Transcript Musical Theater Studies

Musical Theater
Studies
Exploration of structure, types of
songs/characters, motivation
Proverbial Saying
“When the emotion becomes too strong for speechyou sing; when it becomes too strong for song- you
dance. “
Why Do Characters Sing?
• Words fail
• Brings character to life
o Allows additional expression for a character
o Creates a tone
• Moves the action forward
• Express moments of emotional tension
• Provide comic relief or breaks up scenes
• Honestly…it makes money
o Everyone likes music
o Spectacle
o Etc.
Types of Songs
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Ballads
Charm Songs
Comedy Numbers
Musical Scenes
Ballads
• Slower tempo
• Content
o Usually more serious tone
o About discovery or mood
o Love songs, emotional moments, personal
o Sung as solo or duet, rarely do many characters
participate
• Legato
Charm Songs
• Usually faster, upbeat tempo
• Content
o Purpose: get the audience smiling and engaged
o Usually a duo or group musical number
o Dancing … Get those ooohs and aaaahs
• Staccato or shorter notes
Comedy Numbers
• Usually faster upbeat numbers
• Content
o Designed to make audience members laugh
o Cheeky comedy, outright comedy, smart
comedy, etc
o Usually designed to follow a serious moment for
relief
• Staccato or shorter notes
Comment Song
• Can be either fast paced or slow
• Content
o Provides advice
o Giving advice to themselves or others or
audience
o Instructional
o Usually follows a moment of clarity
o Solo or group work
• Usually occurs towards the end of the musical
Musical Scenes
• Can be either fast paced or slow tempo
• Content
o A mixture of dialogue and music
o Continues the story
o Usually a duo or group
• Can be a mixture of different styles depending on
the shifting mood
Divisions of Songs
• “I WANT” Songs
o Explains character desires
o Helps explain situation and plot
o Gives objectives and character motivation
• Sets up desires that will drive the show
o Usually occurs during the first 15 minutes
• “I AM” Songs
o Explains a character or a group of characters
o Introduces situation/setting/background
o A sneak peak into the character
o Occurs at the beginning of the show
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Song Order
Overture
o Explores musical themes that will be heard throughout the show
Opening Number
o The “Hook”
o Sets the mood and tone of the show
o Sets up conflict, setting and characters
The Main “I WANT” Song
o Sets the central conflict
Intermission Hook
o Provides the finale to the first act
o Hooks the audience member to come back for the second half
Entr'acte
o Explores musical themes from Act One and previews Act Two
11 O’Clock Number
o The big showstopper
o Keeps propelling towards the end
o A reward for sitting through this much
o Group or solo toetapper
Finale
o Echoes the theme and mood from the opening number
o Summarizes the journey
Getting Into the Song
• Avoiding the moment of “Well, Let’s sing
about it!”
• Songs are born out of
o Transition
• Reflects a moment of change
o Realization
• Suddenly struck with understanding
o Decision
• Finding great resolve in a moment of
indecision