Finding Your Lyrics

Finding Your Lyrics with Frank Spitznagel and Christopher Bell

Class Description


In this 3-hour workshop, we’ll explore how characters and the way they move through the world are the heart of unforgettable lyrics. We’ll explore how emotions elicited by a character's environment can supercharge your on-the-spot songwriting by transforming mundane items and places into extraordinary wordplay and vivid imagery. By the end of the workshop, you'll have new tools in your musical improv toolkit to take your audience on an unforgettable lyrical journey with some fun and laughs along the way. Prerequisite: Musical Improv Level 1

Instructor: Frank Spitznagel

Frank Spitznagel is the Musical Director at Magnet Theater and a piano accompanist who frequently plays for such improv groups as I Eat Pandas, Veal, The Made-Up Musical, Gusto, and many others. He is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music, where he studied piano performance. His work can be heard on several studio recordings. Frank has composed for Comedy Central and the Aspen Comedy Festival. He accompanied Itzhak Perlman in an original jazz composition by Benny Golson at Lincoln Center. He also played the American premiere of The Hired Man Off-Broadway. He has been musical director for productions such as Nunsense (all incarnations), A Chorus Line, Chicago City Limits, and several original musicals.

Instructor: Christopher Bell

Chris majored in theatre way back when the Greeks made it a thing. He's been in NYC for about 16 years and throughout that time has produced play festivals and shows including an award show for the advertising industry. Chria has been in the Magnet improv scene for about 10 years now. He performs regularly in Premiere: The Improvised Musical on Fridays, The Armando Diaz Experience on Saturdays, and is co-producing and performing monthly in Undressed: The Musical (all shameless plugs).

Outside of the Magnet, Chris was in a run of BLANK! The Musical, and has done shows with Baby, Shitzprobe, Empire, Queens Secret Improv Club (oldie but a goodie), and various indie shows. He teaches workshops to teens, adults, and corporations on musical improv and reg improv at the Magnet. When Chris is not improvising, he's managing a small youth performing arts organization here in the city.

Full Session Schedule


Session Schedule*

  1. Oct 15, 2023, 2:00pm - 5:00pm
    at Ripley Grier (520 8th Ave, 16th fl)
    (btw 36th & 37th Sts)
This class does not have a show/performance