Grade 8 Musical Theatre

transcript

PROJECT

DATE CLIENTOCTOBER 2012 J.W. PARKER MIDDLE SCHOOL

AMERICAN MUSICAL THEATREMonday, March 18, 13

WHAT IS MUSICAL THEATRE?AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Monday, March 18, 13

Music, Acting & DancePerformers must be able to sing, dance and act (often at the same time!)

Performers usually wear costumes, wigs, and makeup

8 shows per week (sometimes 2 per day)

Can be a physically demanding job

Behind the ScenesCrew members are in charge of lighting, sound, props/set pieces, drops, and any other necessary tasks vital to the performers

Often the unsung heroes of a performance

Set designers & costume designers

The OrchestraOften placed in a “pit”, or a sunken space below the stage

Can feature 5-45 musicians at once

A conductor leads the group and is in charge of the overall music direction

Professionals are paid

An Actor Prepares...The story and emotional content of the piece are communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the musical.

Equal weight given to the acting and the music = NOT A PLAY!

How it all began...Early shows were designed to show off the popular songs of the day

Early musicals had romantic plots with aspects of comedy thrown in

Melodies HAD to be catchy---would assure the audience would walk away humming them

The songs were often written before a musical was even conceived

“MAKE BELIEVE” FROM SHOW BOAT

As musical theatre developed, the plots improved and became more intricate and complexAs a result, stories were more believable.

LITERARY WORKS WERE OFTEN THE BASIS FOR PLOT LINES.THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, ROMEO AND JULIET, PYGMALION...

A powerful pair: Rodgers and Hammerstein

Known for The Sound of Music, The King & I, and Oklahoma!

Worked together from 1943-1960

A Groundbreaking “Oklahoma!”Offered the audience more than just laughter and dancing

Made audiences feel more emotions

Utilized a “dream ballet”

Themes significantly darker at times than previous musicals

A Groundbreaking “Oklahoma!”Has gone on to become one of the best known musicals of all time

Still produced by companies today

Had a revival in the early 2000’s on Broadway

Once starred Hugh Jackman (Wolverine, X-Men, Les Miserables) as Curly

“THE FARMER AND THE COWMAN” FROM OKLAHOMA

HUGH JACKMAN DISCUSSING “OKLAHOMA!”

RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN WENT ON

TO WRITE SMASH MUSICALS, SUCH AS...

THE VILLAIN IS A

SUSPECTED MURDERER

AND PSYCHOPATH

DEALS WITH SPOUSAL ABUSE,

THIEVERY, SUICIDE AND

THE AFTERLIFE

EXPLORES INTERRACIAL

RELATIONSHIPS

HERO IS DOMINEERING

OVER WOMEN...AND DIES ONSTAGE

FAMILY IS PURSUED BY

BEFORE GOING TO THE NEXT SLIDE, MATCH EACH MUSICAL WITH ITS CORRESPONDING PLOT SUMMARY

THE VILLAIN IS A SUSPECTED

MURDERER AND

PSYCHOPATH

DEALS WITH SPOUSAL ABUSE,

THIEVERY, SUICIDE AND

THE AFTERLIFE

EXPLORES INTERRACIAL

RELATIONSHIPS

HERO IS DOMINEERING

OVER WOMEN...AND DIES ONSTAGE

FAMILY IS PURSUED BY

THE ANSWERSMonday, March 18, 13

THE GOLDEN AGE OF MUSICAL THEATRE (C. 1944)AMERICANA ON DISPLAY

The Golden Age“Americana” was displayed in musicals of the time period

WWII highly affected plot lines and characters

Plots usually had something to do with the war effort

The Golden AgePlot lines driven from 4 ideals of the “American Dream”:

Stability and worth derives from a love relationship

A married couple should make a moral home with children away from the city

The woman's function was as homemaker and mother

Americans incorporate an independent and pioneering spirit or that their success is self-made.

ON THE TOWN

“YOU CAN’T GET A MAN WITHOUT A GUN” FROM ANNIE GET YOUR GUN

“BRUSH UP YOUR SHAKESPEARE” FROM KISS ME KATEMonday, March 18, 13

MUSICAL THEATRE IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL IN NEW YORK

CLICK ON THESE CURRENT

MUSICALS WHICH ARE AMONG THE

HOTTEST TICKETS IN TOWN.

Grade 8 Musical Theatre

Education