Get to Know the Creators of Milo Imagines the World

CTC: Do you prefer working remotely, or together in the room?

Terry Guest: I definitely prefer working together in a room. But more than that, I loved the times outside of the rehearsal room when we would sit in an Uber, or at a restaurant or at a bar and brainstorm. Many of our best ideas came during those times in-between official work hours, which is an aspect of collaboration that you miss when you’re working remotely.

Christian Albright: In my experience as a lyricist, I find that both mediums suit me well. When I’m coordinating with the bookwriter or script, I can certainly work remotely in my designated space. On the flip side, with music, I often do work with instrumentals for inspiration, but I appreciate the value of working with the composer in the room and next to a piano to go through songs in real time. I think both are beneficial and ultimately depend on the material I’ve been given.

Christian Magby: I would have to say together in the room. We do work separately, but being able to bounce ideas off of each other in the moment feels more productive—and a lot more fun!

CTC: What comes first: book, lyrics, or music?

CA: I would definitely say the book. With an adaptation especially, the source material is there to lay out the groundwork for text, some text eventually transforming into music. There are rare instances where the lyrics can come first but I would definitely say the book.

CTC: What do you love the most about Matt de la Peña’s book?

TG: Matt’s writing is touching, brave, and unapologetic. Also, Christian Robinson’s illustrations create a vivid and specific world that sets my imagination on fire.

CTC: Why is this story so well-suited for a musical adaptation?

CM: The idea of imagination opens up a realm of possibilities. The illustrations alone scream “musical!” And I think being able to stretch the story as we know it and really dive into the lives of
these characters gives a sense of relatability to our audiences.

CTC: How do you inspire one another?

CM: Individually, we don’t know everything; so it’s always so cool to hear their perspectives and ideas!

CTC: What do you enjoy the most about writing together?

CA: What I enjoy most about writing together is our abilities to listen and transform our thoughts and ideas into a fully realized book, lyrics, and music. We each understand that we perform our disciplines expertly and that we trust each other to execute them with precision and professionalism. It’s that trust that fostered such a great working relationship that encouraged us to ask deeper questions and to respectfully challenge one another.

TG: We laughed a lot. 🙂

CTC: What are you most excited for audiences to experience with this show?

TG: I can’t wait for audiences to see the tech and design of the show! And for them to hear the AMAZING music!

CA: I am most excited for audiences to experience the beginning and ending of the story. It’ll be interesting to witness how they parallel each other and what surprises are in store for our audiences. Overall, I hope they experience laughs, joys, and some empathy feelings.

Come see Milo Imagines the World at Children’s Theatre Company February 4-March 9, 2025!