Episode 5 - Gaby Alter - Music Man for the Stage

When it comes to writing songs for the world of musical theater, composer-lyricist Gaby Alter remains committed to getting it right. The process of serving the story, how a character can change over the course of a song, and making smart musical choices, are all key components that Alter continues to explore when making music for the stage. His most notable works include the musicals Band Geeks, Stars of David, and the New York critically acclaimed hit, Nobody Loves You, which he co-wrote with Tony Award-winning playwright, Itamar Moses.

In this episode, Alter looks back at how he fell into the world of writing musicals in his hometown of Berkeley, California, his decision to move to New York, and how he and Itamar pitched Disney to write for the animated film Tinkerbell and The Pirate Fairy. Alter also talks about his work as a solo artist under the name Yes Gabriel, and the development of a new musical, Radio 930 set in East Berlin during the Cold War in the 1970's.