There may be no more apt title for the uniquely maddening, innately risky venture that is crafting a new stage musical than “Safety Not Guaranteed.”
As composer Ryan Miller pointed out this month — during a speech on the show’s opening night at Signature Theatre in Arlington — musical theater ventures often devolve into years-long slogs that never yield a stageable production. The mere decision to embark on such an endeavor takes bravery and maybe a little insanity. To navigate all the meetings and readings and workshops necessary to mount a musical is a feat in fortitude. Finally getting that show onstage requires exhaustive collaboration.
