Musical Theater Structure
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ScribdTranslationsMusical Theater Structure
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ScribdTranslations- Introduction to Musical Theatre: Provides an introduction to the structural elements and key components of musical theatre.
- Key Elements of a Musical: Describes crucial narrative and musical elements like the script and soundtrack that make up a musical.
- Types of Musicals: Explores different categories of musicals, such as book musicals, jukebox musicals, and others.
- Types of Songs in Musicals: Reviews various song types featured in musicals and their purposes within a performance.
STRUCTURE AND ELEMENTS OF
THE
MUSICAL THEATRE
BOOK / SCRIPT
Narrative structure that provides continuity and union between
the
story and songs.
To be successful, the book must:
1- Keep the story line clear and easy to follow at all times.
2- Create believable characters that are easy to relate to, without
resorting to stereotypes.
3- Create situations for the characters to start singing
4- At least 50% of the time of the musical must be dedicated to
songs and choreography.
5- Make the audience care from start to finish.
SCORE/SOUNDTRACK
The characters in a musical develop in the
songs, which are strategically placed at points
elevated emotions; This part is where we can
get to know them, know what they want, what they are like,
their relationships
with the other characters.
STRATEGICALLY MUSICALS HAVE A STRUCTURE:
1- MUSICAL OVERTURE: This happens when the audience begins
to enter the theater or when the house lights go out and the
performance is about to begin. In the overture the orchestra plays
several songs that will later be heard in the show and this happens so
that the audience goes, unconsciously becoming familiar with the
work. ====
2- IT SHOULD HAVE 2 ACTS. The interval of a work is strategically
placed for 2 reasons:
1- Because the audience needs a break since an audience
forced to sit for hours is more difficult to entertain and then they might
leave the room during important scenes of the play.
2- The theater sells merchandise, food and drinks during
the intermission from which the theater makes money.
3- The FIRST ACT should always end with a scene or
musical number that leaves the audience wanting more, otherwise
they may leave during the interval. ===
4- The end of the SECOND ACT is the most important,
since it is the feeling with which the audience leaves. A powerful final
scene can make up for some shortcomings from the beginning of the
show.
MUSICAL NUMBERS THAT SHOULD EXIST IN A
MUSICAL
1- OPENING NUMBER / OVERTURE : It is usually a long musical
number, since it will give the audience a snapshot of the plot of the
work. Introduces the characters and the place where the story will take
place. ===
2- SONG 'I WANT': It has to happen in the first act since it
establishes the main character's objective. Thus, the audience already
knows what that character wants and is interested in how they are
going to get it.
3- ELEVEN O'CLOCK / 11 O'CLOCK: Happens halfway through the
second act and energizes the audience for the final scenes.
4- FINAL SONG: Emotional and powerful.
TYPES OF MUSICALS
TO RECOGNIZE WHAT TYPE OF MUSICAL WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT IN EACH CASE, IT IS NECESSARY AND IMPORTANT TO
GO TO THE BEGINNING OF THE HISTORY OF EACH PROJECT
AND KNOW WHAT WAS WHAT INSPIRED THE AUTHOR OF EACH
MUSICAL TO START IT.
IT HAS NOT TO DO WITH HOW OR WHAT IS TOLD IN THE STORY
OF EACH MUSICAL, SINCE THAT COULD BE DEDUCTED IN AN
ERRONEOUS WAY IF NOT WHAT THE AUTHOR'S MAIN IDEA
WAS WHEN STARTING SUCH PROCESS.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE GOT CARRIED BY OUR DEDUCTION
WHEN SEEING “MAN OF LA MANCHA” WE COULD SAY THAT IT
IS A MUSICAL BOOK SINCE IT IS INSPIRED BY “DON QUIXOTE
OF LA MANCHA”. HOWEVER, “MAN OF LA MANCHA” IS A
MUSICAL CONCEPT (CONCEPT MUSICAL) SINCE THE AUTHOR
HAD OTHER INTENTIONS WHEN CREATING THIS WORK OTHER
THAN TO TELL ABOUT DON QUIXOTE.
MUSIC BOOK
(BOOK MUSICAL)
MUSICAL WHOSE STORY IS BASED ON A BOOK
PREEXISTING.
THE AUTHOR STARTS THE PROJECT WANTING TO MAKE A
STORY THAT ALREADY EXISTS INTO A MUSICAL
1- The story already exists before, so the songs are written from
scratch based on the story.
2- It is different from the rest of the musicals since the creator of the
work did not invent the story from scratch to create a musical but
rather the story is by another author.
3- It follows an orderly progression from start to finish and is
narrative.
4- The strength of a Musical Book is the story.
MUSICALS THAT ARE MUSICAL BOOK
JUKEBOX MUSICAL
TYPE OF MUSICAL WHERE THE SONGS ALREADY EXIST AND
CREATE A STORY TO UNITE THEM.
