Final/Honors project description Script and Score Analysis

ALL FINAL PROJECTS ARE DUE DECEMBER 15th. No extensions.

Final Paper Assignment:

-Choose a musical we did not go over in class. In a 15-20 page paper, analyze the musical from beginning
to end. Make sure your paper answers these questions: Who is the protagonist? What does he/she want?
How is that expressed over the course of the show? How does the musical set up its world? Does it follow
a traditional musical theater structure? Why or why not? What does each song achieve for the characters
and the plot of the musical? What is the style and tone of the show? Does it remain consistent? Does the
show have a message? Does the show "work"? The paper should have a standard essay format with an
introduction and conclusion, and all your arguments should be supported by examples in the text. You
may also choose to approach the show from a specific viewpoint - i.e. tracking the emotional arc of the
protagonist, or discussing the relationship between two characters. If you choose to do this, make sure to
run the topic past me first.

For the honors assignment, choose one of the following paper topics:
-Choose a non-musical piece of art (book or movie) to adapt into a musical, and discuss how you would
do that. Who is the protagonist? How do you understand his/her wants? What would the music sound like,
and what is the style of the show? Describe each song's placement, why you chose to put it there, which
character would sing it, what it would sound like in tone and style, and what it would achieve for your
understanding of the character and of the narrative arc as a whole. 12-15 pages.
-Choose a musical that you feel doesnt work. Write a paper about what does and doesnt work about the
show, and suggest changes the creative team could make that might make the show more successful. 1215 pages.