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 MUSICALYOU 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 MUSICALYOU 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 MUSICALYOU 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 MUSICALLEAD 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 MUSICALSECONDARY 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 MUSICALCHORUS 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