MUSICAL THEATRE

WHAT IS A MUSICAL AND WHAT ARE THE TERMS? Musical Theatre-a type of entertainment containing music, songs, and usually, dance Production Number- a large-scale performance within a musical show, usually combining both song and dance Music Director-shapes the musical tone of the show Choreographer-the artist who designs dances for the stage Principal-an actor who has one of the major roles Chorus-ensemble and supporting roles Composer-person who writes the music for a musical Lyricist-the person who writes the words for the music Book-script for the musical

HISTORY OF BROADWAY THEATRE : As theater styles and personalities from around the world and the country come to New York, the theater district is born — and so is the American musical : Broadway enters its most prodigious period; songwriters create a new musical mythology of Broadway and send it across the country : During the Great Depression, Broadway distracts audiences with escapism, while also offering political commentary and social engagement : Rodgers and Hammerstein pioneer a new form of narrative storytelling that brings a new age of musical classics : Broadway confronts the seismic changes in American culture by reinventing its own tradition : Broadway becomes a truly global phenomenon as new innovations respond to economic challenges.

WHAT MAKES THE MUSICAL HAPPEN Things to consider behind the scenes: Directing team: director, music director, choreographer, producers Budget: High school can range 2 to 15 thousand, Professional can range 4 to 10 million dollars Performance space: proscenium stages are most often used due to space; rarely use arena or thrust Cast and crew: principles, chorus, backstage crew, designers, managers, stage hands Audience: your show has to appeal to your target audience

MUSICAL FYI The production budget for Wicked is $42 million dollars The production budget for Spiderman was an estimated $75 million The production budget for Phantom of the opera is $8 million ShowDatesPerformances 1 1. The Phantom of the Opera1/88–present8, Cats10/82–9/20007, Les Misérables 3/87–5/20036, A Chorus Line7/75–4/906, Oh! Calcutta! (revival)9/76–8/895, Beauty and the Beast 4/94–7/20075, Rent4/96–9/20085, Chicago (revival)11/96–present4, The Lion King11/97–present4,524

THE BEGINNING FOR THE U.S. The first musical was “The Black Crook” It opened September It ran 474 performances It was 5 ½ hours long

STRUCTURE OF THE TYPICAL AMERICAN MUSICAL Overture- Orchestral introduction previewing from the show Act I Intermission (10-20 minutes) Entr’acte Act II Curtain Call Exit music

TYPES OF MUSICALS Book Musical Traditional musical with a strong story that drives the music and characters Revue A collection of songs, generally with some common element. May or may not have a plot Concept Musical A musical where the message or metaphor is just as, if not more important, than the actual story Jukebox musical Musical using only songs from an artist or group Rock (or Pop) Musical Musical that uses rock music (or pop music) as the main style of music. If there is little spoken dialogue, it could be called a rock opera or pop opera

BEHIND THE MUSIC Songs are as important as the dialogue that is spoken The actor must determine the subtext or underlying message of the specific song Wicked: For Good

BEHIND THE SCENES Wicked: The Road to Broadway

“You have 2 kinds of shows on Broadway - revivals and the same kind of musicals over and over again, all spectacles. You get your tickets for The Lion Kin a year in advance, and essentially a family comes as if to a picnic, and they pass on to their children the idea that that’s what the theatre is - a spectacular musical you see once a year, a stage version of a movie. It has nothing to do with theatre at all. It has to do with seeing what is familiar. We live in a recycled culture…. I don’t think the theatre will die per se, but it’s never going to be what it was. You can’t bring it back. It’s gone. It’s a tourist attraction.” Stephen Sondheim

MUSICAL PROJECT Name and information for your theatre Typical musical theatre experience: what can an audience expect when they attend a musical Content of a musical: what are your musicals about Create a scene with a 30 second monologue for each actor Provide dialogue to tie monologues together Select an appropriate song to sing with scene, provide lyrics, 90 seconds minimum Create choreographed movement for the song