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.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K54VMAmjNSk

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.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jldfLHg5uFY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRAz51wDHDE

MUSICALS CAN BE FUNNY…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5h-I8U_CQv0

OR SAD…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzNVmZfNoa8

THERE ARE THREE MAIN REASONS TO SING IN A MUSICAL

YOU CAN HAVE A SONG TO INTRODUCE A NEW CHARACTER TO THE STORY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOtMizMQ6oM

THERE ARE THREE MAIN REASONS TO SING IN A MUSICAL

YOU CAN HAVE A SONG TO EMPHASIZE A KEY PLOT POINT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59Hj7bp38f8

THERE ARE THREE MAIN REASONS TO SING IN A MUSICAL

YOU CAN HAVE A SONG TO SHOW THE CHARACTER’S INNERMOST THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGzBZJHhHsc

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSZxmZmBfnU

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 ULA IN THE PRODUCERS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeBfVrJ2UiY

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.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sPU3ymk2ms

WHAT IS A SOLO PERFORMANCE?

WHEN AN ACTOR SINGS BY THEMSELVES ON STAGE. EXAMPLE. LITTLE GIRLS FROM ANNIE.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDkEXszYtdo

WHAT IS A TORCH SONG?

WHEN AN ACTOR SINGS A BIG EMOTIONAL BALLAD. EXAMPLE. AS LONG AS HE NEEDS ME FROM OLIVER!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m8JFXQUOng

WHAT IS A DUET PERFORMANCE?

WHEN TWO ACTORS SING TOGETHER ON STAGE. EXAMPLE. ANYTHING YOU CAN DO FROM ANNIE GET YOUR GUN.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO23WBji_Z0

WHAT IS A CHORUS NUMBER?

WHEN THE ENTIRE CAST SINGS TOGETHER ON STAGE. EXAMPLE. SEASONS OF LOVE FROM RENT.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvyHuse6buY

WHAT IS DANCE?

DANCE IS DEFINED AS ANY PURPOSEFUL, ARTISTIC MOVEMENT.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kokbJvSEMUY

WHAT IS CHOREOGRAPHY?

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

IT CAN BE INCREDIBLY COMPLICATED…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrrz54UtkCc

OR VERY SIMPLE…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTOHl9nD6B0

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0bOH8ABpco

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

REAL TIME

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjjWJEeVpBw

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

IN THE PAST

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBM82Ju2kJU

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

DREAM SEQUENCE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouLiQ7KhmYU

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.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXlnMveRt-Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsiSRSgqE4E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moOamKxW844

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVlQXvrWC_A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_4hes62J1o