Why do you think this is a good way to start off a story? How does knowing the heart’s desire of main character make you care about that character? Why might it matter to you what the main character wants? Does it make you think of going for what you want in life? Shortly after we meet the main character we find out something very important about that character when they sing what Heather Nathans calls their “I want” song.
Can you make any connections or draw parallels between musical theater and these trends?Ī musical is not a cabaret show and it’s not an opera, Join Heather Nathans as she deconstructs the musical and examines the distinct elements that make it unique.Įvery musical starts out this way.
Describe the parallels growth patterns that you see in musical theater, society, technology and the human sciences like medicine and psychology. Think about the evolution of the simplistic forms of theater when our country was young which pre-dated the musical up to the technologically advanced and sophisticated shows that are produced today as our democracy has matured some 240 years. What do you think inspired its creators at that particular moment in time to shift away from the old style of theater without making a complete break from the past? Think of the example that Heather Nathans gives about Showboat which she identified as a “hybrid” musical. Can you describe the progression which led to this modern version of the musical in terms of the music that was used over the years? Later on, the music became more tied to the story until the song had a story and character of its own and then to the point that the music could be both light hearted and soulful. The early forms of theater in America which led to the birth of the musical incorporated popular songs that were easy to sing and that didn’t necessarily help tell the plot of the story. From minstrel shows and Vaudeville to the modern stage, a look at the trends and ideas that shaped American Musical theater.
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