Beating Broadway: How to Create Stories for Musicals That Get Standing Ovations

by Steve Cuden

RESOLUTIONS The climax of the story must then lead to a satisfying resolution—which must be the result of being well set up throughout the story. Getting there through the climax ought to require that the hero overcome a final obstacle or two. Preferably these last hurdles will be by far the most challenging that the hero will have faced. The protagonist tries his darnedest to reach a resolution so that he may finally achieve his superobjective. As the story rises to a capitulation point—a climax—where all may come together, sometimes with happy results, sometimes not so much, the action (even if it is only emotional action) should reach a final boil. It is important that the hero arrives at the resolution of his goal by earning it. Achieving the goal cannot be easy, simple, or unearned. He can neither merely take it, nor have someone else hand it to him. That would feel unsatisfying. The audience must sense that the hero truly deserves whatever it is that he receives.