Accompanist.com

A table read is one of the first moments a musical truly comes to life. Before sets are built or rehearsals fully begin, the cast gathers around a table with scripts in hand to speak, sing, and discover the story together for the first time. For writers and composers, table reads are an essential part of the creative process. Hearing the material aloud reveals pacing, emotion, humor, and musical flow in ways that simply can’t be found on the page. It’s also where the cast begins building chemistry and shaping the shared voice of the production.

First table read of Broadside the Musical at Regis University

Recently, composer and producer April Alsup sat down with the latest cast of Broadside the Musical to run through the show with music for the first time. Revolutionary Boston filled the room through song, satire, and spirited conversation as characters and harmonies began taking on new life beyond the script. For Alsup, whose creative process often blends historical research with collaboration, the table read marks an important turning point: the moment a musical stops being an idea and starts becoming theatre.