A guide to Musical Theater

A Guide to Musical Theater

Why are Musicals so popular in the English Speaking World?

1LLCER Mr Joyeux & Mrs Popelier

A quick history of Musical Theater

First, let's brainstorm!

What do you know about Musical Theater?

Have you ever seen any musicals? What can you expect to see? to hear? Where can you see one? Do you know any famous musicals?

A short definition

Read this short text and try to find the main characteristics of Musical Theater

Musical theatre is closely related to the theatrical form of opera, but the two are usually distinguished by weighing a number of factors. First, musicals generally have a greater focus on spoken dialogue. Second, musicals also usually include more dancing as an essential part of the storytelling, particularly by the principal performers as well as the chorus. Third, musicals often use various genres of popular music or at least popular singing and musical styles. Finally, musicals usually avoid certain operatic conventions. In particular, a musical is almost always performed in the language of its audience. Musicals produced on Broadway or in the West End, for instance, are invariably sung in English, even if they were originally written in another language. While an opera singer is primarily a singer and only secondarily an actor (and rarely needs to dance), a musical theatre performer is often an actor first but must also be a singer and dancer.

The History of Musical Theater

Now, let's try to know a little more on the history of the musical theater

Watch this video and take some notes

Try to write down everything that you feel is important: Pay attention to any relevant dates, titles and places

Try to complete the timeline using your notes on the video

Drag the various elements below, and place them on the timeline according to their description

Date?

Date?

Date?

Celebration of excellence in theater

Juke-box musicals

Ancient Greece

Mega Musicals

A musical tackles strong subjects

The First Musical in America

The Renaissance

A controversial musical

1940s

1920s

Drag the dates below, and place them on the timeline (not all dates are correct!)

1866

1927

1831

Once you are finished, copy the correction (with the descriptions) in your copybook

1947

1991

Correction

Musical Theater Today

Exploring the centers of musical theater today

If musical theaters are performed around the world, most of the big budget productions are staged in two cities Do you recognize these cities?

Exploring the centers of musical theater today

Click on the city you were assigned, and collect information from the following pages. You will have to present your findings to the class!

Group 1: New York City

Group 2: London

Group 1: New York City

Read the following and write down the important information about Broadway

Broadway theatre, also simply known as Broadway, refers to the theatrical performances which are presented in the 41 professional theatres, each with 500 or more seats, located in the Theater District and the Lincoln Center along Broadway, in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. New York City's Theater District is an area and neighborhood in Midtown Manhattan where most Broadway theaters are located, as well as many other theaters, movie theaters, restaurants, hotels, and other places of entertainment. It is bounded by West 40th Street on the south, West 54th Street on the north, Sixth Avenue on the east and Eighth Avenue on the west, and includes Times Square. New Yorkers and tourists usually buy their tickets for a discounted price at the TKTS ticket booth on Time Square

Map Quest

Here is a site ranking the best broadway theaters. Note some of their names down and try to find them on the map!

Try to locate the Theater District on the map! Can you find the TKTS ticket booth?

Let's go see a show!

It's time to decide! Visit this site and decide which broadway musical you would like to see. Read about the stories and pay attention to the reviews

When you are finished...

...It's time to prepare your report for the class

Prepare a short oral report presenting what you've learned about Broadway

Say which musical you would like to see and explain why.

Group 2: London

Read the following and write down the important information about the West End in London

West End theatre (also known as Theatreland) is mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres in and near the West End of London. Along with New York City's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English-speaking world. Seeing a West End show is a common tourist activity in London. Londoners and tourists alike usually buy discounted ticktets from the TKTS ticket booth on Leicester SquareThere are a total of 39 theatres in the West End, with the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, opened in May 1663, the oldest theatre in London. The Savoy Theatre – built as a showcase for the popular series of comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan – was entirely lit by electricity in 1881.The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) announced that 2018 was a record year for the capital's theatre industry with attendances topping 15.5 million for the first time since the organization began collecting audience data in 1986. Box office revenues exceeded £765 million. While attendance in 2019 was down 1.4% compared to the previous year, box office revenues reached a record £799 million. Famous screen actors, British and international alike, frequently appear on the London stage.

Map Quest

Here is a site ranking the best theaters in the West End. Note some of their names down and try to find them on the map!

Try to locate The West End on the map! Can you find the TKTS ticket booth?

Let's go see a show!

It's time to decide! Visit this site and decide which West End musical you would like to see. Read about the stories and pay attention to the reviews

When you are finished...

...It's time to prepare your report for the class

Prepare a short oral report presenting what you've learned about West End Theatre

Say which musical you would like to see and explain why.