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.