THE AUTHOR BEGINS HIS PROJECT WANTING TO JOIN SONGS
THAT ARE KNOWN.
1- The songs can be all by the same artist or group or mixing music
from different artists.
2- The songs can be sung in their original state or covered. You can
also adapt the lyrics a little to fit better with the story.
3- The soundtrack is the protagonist, which is why the stories of a
musical Jukebox tend to be less important and more superficial.
4- Although Jukebox musicals can portray a completely original story,
they can also be used in a documentary or autobiographical style.
JUKEBOX MUSICALS
BENNY ANDERSSON & BJORN ULVAEUS' MAMMA MH!
THE SMASH MIT MUSICAL Vl-Z ASBA
MUSICAL REVUE
(MAGAZINE)
TYPE OF MUSICAL THAT FOCUSES ON NUMBERS
INDIVIDUAL MUSICALS THAT HAVE LITTLE TO DO WITH
WITH A COMMON HISTORY.
1- Weak story or one that was not intended for the public
to be moved by it.
2- They tend to be lively, celebratory shows that make the
audience have a good time without thinking too much.
3- It is also possible that a magazine is put together based
on a composer or performer to show their work.
4- The musical numbers are very colorful and well-
produced.
TYPES OF MAGAZINE MUSICALS
Ziegfeld Follies video
MUSICAL CONCEPT
(CONCEPT MUSICAL)
MUSICAL WHERE A MESSAGE, METAPHOR OR CONCEPT IS
MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE PLOT OR STORY.
THE AUTHOR CREATES THIS MUSICAL STARTING WITH AN
IDEA ABOUT WHAT HE WANTS TO TELL AS A SOCIAL
MESSAGE OR THEME.
1- It became particularly popular in the 1960s, when directors and
playwrights sought to break down traditional theatrical structures in favor of
experimentation and freedom of expression.
2- It focuses more on social commentary or certain themes rather than
focusing on the characters or the story. Everything that happens in the
work has to do with a message.
3- The story is powerful because it seeks to give a message through its
dialogues and songs. So instead of enhancing the plot, the plot enhances
the message.
4- Songs are created and structured around the transmission of said
theme or message, rather than emphasizing the narrative plot.
CONCEPT MUSICALS
ROCK/POP MUSICAL OPERAS
(OPERA ROCK/POP MUSICALS)
MUSICAL THAT USES MODERN MUSIC SUCH AS ROCK AND POP
TO TELL STORIES THAT USUALLY HAVE TO DO WITH
SOCIAL TOPICS.
THE AUTHOR CREATES THIS MUSICAL TO EXPRESS SOCIAL OR
IMPORTANT ISSUES AND REACH HIS AUDIENCE WITH THE MOST
POPULAR MUSIC
1- In these musicals it is decided to use modern rock or pop to
get closer to the entire audience and express social themes or
strong themes.
2- Although the music is usually original, it may be influenced or
written by famous musicians.
3- Rock and pop are used to portray the emotional anguish of the
characters so that it reaches the public faster.
ROCK/POP MUSICALS
MUSICAL COMEDY
MUSICAL WHERE THE MAIN OBJECTIVE IS TO MAKE YOU
LAUGH
AND ENTERTAIN THE AUDIENCE
1- The characters in a musical comedy have no depth.
2- The story is based on jokes, funny scenes where the audience
should not worry too much.
3- The songs are fun in nature where there are usually no ballads
or songs that have dramatic lyrics.
4- Unlike magazines, they do have an important narrative story.
MUSICAL COMEDIES
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TYPES OF SONGS
1- ORCHESTRA OVERTURE: Played by the orchestra before
the curtain goes up. It's a medley of the songs from the show.
VIDEO
2- OPENING NUMBER OR OVERTURE First musical number of
the play where the characters are introduced and gives us a
snapshot of what the play is going to be about.
3- BETWEEN ACT: Played by the orchestra before the curtain
rises after the interval.
4- CHARM SONG OR “CHARMING” SONG: Allows a character
or group of characters to seduce the audience and share
information about the development of the character. This is when
the character already establishes a connection with the audience
and makes them support the character.
5- BALLAD: Song with a slower tempo that generally shares a
strong emotion of the character or characters, such as love or
fear.
6- COMEDY NUMBER: Musical number where the audience
laughs and has a good time.
7- MUSICAL SCENE: Song that combines dialogues and sung
parts. It is almost always with two or more characters.
8- I AM SONG OR CANCION 'YO SOY': Any song that allows
one or more characters to explain who they are or how they feel.
9- I WANT SONG OR 'YO QUIERO' SONG: Song that shows the
character's objective. What he wants, what motivates him, what
he dreams of. It allows us to know more about the character and
makes us understand what the entire work is going to pursue. ==
10- UNCONDITIONAL LOVE SONG: Song where the two
characters who will have a love story in the play sing together but
do not anticipate falling in love. This is when the audience realizes
what is to come and that they will surely end up falling in love, but
the characters still don't know it.
