Unit(s): Fundamentals of Play Production/Producing the musical
Purpose:
To experience musical production on a small scale
Objectives:
The students will cooperatively work in a group to create a ten minute words and music.
Materials:
- Staging the Musical, David Grote (ISB-N-0-13- 8401282-9)
- Let's Put on a Musical, Peter Filichia (ISB-N- 0-380-77045-8)
- Textbook, The Stage and the School, Chapter 11,"Producing the Musical Play"
- Libretto from a musical (multiple copies would be helpful)
- Cassette of music from this musical
- Tape player
- Space to rehearse
Procedure:
- Begin the study of musical production with a video of a musical.
(Annie, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story or Hello Dolly!) are some suggestions. Caution students that movie version will often be different than the stage version.)
- Discuss conventions of musicals: overture, opening number, exposition, production number, reprise, show stopper, applause segue, bridge, entr'acte, play-off, underscoring and vamp.
- Explain the difference in a libretto and script of a straight play.
- Give them an example of a words and music script (a ten-minute cutting of a full-length musical with approximately equal time division between words or dialogue and music).
- Explain the basic production staff for a musical and duties.
(David Grote's Staging the Musical, Chapter 5, pages 84 - 87, has an excellent chapter on this.) For this words and music assignment, a director, choreographer, music director and choreographer should be chosen by the group members.
- Divide students into large groups.
- Give groups libretto, cassette, tape player and different areas to work in. Give them ample time to read, cut, assign roles and songs and choreograph.
- This assignment would be more appropriate later in the year or with more advanced students. I would suggest that you allow 3 to 4 weeks of time in class for students to complete this activity.