News Archive
Jean Banks, Senior Director of Jazz and Musical Theatre at BMI, passed away on February 1 in her Lower East Side home after a long battle with lung cancer. She was 77 years old. Jean got her first taste of show business when she worked as an executive secretary for…
Richard Engquist, Lyricist, Leader of BMI-Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, Dies at 76
Richard Engquist, who led the BMI-Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop for over 30 years, died on March 18. He was part of the transitional team composed of Alan Menken, Maury Yeston, Ed Kleban, Skip Kennon and David Spencer, who assured that the Workshop would continue to flourish after the death…
‘Spring Awakening’ Is Top Tony Nominee
The 2007 Tony Awards nominations again illustrate the strength of BMI’s presence in the musical theatre, past and present, as both veterans of and newcomers to the stage are among the individuals singled out for notable achievements on Broadway. Leading the nominations are Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik, co-creators of…
BMI Musical Theatre Workshop Now Accepting Applications for First Year Class
The Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop is now accepting applications for its first year composer/lyricist class. The deadline for submissions is August 1, 2006. The first year class is co-moderated by Workshop Artistic Coordinator Patrick Cook (Captains Courageous, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) and Workshop alumni Frederick Freyer (Captains…
Applications Now Being Accepted for BMI Librettists Workshop
Applications for the Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Librettists Workshop are now being accepted. This unique writing workshop, one of the four multi-tiered teaching environments sponsored by BMI, is devoted to the development of libretti or "books" for new works for the musical theater. Members of the Librettists Workshop…
Tony Finds a Home on ‘Avenue Q’
Breakthrough musical comedy Avenue Q was among the top winners at the 58th Annual Tony Awards, held June 6 at Radio City Music Hall. …
Theatre Workshop Gets Special Trip to ‘Avenue Q’
Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez, co-writers of the hit Broadway show Avenue Q, gave a special lecture to the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop as part of a series entitled "Year of the Tune" developed by Workshop moderator Richard Enquist.
BMI/Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop Celebrates 40th Anniversary
by Frank Evans Broadway producers, members of the New York Press as well as BMI officers and writers packed the BMI New York Media Room for a celebratory evening of songs inaugurating the 40th Anniversary of the BMI/Lehman Engel Musical Theatre…
‘A Class Act’ Puts BMI Theatre Workshop Center Stage
'A Class Act' Puts BMI Theatre Workshop Center Stage by Frank Evans Maury Yeston offers his insights to a current class of the BMI Lehman Engel…
Kleban Award Takes Note of BMI Theater Writers
Three members of the BMI Lehman Engel Music Theatre Workshop have been selected as recipients of the coveted Kleban Award: David Spencer and the team of Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx. The Kleban Award, given annually to a lyricist and a librettist, was established by the late Ed Kleban, lyricist…