Originality

Is Elphaba singing “The Sound of Music”? Or is Maria von Trapp planning to defy gravity?

One of the biggest elements of being creative is to be original. Something is original when it is different and new – although not, usually, off-the-wall or nonsensical. Think about what might happen if you asked many different people to name a musical. Current Broadway fans might toss out current hits such as Hamilton, Six, The Lion King, Book of Mormon, Aladdin, or Hadestown. Some might name shows that they have seen touring, such as Phantom of the Opera, Into the Woods, or Les Miserables. Others might name older classics that have been filmed, such as Oklahoma!, West Side Story, or South Pacific. Sondheim fans might suggest Company or A Little Night Music or Assassins and aficionados of rare flops might enjoy remembering Bring Back Birdie, Via Galactica, or (more likely) Carrie.

Something that is original would be a less common idea. An original concept is one that comes to you after you have gone through your initial and more obvious thoughts, much as someone might arrive at Merrily We Roll Along after saying Chicago and My Fair Lady. Just as you might know an obscure musical because a local college randomly decided to put it on, you might have an original idea because of some chance knowledge or past experience. Another way to be original is to think associatively – blend thoughts or images that do not seem at first to go together, or may even seem to be diametrically opposed. What would happen if Elphaba and Maria von Trapp merged into one? Can you think of other fun combinations? Let us know!