We get asked this a lot: wait, how many companies do you two have? Three. Which sounds like a lot, until you see how they fit together.
The short version: we write musicals, we produce them, and we help other artists get theirs made.
Sabol & Aberle: the writing
This is where it starts. We write book, music and lyrics together. Our musical Straight Forward is based on the true story of an otherwise straight man who falls in love with his best friend, and it had a developmental run at Theatre Row, Off Broadway, in 2023. Our next musical is adapted from a cult-classic film, and we’re announcing it soon.
SABERLE Productions: the producing
Writing a show is one thing. Getting it onto a stage is another. SABERLE is our commercial producing company. It develops new musicals through readings, workshops and labs, then takes them to commercial runs, from Off Broadway to regional stages. It’s also where co-producers, venues and investors come in.
Pivotal Productions: the nonprofit
Pivotal began as an educational theatre company, giving students real roles on real productions: In the Heights in 2016, Spring Awakening in 2017, Fame in 2018 and Footloose in 2019. Today it’s a 501(c)(3) that develops new work in theatre, film and entertainment. It runs Straight Forward Sessions, and it offers fiscal sponsorship to other artists for a 4% fee, which is well below what most sponsors charge.
Why three?
Because they’re three different kinds of money with three different sets of rules. Donations aren’t investments, and a nonprofit isn’t a production company. Keeping them separate keeps everything clean for donors, investors and the artists we work with. Honestly, it keeps us organized too.
A little about us
We’ve written together for years, with work at the New York Theatre Festival and Off Broadway. Billy has worked with The Public Theater, Telsey + Company and the Nederlander Organization. Chris is a musical theatre educator and has music directed more than 60 shows.
Between the two of us, we’ve been on every side of this: writing in the room, raising the money, and standing in the back of the house on opening night. All three companies come from that.
What’s next
Straight Forward Sessions start recording in December, and our new musical is in development now. This blog, Off Book, is where we’ll share what we’re learning along the way.
Follow along
New music, new shows and the occasional behind-the-scenes story. No spam.