It is easy enough to catch a Broadway show, but if you want to see where the glitz and glamor gets its start, come to The Songwriters' Salon, a once a month offering at The Times Square Arts Center. StageBuddy recently had a chance to chat with the creator and director of The Songwriters' Salon, Colton Pometta.

Colton, what will audiences see when they attend the Songwriters' Salon?

We feature 4 sets of songwriters/songwriting teams on the first Thursday of every month. They are given 15 minutes to present whatever material they wish. Everyone uses the opportunity differently. We’ve had participants present 15 musicals, completely new material, and some people present their standards/most successful work.

Stephanie D’Abruzzo (Tony nom. Avenue Q) will be hosting this round (Thursday, November 6)! She hosted our inaugural salon as well, and brought such a wonderful positive, fun and personable energy to the evening. She had a great time, too, and we have her scheduled to host whenever she is not performing elsewhere or on set for Sesame Street! When she is unable to host, I'll find other fabulous guest hosts who show a great appreciation for new work and developmental theatre.

What inspired you (and the other producers) to create this opportunity?

I’ve always loved the idea of a ‘salon’ -- a meeting place for artists to discuss and share new work. [I wanted to] provide a casual and open-minded playground for writers to promote and share their work. I never want this event to get too rigid or formal. Audience members, composer, performers, and other industry professionals should feel that they can stick around and socialize.

It’s also a great networking opportunity for actors, other writers, directors, and producers, etc. Nothing excites me more than when I see business cards being passed around…and it’s also great when people stick around after each installment to drink and socialize. Some collaborations have already formed from networking at The Songwriters’ Salon.

I actually have been obsessed with the idea of holding a 'salon' for an even longer time than most people know.... Doing theatre as a kid, when we would throw cast parties, I would insist they were 'salons', and I'd pretend to be Gertrude Stein at The Stein Salon. Nobody was really all that into it then...Now I get to do this on the first Thursday of each month...but a little less Parisian and more casual...we're located right next to Times Scare and above Show World...

Is there a particular focus for the Songwriters' Salon?

This event, in particular [puts] contemporary musical theatre composers in the spotlight, rather than just focusing on the wonderful talent you see ON the stage. I have so much respect for all of these writers, and want to help discover and promote 100% ORIGINAL musical theatre. Some people aren't completely satisfied with what they're currently seeing produced in the major houses, but they're only looking at one very commercial level...there is a lot of original musical theatre, NOT based off of a movie, being labored at in NYC...you have to get to the ground level to find it, and start promoting it!

How did the Songwriters' Salon come about?

I had done some work for Write Act as an actor and director-choreographer. They took over managing these facilities within The Times Square Arts Center nearly a year ago. Artistic Director, John Lant, knew I had been designing and planning to produce a number of different cabarets and shows independently. I'm so grateful that he placed this trust in me to run with my ideas and let me play...I knew right away what I wanted to do, and I finally had a perfect venue to make this all happen.

I was commissioned by Write Act Repertory to create cabarets/events to come into their wonderful facilities at the Times Square Arts Center. John Lant is The Artistic Director of Write Act Repertory and Tamra Pica is his Associate. They currently have a new musical Fabulous playing an open-ended run and I produce stuff around their 'dark nights’.

The Songwriters' Salon will play the Times Square Arts Center, 300 West 43rd Street, November 6 @ 7:30pm. Featuring Music and Lyrics by: Eli Bolin, Rachel Peters, Blake Pfeil, Douglas Lyons, Ethan Pakchar. Special Guest Host, Stephanie D’Abruzzo (Tony nom, Avenue Q). With Performances by: Cyrilla Baer, Sarah Corey, Bradley Greer, Melody Madarasz, Michael Marcotte, Anastasia McCleskey, Gerianne Perez, Allison Posner. For tickets go to: www.songwriterssalon.brownpapertickets.com