musical theatre chapter 15. what you will learn identify milestones in the development of the...
TRANSCRIPT
Musical TheatreChapter 15
What You Will Learn
Identify milestones in the development of the Broadway musical
Name composers of classic Broadway musicals
Analyze and evaluate a Broadway musical
Vocabulary
Operettas Broadway musical Vaudeville Dialogue Repertoire Monologue Motive
Musician Profiles
Audra McDonald
Alain Boublil
Claude-Michel Schonberg
An Introduction to Musical theatre
During the 1800’s the evolution of opera split Germany – lengthy heroic operas Paris and Vienna – lighter more sentimental comic opera Operettas:
stage plays with songs and dance interspersed with spoken lines
The birth of the Broadway musical: Operettas came to America and became the Broadway Musical:
A dramatic stage form that combines the arts of acting and singing
Uniquely American Forerunners include operettas, minstrel shows, and vaudeville:
An early stage variety show that included songs, dances, and comedy skits
George M. Cohan
One of the first composers of Broadway musical His first hit show was Little Johnny Jones (1904) “Give My Regards to Broadway,” a song from that
show became a classic It contained the first ever reference to Broadway as a
synonym for musical theater
The Classic Broadway Musical In the 1920’s the musical continued to develop
Emphasis on music but there was more emphasis on the story
Richer plot lines More attention to dialogue:
The spoken lines of a play or musical
George Gershwin – Lady Be Good Jerome Kern – Show Boat Cole Porter – Anything Goes
Before World War II musicals reflected optimism – good will win over evil
After World War II the musical further developed My Fair Lady – Lerner and Loewe The Sound of Music – Rodgers and Hammerstein West Side Story – Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim
These musicals added many songs to the repertoire: An inventory of compositions mastered and performed by a
musician
During the latter part of the 20th century musicals began addressing darker more serious themes John Kander and Fred Ebb = Chicago and Cabaret
From Broadway to Hollywood West Side Story (1961)
10 Oscars, including Best Picture
My Fair Lady (1964) Eight Oscars, including Best Picture
The Sound of Music (1965) Five Oscars, including Best Picture
Cabaret (1972) eight Oscars
Chicago (2002) six Oscars, including Best Picture
An International Trend In the 1970’s British and French teams
began contributing to musical theater Andrew Lloyd Webber – British
Cats, Evita (with Tim Rice), The Phantom of the Opera
Elton John – British The Lion King and Aida, with Tim Rice
Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil – French
Les Miserables and Miss Saigon
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Elton John
Tim Rice
AssignmentActivity 1, p. 345
Investigate a Musical Select one of the musicals mentioned in this section, or choose another that you are
interested in. Using reliable online and library resources, research the story and music of the show. Then complete the following:
What is the musical about? Write a brief summary of the setting, characters, and basic plot. (10 points)
How would you characterize the music? Select one song from the musical and analyze how the song conveys something in the plot or a character’s emotions. What mood does the song portray? What message does the song convey? (10 points)
Musical theater Today
Broadway musicals are still popular today Both old and new can be seen Audra McDonald (b. 1970)
Born in Berlin, Germany Attended Julliard Won a 1994 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a
Musical for Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel Also won Tonys for Master Class(1996), Ragtime(1998), and
A Raisin in the Sun (2004) Youngest actor to ever win three Tonys
Les Miserables
One of the most popular musicals Opened in London in 1985 Based on a novel by Victor Hugo written in 1862
Social commentary on the quality of life in France Universal themes of human struggle, endurance, and redemption made it
one of the best-selling books in history Several 19th century, including Puccini, considered making it into an
opera
In 1980 Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg adapted the work into musical theatre
Activity 2 p. 347“Prologue” CD 10:6
How would you describe the dialogue between Javert and Valjean in the “Prologue”
Describe the differences in the quality of the voices based on the attitudes that the characters communicate through the music.
How does the composer use dynamics to intensify the drama?
Lyrics on p. 348
Activity 3, p. 349“What Have I Done?” CD 10:7
Monologue: A dramatic speech or song delivered by one character
in a play
Make a list of the conflicts he is singing about. How does the melody affect your thoughts about
Valjean? Do you think what he has done is forgivable? Why
or why not?
Activity 4 p. 350“I Dreamed a Dream” CD 10:8
Which of the following best describes the melodic form of the song? AAAA/ AABA/ ABBA/ AABC
AABC
There are 3 distinct groupings of text that tell the story. Is the melody the same, different, or modified in each of the 3 texts?
How does the song’s organization support the emotional content? The intro sets up Fantine’s story. The A sections describe he hopeful
dreams. The darker B section foreshadows her downfall. The repeat of the A sections emphasizes her tragedy of her story.
Think of a single word that describes the pathos depicted in the song.
Activity 5, p. 352“One Day More” video
Determine how the addition of music enhanced the dram and messages being presented The accompaniment is tailored to each character’s
expression yet builds toward the climax of the song in a unifying dramatic way
Why do you think the composer and lyricist chose to use this format to end the story in Act I? It reviews the characters’ place in the story as well as their
emotional and character traits. It also sets up the action of Act II. The song is a dramatic and exciting way to end Act I.
Activity 6, p. 356“On My Own” CD 10:9
Lyrics p. 353 Which letter diagram best designates the melodic
form of the song? AAAA/ AABB/ AABC/ AABA
AABA
Activity 7, p. 357“Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” CD 10:10
Motive A short musical idea that is easily remembered and
helps unify a composition
Review - terms Broadway musical
A dramatic stage from that combines the arts of acting and singing
Dialogue The spoken lines of a play or musical show
Monologue A dramatic speech or song delivered by one character in a aplay
Motive A short musical idea that is easily remembered and helps unify a composition
Operettas Stage play with songs and dance interspersed with spoken lines
Repertoire An inventory of compositions mastered and performed by a musician
Vaudeville An early stage form that combines the arts of acting and singing/
Les MiserablesWho they were/what they sang
Sings “I Dreamed a Dream”
Central character in Les Miserables
Sings “On My Own”
Cosette’s mother
Sings “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables”
A police inspector
Sings “What Have I Done?”
Feels unrequited love for Marius
Character Fantine
Jean Valjean
Eponine
Fantine
Marius
Javert
Jean Valjean
Eponine
Musicals of Andrew Lloyd Weber Jesus Christ Superstar The Phantom of the Opera Cats Evita
One of the first composers of Broadway musicals George M. Cohan
Broadway singer and actor Audra McDonald won recognition in a revival of which Rodgers and Hammerstein classic Carousel
One composer who emerged during the 1920’s as a composer of Broadway musicals George Gershwin
The British composer who collaborated with Tim Rice to create The Lion King Elton John
French composers Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil wrote… Les Miserables
West Side Story (1961) 10 Oscars, including Best Picture
My Fair Lady (1964) 8 Oscars, including Best Picture
The Sound of Music (1965) 5 Oscars, including Best Picture
Cabaret (1972) 8 Oscars
Chicago (2002) 6 Oscars, including Best Picture
What characteristics have made Les Miserables a popular and successful musical?
Universal themes of human struggle Endurance Redemption Drama of the plot Emotional expression of the music
What were some of the entertainment forms that contributed to the development of the Broadway musical? How did the Broadway musical change over the years? Predecessors of the Broadway musical
Comic operas Operettas Minstrel shows Vaudeville
1920’s musicals Emphasis on music Richer plotlines Carefully scripted dialogue
After WWII Composer lyricist teams created classic musicals like My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, and
West Side Story These musicals popularized show tunes Musicals were mainly optimistic During the latter part of the 20th century musicals began addressing more serious themes