The Secret Life of the American Musical is a wonderful book by Jack Viertel that lays out a fantastic road map of what can really help to make a musical great. I haven't read it personally, but Ive been lucky enough to have a fantastic educator give me the memorable bullet points. The gist I've gathered is that the songs in most good pieces of modern American musical theatre tend of adhere to a structured order of mood and intention. Each of these of categories of song are given elegant titles and descriptions. The goal of this paper is to argue that Disney's stage musical version of Beauty and the Beast fulfills the majority of the necessary song categories in order to qualify as what Viertel would consider a good musical. The first song in an musical is the “opening number”, this is simple because every show has to start right? These numbers usually accomplish many things simultaneously. This song firstly introduces us to the world of the show we are about to watch and rules that govern that world. it also allows us to meet many of the characters who will be on stage for the majority of the show. The opening number in Beauty and the Beast is “Belle”. This song is a strong opening number that really opens the show with a bang. It does a fantastic job of developing the rules of the world and developing the setting and larger would of show. It introduces us …show more content…
We are shown here lovely voice and her cutesy, lovely, infectious interactions with some of the friendly towns folk and we learn she loves to read. Things quickly change when the rest of the townsfolk
When the song starts, the melody is a what catches the audience’s attention. The song starts with low piano
Personally, Phantom of the Opera was the first musical I had ever seen. I remember being in middle school and my dad suggesting that I watch it and me shaking my head because I did not even like opera. Begrudgingly, I agreed to watch it and after seeing the whole thing it shocked me. I was so surprised with how much I enjoyed seeing every second of it. That show really got me interested in the theatre world.
I love this piece because it ends the first act on such a high positive note and is a great precursor to the title song. Another song I enjoyed was “Hello Dolly”. “Hello Dolly” is the big show stopping number. It is Dolly’s triumphant return to where she belonged. I love Dolly’s soft vocal line in the beginning of the song but as soon as the waiters come in they make her feel at home, she becomes more at ease and joins the waiters in this big bold brassy sound.
When people think of musical theatre, they imagine jazz, kick lines, high notes, and jazz hands. This stereotype of musical theatre largely began in the 1920’s with the Ziegfeld Revues, though this art form has gone through a metamorphosis since those days the stigma stays (Lubbock). Hamilton contains almost none of these archetypal images of musical theatre. Perhaps that is why Hamilton has won 11 Tony Awards, a Pulitzer, and tickets are selling for $850 each (Lopez). However, as anyone who has been following the Broadway scene knows, there are hundreds of shows that break these conventions and think outside the box.
This musical was inspired, as I said before, by William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” using the familial differences in Shakespeare’s Verona and adapting it to a New York City of the 1950s and exploring race relations and stereotypes of the time. Common Theme One very clear very common
The music of that scene is a high pitch and rapid rhythm that brings audiences horrified and worried feelings. Also, when the Prince found his real love, Cinderella, the music is peaceful and harmonious. Audiences can feel the happiness that shared from the lovely couple. I believe there are various elements to form an excellent musical, such as story, music, actors, and so
Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical "Hamilton," inspired by Alexander Hamilton - one of America's founding fathers - has had a lasting effect on American culture and politics. Combining hip-hop, R&B music and other elements, the show tells Hamilton's tale through vibrant imagery. Lin-Manuel Miranda was deeply affected by his social and cultural environment, creating a musical that captures the aesthetic, political values of its time while reflecting those same cultural traits. Musicals fall within the genres of historical fiction and musical theater, each having their own distinct stylistic, dramatic, and formal characteristics. This analysis will explore the cultural and aesthetic values, as well as the historical background, of the musical "Hamilton," to gain a more in-depth appreciation for its impact. "
The Wizard of Oz and Wicked are both very successful and well-known broadway musicals. Both of these musicals are based off of the same story, but each give a slightly different meaning to it. While they are both based on a similar tale, these two broadway musicals have many characteristics that are similar and differ from each other. This paper will compare and contrast the characters, theme, and plot.
The musical opens with the song “No-one Mourns the Wicked” which announces the death of the Wicked Witch of the West, and the population’s joy at her
Hamilton, the critically acclaimed musical, is a masterpiece that has captivated audiences around the world. But beyond its catchy tunes and breathtaking visual effects, it is also a masterful display of persuasive communication, utilizing ethos, pathos, and logos to great effect. In this essay, we will examine how Hamilton leverages these three appeals to effectively communicate its message. Whether viewed as a work of art or a persuasive communication tool, Hamilton is a remarkable success that has changed the cultural landscape of modern musicals.
Two songs that I would argue stood out to me the most within the musical A Chorus Line were “I Can Do That” and “Dance Ten, Looks Three”. “I Can Do That” to me describes how anyone that is in the industry of theatre essentially got their start. Without trying to generalize, it often seems that there was a pivotal moment that showed to a person or a character
The use of stylistic techniques such as sound, both diegetic and nondiegetic and the way characters act in The Wizard of Oz, showcases the conventions of a musical fantasy. In the scene where Dorothy sang her solo of “Somewhere over the Rainbow” ” is interwoven in the narrative of the film to illustrate and her underlying intention to flee away from home without her having to put it across in words to the audience. The tune of the song is tweaked and reproduced with variances and used throughout the film to highlight pivotal moments in the film, lending familiarity to us, channelling the same kind of hopefulness that Dorothy is feeling. The rhythm of the song also complements the musical film which accentuates the development of the narrative (Study Guide).
This is similar to the way theatre uses music as “a sense of ritual return” (Berger 475). In La La Land, the score weaves each scene together and accompanies me through every step of the story. Each song is either repeated or slightly altered and this reprise of the score constantly reminds me that I am still residing in the fantasies of La La Land. Additionally, the tendency of using xylophones as the main instrument accompanying the songs allows me to feel as if I am part of a dream. For example, during the scene when Mia is driving down the street after rehearsing for her play, the song City of Stars plays in the background with a slightly slower rhythm using xylophones.
The opening piece for the evening was “Entry of the Gods into Valhalla” written by Richard Wagner. This specific song was taken from Das Rheingold and was written in the Romantic Era. “Entry of the Gods into Valhalla” starts with deep mysterious music
In conclusion, the modern-day motion picture La La Land has achieved success in a variety of ways like winning a variety of awards for its efforts, either from the cinematography and directing, to the acting and vintages ways of shooting the film. One can see how a modern-day musical can achieve such success with going back to basics and learning from the golden age of Hollywood to make such a wonderful