🎭 NEW@NAMT: The Next Wave of Musical Theatre Writers – Featuring Luisa Paraguassu

In this special season of NEW@NAMT, we continue to spotlight the winners of the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students, presented by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with NAMT, Concord Theatricals, Disney Theatrical Productions, and the NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation. These emerging songwriters had their original works fully orchestrated and performed live by Broadway professionals during Winners Weekend in New York City.

🎶 In this episode, host Jean-Paul Yovanoff is joined by co-host Jesse J. Sanchez to welcome Luisa Paraguassu, who wrote the winning song “Talk Pretty.” The song explores the deeply personal experience of feeling disconnected from one’s heritage due to language barriers. Inspired by Luisa’s own multicultural background, “Talk Pretty” tells the story of Mariana, a second-generation Brazilian-American, and her struggle to connect with her grandmother, Iara, who only speaks Portuguese.

Luisa shares how “Talk Pretty” came to life through a spontaneous writing session, the emotional impact of hearing her song fully orchestrated for the first time, and how she reclaimed her dream of pursuing music as a career through the Songwriting Challenge. Co-host Jesse J. Sanchez, who orchestrated the song, adds insight into the creative process and the powerful themes behind Luisa’s work.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about storytelling, identity, and the future of musical theatre.

It’s time to lower the lights, raise the curtain, and LX1 Go on NEW@NAMT! 🎭

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For more information on the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge, visit https://namt.org/challenge/

Watch Challenge Accepted! Featuring the Winning Songs: https://youtu.be/7ia5ebFAdrU?

Watch “Talk Pretty” from the Winning Concert: https://youtu.be/Os8V2O4DuOA?