MUSICAL THEATRE

MODULE 01 - LESSON 01

KAUSHALYA DIDDENIYA
INTROD UC TI ON TO
MUSICA L TH EAT RE
 LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
Define musical theatre
and its key elements.
Appreciate the
Understand the history importance of musical
of musical theatre. theatre.

Students will understand the importance of

musical theatre as a form of entertainment,
education, and inspiration. They will also be
able to identify the ways in which musical
theatre can contribute to a more diverse and
inclusive society.
 WHAT IS
MUSICAL THEATRE?

Musical theatre is a form of

theatrical performance that
combines songs, spoken dialogue,
acting and dance.

The story and emotional content of a

musical – humor, pathos, love, anger –
are communicated through words, music,
movement and technical aspects of the
entertainment as an integrated whole.
 WHAT IS
MUSICAL THEATRE?

Although musical theatre overlaps with other

theatrical forms like opera and dance, it
may be distinguished by the equal importance
given to the music as compared with the
dialogue, movement and other elements. Since
the early 20th century, musical theatre
stage works have generally been called,
simply, musicals.
KEY ELEMENTS IN M.T.
l p ar t o f m us ical
: S o ng s ar e a centra
Songs d va n ce the
a n be used to a
thea tr e. T he y c
s , e xp r es s e mo tions,
t , d ev e l op c ha racter
plo
v id e co m i c relief.
and pro

Spoken dialogue
: Musicals also
feature spoken
dialogue, which
to move the sto helps
ry along and pr
more natural ch ovide
aracter develop
ment.
KEY ELEMENTS IN M.T.
ct o r s m us t b e able
n g : M us i ca l th eatre a
Acti he y mu s t al s o be
n c e, a nd act. T
to s in g , d a iver
oi c e s a n d d el
e to pr o je c t t heir v
abl p r es s ively.
ar l y and ex
their lines cle

Dance: Dance is
an important pa
many musicals. rt of
It can be used
the story, deve to tell
lop characters,
create visual s and
pectacle.
KEY ELEMENTS IN M.T.
l s a ls o require a
ical asp ec ts : Musica
Techn is e. This
echn ic al ex p er t
great deal of t i n g d esign,
sig n, l ig h t
includes set de design.
gn , an d so u nd
costume desi