Musical theatre

techniques
Catarina Cardeira
Opera/operetta
• https://youtu.be/gPs1yuIwTms
An Operetta is a form of theatre combined with a light opera. It
originated, in Paris in the 1850s from the French opéra-
comique,similar in structure to a light opera but characteristically
having a romantically sentimental plot interspersed with songs,
orchestral music, and rather elaborate dancing scenes, along
with spoken dialogue
Opera evolved into operetta, a lighter genre, in the middle of the
nineteenth century.
Operatic elements were combined with humorous storylines, spo
ken dialogue, and catchy songs to create operetta.
This change made music entertainment more widely available.
Musical revues
• musical revue came around during the nineteenth century.In the
UK its known as a music hall and in the US as vaudeville. There was
a range of different performances from gymnastic acrobatics to
singing and dancing routines. In the United States the term vaudeville
means light entertainment which was popular from the mid 1890;s
until the early 1930’s. The 'Ziegfeld Follies' began in 1907 and
displayed various numbers including solos, comedy routines, group
dance numbers and more. The show had a different storyline every
year it was showing and it's content was based on current events and
used popular songs of it's time.
Book musicals
• A musical play where songs and dances are fully integrated into
a well-made story with serious dramatic goals and which is able
to evoke genuine emotions other than laughter. The three main
components of a book musical are its music, lyrics and book.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EzJmS_pkOrk
Rock musicals
• Musicals were becoming unpopular during a brief period between
the growth of book musicals and the emergence of rock musicals.
However, Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote the first rock musical, 'Jesus
Christ Superstar,' in 1970. It was dubbed a mega musical since it was
a large production with numerous technological features. It brought
back the popularity of UK theatre, but it also brought a lot of
controversy because it was focused on religion and told the tale of
Jesus Christ from Judas' point of view while simultaneously singing
songs, which many people considered insulting.
 Juke box musical
• Jukebox musicals are musicals that include pre-
existing songs by a single artist, such as ABBA's music in Mamma Mia,
or a variety of artists, such as Lady Gaga and Britney Spears in Moulin
Rouge also Elvis Presley in all shook up jersey boys in jersey boys .
This style of musical is claimed to have been so popular due to the art
ist's fan following rather than the plot line. Some examples of juke
box musicals are jagged little pill, jersey boys all shook up and many
more.
Concept musical
• A concept musical is a piece of musical theatre in which the text and
score are organised to express a theme or message rather than
emphasise a narrative arc. The concept musical's non-linear form and
attention on topic are reminiscent of Bertolt Brecht's works. A Chorus
Line (helmed by choreographer-director Michael Bennett; framed
around a dance audition, the show expounds on the lives and goals of
the dancers themselves), Cabaret (written by Kander & Ebb, who
helmed other concept musicals like Chicago) are some famous
concept musicals from this period.
 Comic musicals
• There is little or no unifying story in Victorian burlesque, music hall,
and vaudeville, only a series of sketches. The Black Crook, built
around a romantic story and featuring song and dance for the
principal actors, has been dubbed the first musical comedy. Comic
musicals are comedic and entertaining musicals. For example, 'Singin'
in the Rain,' 'Hairspray,' and so on.Many audiences enjoy these
musicals because they allow them to have an escape from reality.
Chamber musicals
• Chamber theatre is a method of adapting literary works to the stage
that uses as much of the original text as possible and often minimal
and suggestive settings. Narration is included in the performed text in
chamber theatre, and the narrator may be played by multiple actors.
Some chamber musicals are
• John Cage, chance and mushrooms. Being Lost.
• The Canadian who met Beethoven. THE MISSING PAGES.
• Music, story, dance and survival. THE LAST CURLEW.
• Two musical princes, one rich, one poor. From Weimar to
Vaudeville.