MUSICAL THEATRE INTRODUCTION TO MUSICAL THEATRE BY MR. J. ASHLEY

WHAT IS MUSICAL THEATRE? Musical theatre is a theatre that incorporates singing and dancing. Characters in a musical will break into spontaneous song and dance numbers to help advance the plot.

WHAT IS A JUKEBOX MUSICAL? A Jukebox Musical is when you take pre-existing songs and use them to create a musical. For example, Mamma Mia based on the music of Abba or Rock of Ages based on the music of 1980s hair bands.

MUSICALS CAN BE FUNNY…

OR SAD…

THERE ARE THREE MAIN REASONS TO SING IN A MUSICAL YOU CAN HAVE A SONG TO INTRODUCE A NEW CHARACTER TO THE STORY

THERE ARE THREE MAIN REASONS TO SING IN A MUSICAL YOU CAN HAVE A SONG TO EMPHASIZE A KEY PLOT POINT

THERE ARE THREE MAIN REASONS TO SING IN A MUSICAL YOU CAN HAVE A SONG TO SHOW THE CHARACTER’S INNERMOST THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS

THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ROLES IN A MUSICAL LEAD ROLE – THE ACTION OF THE MUSICAL REVOLVES AROUND THE LEAD CHARACTER. EXAMPLE. DOROTHY IN THE WIZARD OF OZ

THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ROLES IN A MUSICAL SECONDARY ROLE – A NAMED CHARACTER THAT ACTS AS A SIDEKICK OR PROVIDES COMEDIC RELIEF OR SUPPORTS THE STORY IN SOME WAY. EXAMPLE THE WITCH IN INTO THE WOODS

THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ROLES IN A MUSICAL CHORUS ROLE – AN UNNAMED CHARACTER THAT SERVES AS THE BACKGROUND CHARACTER IN SCENES AND MUSICAL NUMBERS. EXAMPLE. THE TEENAGERS IN BYE BYE BIRDIE.

WHAT IS A SOLO PERFORMANCE? WHEN AN ACTOR SINGS BY THEMSELVES ON STAGE. EXAMPLE. LITTLE GIRLS FROM ANNIE.

WHAT IS A TORCH SONG? WHEN AN ACTOR SINGS A BIG EMOTIONAL BALLAD. EXAMPLE. AS LONG AS HE NEEDS ME FROM OLIVER!

WHAT IS A DUET PERFORMANCE? WHEN TWO ACTORS SING TOGETHER ON STAGE. EXAMPLE. SUDDENLY SEYMOUR FROM LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS.

WHAT IS A CHORUS NUMBER? WHEN THE ENTIRE CAST SINGS TOGETHER ON STAGE. EXAMPLE. SEASONS OF LOVE FROM RENT.

WHAT IS DANCE? DANCE IS DEFINED AS ANY PURPOSEFUL, ARTISTIC MOVEMENT.

WHAT IS CHOREOGRAPHY? CHOREOGRAPHY IS HOW AN ACTOR MOVES TO THE MUSIC IN A MUSICAL NUMBER.

IT CAN BE INCREDIBLY COMPLICATED…

OR VERY SIMPLE…

GOOD CHOREOGRAPHY IS APPROPRIATE TO THE SCENE AND OFTEN USES PROPS THAT ARE FOUND IN THE SCENE. MOST IMPORTANTLY, CHOREOGRAPHY IS A TOOL TO HELP TELL A STORY

WHAT ARE THE THREE DIFFERENT REALITIES THAT A MUSICAL NUMBER CAN TAKE PLACE IN? REAL TIME

WHAT ARE THE THREE DIFFERENT REALITIES THAT A MUSICAL NUMBER CAN TAKE PLACE IN? IN THE PAST

WHAT ARE THE THREE DIFFERENT REALITIES THAT A MUSICAL NUMBER CAN TAKE PLACE IN? DREAM SEQUENCE

IN THIS UNIT, YOUR GROUP WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING ONE NUMBER IN A JUKEBOX MUSICAL AND PERFORMING IT FOR THE CLASS (WITHOUT SINGING). THE SONG YOU CHOOSE SHOULD TELL A STORY, BUT CANNOT BE FROM A MUSICAL THAT ALREADY EXISTS.

YOU WILL HAVE TO WRITE AN INTRODUCTION THAT HELPS YOUR CHARACTER EARN THEIR SONG (ESTABLISHES WHY THEY NEED TO SING AT THAT PARTICULAR MOMENT IN TIME) YOU WILL HAVE TO WRITE CONCLUDING DIALOGUE THAT BRINGS THE SCENE TO AN END. YOU WILL HAVE TO INCORPORATE SOME SORT OF DANCE OR ARTISTIC MOVEMENT INTO THE PIECE.

MUSICAL THEATRE IS MEANT TO BE FUN AND WHIMSICAL, SO HAVE A GOOD TIME WITH IT. DON’T GET TOO SCARED THOUGH... WE WILL DO LOTS OF WARM-UP ACTIVITIES IN CLASS BEFORE YOU GET TO THE FINAL PROJECT.