A Teacher S Guide To Musical Theatre

Are you a teacher of musical theatre who struggles to plan and construct lessons? Are you looking for a structured approach to teaching musical theatre to students of all abilities? This book guides teachers through key facts and concepts in musical theatre history and offers practical in-class activities for students...

Are you a teacher of musical theatre who struggles to plan and construct lessons? Are you looking for a structured approach to teaching musical theatre to students of all abilities? Do you know your Ivor Novello from your Stephen Sondheim? Despite being one of the most popular forms of performance study, Musical Theatre is often the most difficult to teach due to its part-practical and part-academic approach. With few books on the market directly aimed at teachers, it can be a challenging and daunting task to devise a course of study that takes in the history of the form as well as considering the wider aspects that come together to make a successful musical. A Teacher's Guide to Musical Theatre enables teachers to plan and deliver courses in Musical Theatre with confidence and flair. The unique structure of the chapters guides teachers through key facts and concepts in musical theatre history and offers practical in-class activities for students. From topics for class discussion and essay assignments to journal entries and portfolios to sample test questions, this book is full of practical advice from experienced teachers in the field which make it the idea companion for teachers and instructors on diploma and degree-level courses, as well as those devising courses in part-time performing arts schools. Devised to provide sufficient engaging and inspirational material for an initial term or semester, the book establishes the principles of teaching this relatively new subject and encourages teachers to extend much further into the subject. From The Mikado to Hamilton and everything in between, this book breaks down decades of history into appropriately sized lessons, designed to give students a rounded survey of the subject and an understanding of how musicals work. Offering expert guidance to those with varied fields of expertise and practical experience but limited teaching experience, this book is the only existing guide to structured and stimulating practice.

In Strategies for Success in Musical Theatre, veteran musical director and teacher Herbert Marshall provides an essential how-to guide for teachers or community members who find themselves in charge of music directing a show. Stepping off the podium, Marshall offers practical and often humorous real-world advice on managing auditions; organizing rehearsals; working with a choir, choreographer, and leads; how to run a sitzprobe, a technical rehearsal, and a dress rehearsal; how to manage the cast and crew energy for a successful opening night; and ways to end the experience on a high note for all involved. Throughout the book, Marshall emphasizes the importance of learning through performance and the beauty of a group united in a common goal. In doing so, he turns what can appear as a never-ending list of tasks and demand for specialized knowledge into a manageable, educational, and ultimately engaging and fun experience for all. Because the techniques in Marshall's book have been thoroughly workshopped and classroom tested, they are based in proven pedagogy and will be of particular use for the music director in acting as a teaching director: someone imparting theatrical knowledge to his or her cast and production staff. Marshall provides both extended and abbreviated timelines, flexible to fit any director's needs. Marshall's book is a greatly beneficial resource for music education students and teachers alike, giving an insightful glimpse into the range of possibilities within a music educator's career. Musicians and actors with varying levels of skill and experience will be able to grow simultaneously through Marshall's innovative teaching plans. Through collaborative techniques, steps in the book serve to educate both director and student. Thoroughly illustrated with charts, diagrams, and scores, Strategies for Success in Musical Theatre is an ideal companion for all who work with school and community based musical theater productions.

This volume serves as a guide for teaching history with musicals. In addition to covering key themes and concepts, this book provides an overview of significant issues and related musical theatre and film productions, a tutorial in critique, user guides for resources, a model syllabus, and sample exercises and assignments for classroom use.

Need a little help taking your musical theatre classes to the next level? Introducing Teaching Musical Theatre: The Essential Handbook, a new resource packed with 16 ready-to-go lesson plans that will turn your young performers into musical theatre triple-threats. This book is the highly anticipated follow-up to Teaching Drama: The Essential Handbook which has sold over 10,000 copies worldwide. With this book you'll receive: A semester's worth of cumulative lessons perfect for students age 7-14 Notes on how to introduce musical theatre concepts in a way kids will instantly absorb Tips and tools on easy ways to transition between activities and lessons A guide on how to plan a performance at the end of the semester Useful reflection and journaling exercises after every lesson. Below are just a few of the topics covered in the lessons: What is musical theatre? Students will explore the origin of musical theatre and the shows that have defined the genre. Storytelling in Musicals. Students will learn about the "emotional staircase" and how it's the basis of storytelling in musical theatre. Music in Musicals. Students will develop an understanding of how music is used to convey character and emotion, and how that understanding can help strengthen and inform their acting choices. Singing Musical Theatre. Students will develop an understanding of proper singing technique and how to use their voice to captivate an audience. Dance and Movement. Students will learn how dance and movement contribute to musical storytelling and become familiar with basic choreography. Acting the Song. Students will understand the importance of "acting a song" as opposed to just "performing a song", and learn how to give nuanced, compelling performances. And much more!

The gender-specific monologs in this theatre text are highly original works not found in other published versions. All are from very recently produced plays from both well-known and emerging new writers. The selections are for women actors fifteen to thirty years of age, suitable for competitive auditions, acting exercises, forensics, class, or studio work. These monolog characterizations address the major trends and conflicts of today through revealing glimpses of society. A valuable resource for any auditioning female actor or theatre student with over ninety monologs to choose from.

"The iTheatrics Method is the world's first musical theatre education textbook specifically devoted to building high-quality, sustainable musical theatre programs in schools and community settings."--Publisher's description.

Acting in Musical Theatre is the only complete course in approaching a role in a musical. It is the first to combine acting, singing and dancing into a comprehensive guide, combining what have previously been treated as three separate disciplines. This book contains fundamental skills for novice actors, practical insights for professionals, and even tips to help veteran musical performers refine their craft. Drawing on decades of experience in both acting and teaching, the authors provide crucial advice on all elements of the profession, including: fundamentals of acting applied to musical theatre script, score and character analysis personalizing your performance turning rehearsal into performance acting styles in the musical theatre practical steps to a career. Acting in Musical Theatre’s chapters divide into easy-to-reference units, each containing related group and solo exercises, making it the definitive textbook for students and practitioners alike.