An Introduction to Musicals

Musicals

• Introduction

• History

• Watching Musicals

• Performing in Musicals

• Famous Musicals

Introduction

                Musicals have always been a very important part of human culture and though they are no longer the main focus for entertainment, they are still a beautiful and important part of life today. The three main components of a musical are the music, the lyrics, and the book. The book of a musical refers to the story – in effect, its spoken (not sung) lines; however, "book" can also refer to the dialogue and lyrics together, which are sometimes referred to (as in opera) as the libretto (Italian for “little book”). The music and lyrics together form the score of the musical. The interpretation of the musical by the creative team heavily influences the way that the musical is presented. The creative team includes a director, a musical director and usually a choreographer. A musical's production is also creatively characterized by technical aspects, such as set, costumes, stage properties, lighting, etc. that generally change from production to production (although some famous production aspects tend to be retained from the original production, for example, Bob Fosse's choreography in Chicago). The 20th century "book musical" has been defined as a musical play where the songs and dances are fully integrated into a well-made story, with serious dramatic goals, that is able to evoke genuine emotions other than laughter.

There is no fixed length for a musical. It can range from a short one-act entertainment to several acts and several hours in length (or even a multi-evening presentation); however, most musicals range from one and a half hours to three hours. Musicals today are typically presented in two acts, with one intermission ten to twenty minutes in length. The first act is almost always somewhat longer than the second act, and generally introduces most of the music. A musical may be built around four to six main theme tunes that are reprised throughout the show, or consist of a series of songs not directly musically related. Spoken dialogue is generally interspersed between musical numbers, although the use of "sung dialogue" or recitative is not unknown, especially in so-called "sung-through" musicals such as Les Misérables and Evita.

For those who want to learn to appreciate musicals or to become a part of musicals themselves, knowing the history and some of the most popular musicals, is a step in the right direction.

History

                Musical theater has existed since the time of the ancient Greeks. They would often include music and dance numbers in their theatrical performances. The ancient Romans even created tap shoes in order for the sounds of the dancer’s steps to be audible in large outdoor theaters. Even in ancient India it was common for music to be included in plays and performances.

                Throughout the Renaissance it became common for long plays to be broken up by a short musical play. It was during this time that a number of different opera types became popular and these forms of entertainment would eventually evolve into the type of musical that is popular today. It was in 1752 that theatrical performances first came to the United States when a London entrepreneur sent an acting troupe managed by his brother to the U.S.

                It was not long before other forms of entertainment started to become popular in the United States, particularly in New York. In the 1800s theater began to progress to downtown New York with performances like those of P.T. Barnum. Then musicals began to hit the Broadway stage with The Elves in 1857 being the first “long-run” musical. But even at this time London was still leading the way in musical theater.

                In the 1920’s musicals began to change as movies began to take the stage. Things changed even more in the 1930’s when the depression and talking pictures took to the stage. With the depression funds were very limited so people could not spend as much on musicals as they once could. Therefore going to see musicals at the movies became much more affordable. But for those that could afford to see musical theater the entertainment was some of the best ever offered.

                Once the economy rebounded, the musicals took center stage once more. By the 1950’s and 1960’s musicals began to transform as not only Broadway gained attention but off-Broadway as well. Some musicals even began to incorporate rock music and controversial themes, which made them the talk of the town. The 1980’s saw the introduction of Pop Operas in which musicals would feature pop music or even music that was popular at the time. In recent years musical theater has taken to adapting movies to the musical stage and theatrical musicals are making their way to the big screen.

Watching Musicals

                Appreciating musicals is often something that takes time. Beginners should make it a point to learn the musical’s story before going to see the performance live. The reason for this is that many musicals might seem disjointed or confusing if someone does not know the story beforehand. It is also important to note that the style of music can range from rock and pop, to classical and operatic styles.

                A musical often opens with a song that sets the tone of the show, introduces some or all of the major characters, and shows the setting of the play. Within the compressed nature of the musical, the writers must develop the characters and the plot. Music provides a means to express emotion. However, typically, many fewer words are sung in a five-minute song than are spoken in a five-minute block of dialogue. Therefore there is less time to develop drama than in a straight play of equivalent length, since a musical usually devotes more time to music than to dialogue.

The material for musicals is often original, but many musicals are adapted from novels (Wicked and Man of La Mancha), plays (Hello, Dolly!), classic legends (Camelot), historical events (Evita) or films (The Producers and Hairspray). On the other hand, many successful musical theatre works have been adapted for musical films, such as The Sound of Music, West Side Story, My Fair Lady, and Chicago.

Performing in Musicals

                For those who want to be involved in musicals sometimes the best idea is to look into helping out a local theater group. This is a great way to get started in either acting or working behind the scenes of a musical. It is important to realize that these groups often have a wide range of performances and talents so you may have to work your way to getting a significant role or responsibility.               

                On the other hand it is a great learning a experience and a great way to break into even bigger productions. There are also plenty of theaters that run on the help and volunteer efforts of individuals, this can also a be a great place to start to get experience and make some connections.

                Local colleges or community centers may also offer classes in acting and theater production that might be a great place to get started and to really learn the tricks of the trade. Often the teachers will help you find work or make some connections that will help you get involved in real productions. Many times these classes will put on productions of their own so that you can get firsthand experience.

Famous Musicals

                There are a number of musicals that are world renowned because of their long runs on Broadway and most of them are still being performed today. Below is a list of some of the most popular musicals ever to hit the stage.

 Becoming involved in musicals can truly be a great and rewarding experience. And with the wide range of musicals, there is definitely something out there for everyone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_theatre

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_longest-running_Broadway_shows

Handpicked Links on Musicals

Broadway Musical Home - This specialized site focuses on the the more modern broadway shows, with show information, tony award winners...etc

Dmoz - Musicals - This is the DMOZ directory categor for musicals with tons of useful links.

Theater History.com - Interesting article on the history of musical theater in the US.