Tom Kitt is a composer, conductor, orchestrator, and musician. For his score for the musical Next to Normal, he shared the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama with Brian Yorkey. He has also won a Tony Award and Outer Critics Circle Award, and was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for American Idiot and Everyday Rapture. Other theatrical works include High Fidelity, If/Then, Bring It On, Freaky Friday (musical), 13, and From Up Here. He has also worked on projects outside of theater including the arrangements for multiple Green Day albums, Penny Dreadful, and Pitch Perfect 2.
Tom Kitt’s story could be a movie. This podcast with Tom is like the DVD commentary on that movie. We had a frank conversation about his journey including:
- How to choose an idea to turn into a musical.
- How a “10 Minute Musical” exercise at BMI changed his life, and how you can use the same exercise.
- What he went through after High Fidelity closed quickly, and how he got back to work.
- Why he isn’t on social media. (Artists, take heed!)
- What he has learned from working with Green Day, Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles and so many pop-rock writers.
Keep up with me: @KenDavenportBway