Musical theatre

contemporary music particularly the American musical has been a sensation in many ways. From composing outstanding pieces to influencing people’s participation in music, the composer takes credit for advancing creativity in music in many places across the globe. Even though many people acknowledge the efforts of the composer, few are unaware of his immense contribution to music. This study will highlight the factors that led to Stephens’s success in modern musical theatre. My objective is to…

The Lubbock Moonlight Musicals in partnership with Texas Tech’s School of Music definitely did not disappoint with their amazing performance of Phantom of the Opera. This is one of the most well know and classical musicals but doesn’t fit into any specific category. It is not exactly classic musical theatre due to the music being for classically trained singers, but it is not exactly an opera either because it has dialogue while an opera is traditionally completely sung. This makes for a…

Should There be Censorship in the American High Schools When It Comes to Theatre? Pippin, Legally Blonde, and Rent are all great shows that get a lot of controversy when it comes to high school age children performing them. Censorship, in high school, is becoming a major problem and it’s happening not only in the classroom, but also breaches the stage. When it comes to selecting the right type of musical or play, one can never be to careful. Audiences can get into a riot over a show with…

ABBA. The title of the musical is one of the group’s songs, and it sung throughout the show. I chose it because I saw it pretty recently with one of my closest friends, and it opened up a world of new love and appreciation for Broadway and Musical Theatre to me, even though I loved it already. It’s hard to talk about the musical without mentioning the history of the hugely successful group, ABBA. “Mamma Mia” was inspired by the music of ABBA, and, the score of the musical consisted of only…

without fighting in a monumental war, we find a battle, and we only need to look inward to find it. Often times the battles fought within are amongst the greatest, most trying conflicts, as they are against the self. This battle is apparent in the musical South Pacific, where blurred battle lines of racism prove more troubling than the prospect of fighting for one’s country. The dynamic duo of Richard Rodgers (composer) and Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) bring to mind countless nostalgic…

The musical has gone through many changes in its lifetime. Its has been developed, explored and performed in millions of theatres around the world. But what really are the foundations of the art form itself? All of the three elements are really important, but there is one that stands out and has changed the most. That would be the music. The music has served the musical in many ways. It serves the characters extended feelings of fulfillment and gives the audience something to hum out of the…

Within the 1920s, musical comedy in America gained influence worldwide. Broadway saw the composing debuts of Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, the Gershwins, as well as various others. This decade was focused on spectacle and entertainment, all smiles all the time (unless more comedic otherwise). The plays of the time were not focused on depth of characters, but excitement and fun. However, the 1920’s did see the rise of a book musical, a show that involved a strong plot through music and lines.…

One of Musical Theatre’s most loved productions, Pirates of Penzance, has delighted and enthralled audiences all around the world since its first production in 1879. In Opera Australia’s 2006 performance of this Gilbert and Sullivan classic they showed that even after a century, this production was timeless, a true testament to the genius of her creators. Pirates of Penzance is about a young man named Frederic (David Hobson) who has been wrongly apprenticed to a band of pirates, led by the…

my upbringing to have been fairly musical. Starting on my mother’s side with my mother; she tries very hard but lacks a sense of both rhythm and pitch however that never stopped her from singing me lullabies. Continuing on to the generation before my mom there is my grandmother who is very musical. I grew up playing guitar and singing/writing songs with my grandmother as well as with all her siblings who are very musically inclined. On my mother’s side the musical involvement stops there with my…

Birth of Culture and Musical Theater The lady smiles while she directs you to your seat. “Third row down, to the two seats at the very left side.” You find your seat as you comfortably start to settle down making sure that you can see the stage since you paid a little more money in order for you to be at the very front closer to the actors. The energy feels excited but still content. You hear the rest of the people talking quietly to the person next to them. The third bell rung however, the…