Brooke Di spirito and Caitlin Thomas

"So Happy (Again)"

When did you first discover theater/what was your first experience?: CAITLIN: I grew up in a very musical family, so I’ve gotten the opportunity to experience live music and theater from a young age. While my parents, both professional classical musicians, brought me along to countless concerts and operas, theater came a bit later. West Side Story was my first early memory of theater (specifically the documentary of the making of the cast album) and later I saw my sisters in a production of Chorus Line and just fell in love with both the show and the medium.
When/how did you become a writer? Is there a writer, show, or text that particularly inspired you?: CAITLIN: Waitress was particularly inspiring from me, since I’ve really come to musical theater from an independent singer/songwriter track- a world I’d been exploring since the age of 7. I’ve always been so inspired by Sara Bareilles’ work, and when I saw how it translated to stage, I thought- “well, yeah- that’s what I want to do!”
How do you describe your style/work?: CAITLIN: A blend of chamber music, pop, jazz, and musical theater, relying on both catchy hooks and unique instrumentation to convey emotional resonant themes (often queer stories, psychological and family dynamic-driven pieces.)
What is most rewarding to you about writing music?: CAITLIN: The emotional depth that music adds to a piece of text or story, and the moment that’s heard back for the first time as a listener and not a writer- seeing each tree in the forest- is my favorite moment and by far the most rewarding.