For You, Paige: The First Live TikTok Musical

TikTok has become a thriving platform for musical theater content and creatives. It has created a community that celebrates and collaborates to produce outstanding Grammy-award winning productions. Inspired by this passionate fanbase, TikTok has commissioned a new musical called 'For You, Paige,' which will be aired live on the platform on Thursday, April 14th. The creative forces behind the project, including Daniel Mertzlufft, Macy Schmidt, Kate Leonard, Sri Ramesh, and Roman Banks, sat down to discuss their experience and excitement for this project, the musical theater community on TikTok, and the process of bringing a TikTok musical to life. The show will be performed live from a theater in New York City as part of TikTok's #ProjectBroadway. Don't miss the premiere of 'For You, Paige' on Thursday, April 14th, only on TikTok.

The creators express their excitement about being part of the first live TikTok musical. They never imagined they would have this opportunity and find it surreal. The inspiration behind 'For You, Paige' comes from the TikTok community's embrace of meta humor. The creators wanted to live in that world and incorporate elements from their own experiences on TikTok. They aimed to create a love letter to the entire TikTok community.

Bringing this musical to life on TikTok was a challenge and an exciting opportunity. Unlike adaptations from stage or novels, 'For You, Paige' was custom-written for the TikTok community. This allowed for a unique language of humor and references that wouldn't work in other mediums. The creators are thrilled to perform an original show live in a way that has never been done before and potentially reach over a billion people.

Writing a show for TikTok LIVE offers more flexibility and creative boundaries compared to a regular stage production. The music standpoint allows for a wider range of possibilities with live music and recorded music. The show features orchestrations for a full live orchestra, as well as programming and other elements specific to TikTok and the songs written for the musical.

The songwriting process varies depending on the collaborators and the specific song. Each song in 'For You, Paige' was approached differently, with some starting with music and others with lyrics. The creators value the opportunity to collaborate and bring variation to the emotional and lyrical content of each moment. They find it difficult to choose a favorite song, but 'Playing In My Key' holds a special place as it explores the theme of being a songwriter.

The musical theater community has thrived on TikTok, providing a home for anyone passionate about the genre. TikTok allows for connections with like-minded individuals from around the world, fostering collaborations that wouldn't have been possible otherwise. The creators are grateful for the community's support and are excited for them to experience 'For You, Paige.'

Looking ahead, the creators are open to seeing the TikTok community turn various themes into musicals. They mention the success of the Bridgerton musical and express interest in an anime musical. They believe in the importance of continuous creation and encourage the community to keep exploring new ideas.

As for the creators' personal preferences, Sri mentions a desire to see a musical based on the TV show Friends, which holds a special place in their heart.

Overall, the creators are thrilled to be part of the first live TikTok musical and are excited to share 'For You, Paige' with the TikTok community.