1. Intro to Musical Theatre
Wayne Davidson M.Ed
Da vinci school for Science and the Arts

2. We will be looking at... What is Musical Theatre
The History of Musical Theatre

3. What is Musical Theatre?
A theatre piece that contains music, spoken dialogue, and dance
Typically popular styles of music
Story is told through all aspects of the piece

4. Types of Musicals
Book Musical-Traditional music with a strong story that drives the music and the characters.
Revue-A collection of songs, generally with some common element.

5. Other Types of Musicals
Concept Musical-Musical where the concept or message is just as, if not more important than the story.
Jukebox Musical-Music using only songs from a group or artist. (Ex.: Rock of Ages).

6. Still More Types of Musicals
Rock or Pop Musicals- Using rock or pop music, typically with little to no dialogue. It could be called a Rock/Pop Opera.

7. Musical Breakdown
The three main components of a book musical are the music, the lyrics and the book.
The book of a musical refers to the story, character development, and dramatic structure, including the spoken dialogue.
Book can also refer to the dialogue and lyrics together, which are sometimes referred to as the libretto (Italian for “little book”.
The music and lyrics together form the score of the musical.

8. Structure of a Musical Typically 2-act shows
About 6 main pieces of music, but usually more than 10 songs.
Spoken dialogue breaks up between the songs.
Although some musicals are sung all the way through (Jesus Christ Superstar/ Evita).
Typically the moments of greatest tension are told through song.

9. Who Makes Musicals? Producers
Director, Choreographers, Musical Director, Technical Director, Stage Manager.
Typically characterized by the technical aspects such as staging, lighting, props, set, costumes, sound, any special effects.

10. History of Musical Theatre
Around since the earliest forms (Greek, Medieval etc.) in some form.
Musical Theatre, as we know it today, it began with operettas which were a transition from Opera forms to musical comedy (Example: Gilbert & Sullivan: See below)

11. History (cont.)
In America, the first original theatre piece in English that conforms to the modern conception of a musical, adding dance and original music that helped to tell the story, is generally considered to be The Black Crook premiered in New York on September 12, The production was a staggering five-and-a-half hours long, but despite its length, it ran for a record-breaking 474 performances.

12. History – Golden Age
The “Golden age of Musicals” was from the 1940’s-60’s
Began with Oklahoma by Rodgers and Hammerstein tightly integrating all the aspects of musical theatre, with a cohesive plot, songs that furthered the action of the story, and dances that advanced the plot and developed the characters, rather than using dance as an excuse to parade scantily clad women across the stage.

13. Golden Age Cont.
It was the first "blockbuster" Broadway show, running a total of 2,212 performances, and was made into a hit film. It remains one of the most frequently produced of the team's projects.
From this era we get famous musicals such as Carousel (1945), South Pacific (1949), The King and I (1951), and The Sound of Music (1959).
These had more serious subject matter than earlier shows.

14. Golden Age Cont.
The villain in Oklahoma! is a suspected murderer and psychopath with a fondness for lewd post cards.
Carousel deals with spousal abuse, thievery, suicide and the afterlife.
South Pacific explores miscegenation even more thoroughly than Show Boat.
The hero of The King and I dies onstage.

15. The 60’s
The most notable musical contributor to come out of this time period was Steven Sondheim.
Notable Plays by him include:
Sweeney Todd
Sunday in the Park with George
Into the Woods
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

16. https://youtu.be/9A2ygMHgXhc
1970’S
Here we saw the rise of rock musicals such as
Jesus Christ Superstar
The Rocky Horror Show
Godspell

17. https://youtu.be/Q9WkQ6zA6D8
80’s/ 90’s
Here the mega- musicals or Pop Operas began.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals Phantom of the Opera, Evita, Cats
Miss Saigon
Aida
Little Shop of Horrors

18. Current
Musicals currently put on are those most likely to see healthy profit, largely based off of spectacle and Broadway influences. However a few unusual shows have sprung up to become some of the most popular shows yet such as:
Avenue Q
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Spring Awakening
In the Heights
Next to Normal
The Book of Mormon
Monty Python’s Spamalot
Jersey Boys