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:
• 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
• 1927-1930s
• Showboat is first musical with
today’s format.
• 1931 first musical to win the
Pulitzer Prize, Of Thee I Sing
Golden Age
• 1940s-1960s
• 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
1960s
1970s
• 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
1980s-1990s
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