THTR-200 Musical Theatre Performance

Credits 3 / 3 Contact Hours
Pre-requisite: Placement into ACRD-090, ACRD-091 or ACRD-092, completion of ELAP-110 with a minimum grade of 2.0, or successful completion of ACRD-080; Minimum grade of 2.0 in THTR-120 or MUS.-131 or MUS.-135. NOTE: Students must have access to internet sources for scripts, sheet music and accompaniment tracks.
Students will explore musical theatre literature for analysis and performance from the Golden Age of Broadway through modern musicals and jukebox musicals as well as experimental musicals. They will analyze scripts, lyrics, and music, and explore musical theatre pieces in historical context.

Course Outcomes

Students will be assigned and select their own songs from musicals to analyze and perform. Written analyses will cover text and music.
- Text: plot and themes, historical context of the play and playwright, significance in the development of musical theatre, lyrics of their specific song, what they mean, character’s motivations.
- Music: key, mode (major, minor etc), range, how music is used to convey story and emotions.
Performances will be workshopped. Students will learn the notes and lyrics of their songs then perform them for the class for feedback then give a graded final performance.

Some songs will incorporate dance and movement.

Songs will be solos and group numbers.
Through this course students will:
- Learn/improve vocal technique (singing) through singing exercises, in-class and take home
- Learn/improve vocal techniques (spoken) through articulation exercises, in-class and take home
- Learn/improve breath support through meditative deep breathing exercises, in -class and take home
- Learn script/character analysis through reading of scripts, musicals and non-musicals and written analyses
- Learn and memorize music through in-class note learning and home practice, utilizing technological resources, DVDs, music files, youtube etc.
- Learn to analyze song lyrics as an extension of dialogue through poetic analysis
- Apply vocal/breathing techniques to songs learned for class through in-class coaching and home practice
- Synthesize all of the above into performance through in-class performances that will culminate in a cabaret style performance at the end of the semester. This will serve as a final exam
- Develop an audition book in preparation for audition for musical theatre productions