About the book:

WAG! The Musical is composer and lyricist Aleksey Shegolev’s second full-length musical and it is the first to be performed in an off-Broadway theatre in New York during the summer of 2013. The idea for the plot was inspired by William Shakespeare’s Love’s Labours Lost, where he and his collaborator Julian Silverman created a story fit for modern times. Good storytelling and strong songwriting depends on the characters having a goal to pursue as they overcome the obstacles in their paths. As the story progresses, the level of intensity must always rise to keep the audiences’ attention. Jazz and rock ‘n’ roll were the main musical influences on this piece and this book will show how rhythm, harmony and texture played a part in creating WAG!. Musicalizing comedy by using various techniques in composition is another topic that will be explored. Finally, Shegolev closes with his personal experiences during the workshop from dealing with the director to the endless revisions and cuts that had to be made before opening night.

Aleksey Shegolev penned this article about Star Wars and its recurring themes and leitmotifs for the magazine, La Scena. As he highlights the distinctive experts of music, he explains why the passages are important to the characters and storytelling.