Musical Theatre UNIT 2 Name What is Musical

Musical Theatre UNIT 2 Name___________________

What is Musical Theatre? • A play that contains music, singing, dialogue, and dancing. • All of these elements are used to move the storyline. • Typically popular music of that time period is used.

Types of Musicals BOOK MUSICAL REVUE • Has a strong story line with music and dance that drives the characters and moves the plot. • Example: • Collection of songs with a common element. Mini plays within the show. • Example:

Types of Musicals (ctd. ) CONCEPT MUSICAL JUKEBOX MUSICAL • A musical where the concept • A musical where the music or message of the show has used already exists and is more importance than the specifically from one certain story. artist, genre, or time period. • Example:

Types of Musicals (ctd. ) ROCK/POP OPERA • A musical with only rock or pop music with little or no dialogue included. Characters sing the entire time. • Example: REVIVAL • A musical that has already been performed, but is brought back at a later date with added, updated elements. • Example:

How did musical theatre begin? • New York, 1866 • It began as an accident… • Ballet dancers were added in at the last minute. • Crude plot and dances and music didn’t align with the plot. • But it was a start….

Roles in Musical Theatre • Director – casts show, gives actors blocking, vision of the show • Choreographer – makes up and teaches the dances • Musical Director – teaches music to actors and how to sing the songs • Actor – people portraying the characters. Sing, act, and dance • Ensemble – actors in the show that mainly dance and sing and are used to form crowds in scenes. • Composer – writes the music • Lyricist – writes the lyrics • Playwright – writes the lines and story • Stage Manager – organizes rehearsals and is in charge of the run of the show.

American Musical Theatre Musical Format Develops • 1927 -1930 s • Showboat is first musical with today’s format. • 1931 first musical to win the Pulitzer Prize, Of Thee I Sing Golden Age • 1940 s-1960 s • Oklahoma! Was written for the story not a star, which sets a trend. • Rodgers & Hammerstien – influential musical theatre writing team that wrote thought-provoking plots and re-worked the musical theatre genre.

American Musical Theatre 1960 s 1970 s • African-American influence on Broadway with shows such as Dreamgirls and The Wiz. • Controversial musicals begin to arise, Hair. • Old-fashioned values are brought back into the picture. • A Chorus Line won a Pulitzer Prize • Musicals such as Annie Stephen Sondheim – gained popularity during this time period. Wrote musicals such as Into the Woods and Sweeney Todd. He has been called the “greatest lyricist of all time. ”

American Musical Theatre 1980 s-1990 s Modern Day • Musical were all about the outrageous elements. Examples: Cats, Les Miserables • Pop/Rock operas • Large corporation influence Examples: Lion King, Beauty and the Beast • Plots from movies and other literary works Examples: Wicked, Legally Blonde