, as recorded by Blossom Dearie.
Thank you, Georgia!
(Visit georgiastitt.com to keep up with her latest projects.)
Live, Love, Learn,