@The Arts Unit Creative Classes
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Discover the dramatic style of musical theatre through performance
Discover the dramatic style of musical theatre through performance
Student drama resource developed by The Arts Unit
Years 7 to 10 drama
What will I learn?
What will I learn?
This class is an introduction to the performance style of musical theatre through examples from various NSW Schools Spectacular performances.
You will:
explore the origins of the dramatic style of musical theatre
discover theatrical conventions and techniques of musical theatre as a performance style
identify and discuss characteristics of musical theatre in performance
create a character performance based on a musical theatre piece.
What is musical theatre?
What is musical theatre?
Musical theatre can be defined as telling a story through song, spoken dialogue and dance.
Theatrical conventions and techniques of this performance style include:
strong, emphatic acting style
storytelling through the use of song
characters with common struggles or flaws to overcome
spoken dialogue included in the songs
use of solo, duet and ensemble performance
acting, singing and dancing skills
popular and theatrical music
fresh and inventive use of language for song lyrics, including rhyme.
Watch the video A Musical from Schools Spectacular 2017 to discover the key characteristics of musical theatre through a performance that celebrates musical theatre moments across the eras.
Schools Spectacular 2017 – A Musical
Duration: 05:15The inclusion of music and song in theatre can be seen as far back as Elizabethan theatre and even further to ancient Greek theatre. It also has stylistic links to opera and even ballet. While over time the inclusion of songs in plays was less common, in musical theatre it is integral to the storytelling and characterisation.
Research the origin of musical theatre and how it has developed over time.
Identify 10 popular musicals and outline what they are about and the key characters.
Storytelling
Storytelling
Watch the 'The Wizard of Oz' segment from Schools Spectacular 2019.
Schools Spectacular 2019 – The Wizard of Oz segment
Duration: 10:14Musical theatre is commonly known for its ability to incorporate spoken dialogue and music to tell a story. The songs are a key element in advancing the narrative, as well as a tool for revealing the internal thoughts of the different characters.
How do these songs effectively tell aspects of the 'Wizard of Oz' story?
Identify the central characters from each of the musicals in this collection.
What is revealed about each of the various characters through the song lyrics?
Follow the Yellow Brick Road
No Good Deed
Characterisation
Characterisation
Watch the 2 videos of The Sound of Music segment from Schools Spectacular 2015 and the Musical Greats segment from Schools Spectacular 2018.
Schools Spectacular 2015 – The Sound of Music segment
Duration: 08:10Schools Spectacular 2018 – Musical Greats segment
Duration: 09:36Musical theatre narratives explore the stages of the key characters' lives and the experiences they have. These characters are often based on stereotypes from the context or setting of the musical.
Discuss the common characteristics of the lead character types in musicals.
It is common to have both strong male and female lead characters who the audience can relate to and believe in. An ensemble of characters is also common as a support to the lead characters in their development. When performing, they often use large facial expressions, gestures and interaction with the ensemble to reveal the character.
Outline how the male and female performers demonstrate these traits in their performances.
How do each of the performers use their physical expressions to reveal their characters while singing?
How do the costumes help to establish character?
A musical narrative always includes a lead character coming to a realisation or making a key decision when the narrative reaches a climax. This can be established through those characters singing a grand solo ballad.
Do-Re-Mi, Favourite Things, The Lonely Goatherd – Maria Von Trapp
My Shot – Alexander Hamilton
Singin' in the Rain – Don Lockwood
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious – Mary Poppins
Acting
Acting
The acting style in musical theatre is very specific to this genre and different from a realistic theatre style. It is mostly non-naturalistic, with the characters regularly breaking into song to continue the story. It can also experiment, at times, with a fresh way of using language through repetition, rhyme, and word play.
As an actor, you have to be strong in physical performance and have the skills in acting, singing and dancing, often referred to as the 'triple threat'. Ensemble work is vital and your ability to work with others on stage is essential.
The audience is very aware of the 'fourth wall' and is positioned to be witnessing the events and being entertained by the spectacular style of theatre. It is a popular style of theatre as it allows the audience to escape to another world for that moment in time.
Watch the 'Mary Poppins' song Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious from Schools Spectacular 2011.
Discuss how this example demonstrates some of these elements of the musical theatre style.
Schools Spectacular 2011 – Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Duration: 03:51If you want to challenge yourself or others to learn this song and the word actions, see the Creative Class, Are you supercali-coordinated?
Staging
Staging
Staging a musical can range from a small local budget production to a large-scale internationally staged production. When designing the production elements of a musical theatre production, no matter the scale, there are several important considerations. There is however, no requirement for realism of the elements, as musical theatre audiences suspend their belief of reality.
When staging a musical production, considerations include:
direction and musical directing
choreography
set and props
costume, hair and makeup
lighting design
audio design
video projection
stage management.
Discover more about how Wicked the musical was created and put on stage by exploring Behind the Emerald Curtain, a collection of videos on the making of Wicked on Broadway.
Create
Create
The storytelling nature of musical theatre songs allow many of them to be very effectively adapted into a drama monologue.
Watch Siobhan Clifford's Schools Spectacular 2016 performance of I'll Be Here from the musical 'Ordinary Days'.
Schools Spectacular 2016 – I'll Be Here
Duration: 05:54Observe how she communicates the story through her characterisation, facial expression and voice.
Create your own dramatic monologue from this song or another musical theatre song of your choice.
The song could be adapted as a spoken word monologue or include some musical elements. The script could be extended to create more depth to the character and monologue.
Take a bow!
Congratulations. You have completed this @The Arts Unit Creative Class.
Third-party content attributions
Third-party content attributions
Images from 'Schools Spectacular' 2011, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019, photographed by Anna Warr for The Arts Unit. © Anna Warr, reproduced and communicated with permission.
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