1. Musical Theatre

2. What is a musical and what are the terms?
Musical Theatre-a type of entertainment containing music, songs, and usually, dance
Production Number- a large-scale performance within a musical show, usually combining both song and dance
Music Director-shapes the musical tone of the show
Choreographer-the artist who designs dances for the stage
Principal-an actor who has one of the major roles
Chorus-ensemble and supporting roles
Composer-person who writes the music for a musical
Lyricist-the person who writes the words for the music
Book-script for the musical

3. History of Broadway theatre
: As theater styles and personalities from around the world and the country come to New York, the theater district is born — and so is the American musical.
: Broadway enters its most prodigious period; songwriters create a new musical mythology of Broadway and send it across the country.
: During the Great Depression, Broadway distracts audiences with escapism, while also offering political commentary and social engagement.
: Rodgers and Hammerstein pioneer a new form of narrative storytelling that brings a new age of musical classics.
: Broadway confronts the seismic changes in American culture by reinventing its own tradition.
: Broadway becomes a truly global phenomenon as new innovations respond to economic challenges.

4. What makes the musical happen
Things to consider behind the scenes:
Directing team: director, music director, choreographer, producers
Budget: High school can range 2 to 15 thousand, Professional can range 4 to 10 million dollars
Performance space: proscenium stages are most often used due to space; rarely use arena or thrust
Cast and crew: principles, chorus, backstage crew, designers, managers, stage hands
Audience: your show has to appeal to your target audience

5. Musical fyi The production budget for Wicked is $42 million dollars
The production budget for Spiderman was an estimated $75 million
The production budget for Phantom of the opera is $8 million
Show
Dates
Performances1
1. The Phantom of the Opera
1/88–present
8,575
2. Cats
10/82–9/2000
7,485
3. Les Misérables
 3/87–5/2003
6,680
4. A Chorus Line
7/75–4/90
6,137
5. Oh! Calcutta! (revival)
9/76–8/89
5,959
6. Beauty and the Beast
 4/94–7/2007
5,461
7. Rent
4/96–9/2008
5,124
8. Chicago (revival)
11/96–present
4,892
9. The Lion King
11/97–present
4,524

6. The beginning for the u.s.
The first musical was “The Black Crook”
It opened September
It ran 474 performances
It was 5 ½ hours long

7. Structure of the Typical American musical
Overture- Orchestral introduction previewing from the show
Act I
Intermission (10-20 minutes)
Entr’acte
Act II
Curtain Call
Exit music

8. Types of musicals Book Musical Revue Concept Musical Jukebox musical
Traditional musical with a strong story that drives the music and characters
Revue
A collection of songs, generally with some common element. May or may not have a plot
Concept Musical
A musical where the message or metaphor is just as, if not more important, than the actual story
Jukebox musical
Musical using only songs from an artist or group
Rock (or Pop) Musical
Musical that uses rock music (or pop music) as the main style of music. If there is little spoken dialogue, it could be called a rock opera or pop opera

9. Behind the music Songs are as important as the dialogue that is spoken
The actor must determine the subtext or underlying message of the specific song
Wicked: For Good

10. Behind the scenes Wicked: The Road to Broadway

11. “You have 2 kinds of shows on Broadway - revivals and the same kind of musicals over and over again, all spectacles. You get your tickets for The Lion Kin a year in advance, and essentially a family comes as if to a picnic, and they pass on to their children the idea that that’s what the theatre is - a spectacular musical you see once a year, a stage version of a movie. It has nothing to do with theatre at all. It has to do with seeing what is familiar. We live in a recycled culture…. I don’t think the theatre will die per se, but it’s never going to be what it was. You can’t bring it back. It’s gone. It’s a tourist attraction.” Stephen Sondheim

12. Musical Project Your group will select a culture outside of the US
Make an informational guide/presentation to your theatre
Give your theatre a name
Use collected information to provide the best experience for your incoming audience
Research the following: descriptions, videos, images, etc.
History of musical theatre: where did musical theatre start
Typical musical theatre experience: what can an audience expect when they attend a musical
Who is involved: what does the support team consist of
Length of a performance: how long does a show normally last
Content of a musical: what are their musicals about

13. Welcome to blah blah theatre
Our theatre is located in Somewhere
Our style of theatre began in the land of the dinosaurs with our production of T-Rex The Musical
The audience is expected to dress in their finest. Leave all pet dinos at home
Our show will last approximately 5 hours, during intermission the audience will have time to hunt for dinner
Our performance this evening is brought to you by support from our director, dinosaur handler, set designer, costume designer, and the Cave Man Band
Our musicals will make you laugh, cry, and fear for your life as we see a story of love gone awry between our two T-Rex characters.