COURSE SUMMARY

This practical workshop-based course will explore the history of musical theatre on stage from the early twentieth century until today. Students will listen to and study examples of musical theatre from a range of twentieth century genres, which will include West End and Broadway musicals. There will be an exploration of the relationship between the acting, song, dance and movement expression. Students will consider the impact of economic, political, social and technological factors upon the stage musicals on the West End. Students will investigate, question and challenge some of the conventions and assumptions of the form and through contextual study they will explore and question the message and assumptions of the genre. This course will examine the innovations of recent musical theatre practitioners and will culminate in a performance.

Musical Theatre is one of the most collaborative forms of theatre, in which the performance skills of acting, singing, dancing must interact with musical and stage direction, choreography, tech and design. Training in musical theatre through production builds skills in collaboration, ensemble working, and production management transferrable to other forms of theatre as well as careers outside of the theatre. Musical Theatre performers also learn to integrate a number of different skills in performance, improving confidence, self-presentation, and self-reflection.

MAIN AIMS OF COURSE UNIT

· To develop upon existing core skills in singing, dancing, and acting appropriate to contemporary musical theatre performance

· To engage in effective delivery of a directed musical theatre extract

· To investigate and understand histories and contexts of musical theatre

· To develop professional and transferrable skills, including preparation, research, self-presentation, and performing under pressure

 LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

-       Demonstrate knowledge of the structural conventions of a range of examples of the genre of musical theatre;

-       Interpret the relationship between the physical and choreographic, the musical and the dramatic components of the genre;

-       Analyse key historical trends influencing the development of musical theatre;

-       Analyse relevant social, cultural and political themes which have impacted upon the development of musical theatre, and specifically the exemplars under consideration;

-       Demonstrate a comprehensive, embodied and intellectual understanding of approaches and styles of musical theatre;

-       Respond effectively to artistic direction and feedback, and show a comprehensive knowledge of individual and collaborative processes in professional practices.