A complex blend of acting, music and dance; musical theatre is an art form in its own right. Since its emergence about 150 years ago, this medium of artistic expression has continually evolved as a consequence of changing social factors, audience expectations and advancements in technology. Whilst traditional musicals may seem distant from today’s concerns, an appreciation of them and their artistic, social and political influences and debates may help you to evaluate reasons for trends in musical theatre today.

Not only this, but as a musical theatre practitioner it is important to build a repertoire that includes a diverse range of acting, vocal and dance prowess and encompasses many genres. From English Operetta through to the Golden Age, traditional musical theatre provides a wealth of performance material to explore.
In this module, you will continue to develop the skills of the performer acquired within your level 4 modules, with a commitment to seamlessly developing them to a professional standard and presenting them to a live audience through a full length traditional musical theatre production. You will explore a variety of traditional works, (think Oklahoma, West Side Story), considering background material and characters, and their relevance to a contemporary audiences. You will learn why the context of a play is imperative in making this style of musical theatre successful for today. This exploration will underpin your creative practical work. As part of a team you will audition and be cast a role in a traditional musical theatre show and will develop that character through a balance of acting, dancing and singing skills in accordance with the nature of that role. You will participate in rehearsal and group critique, collaboratively bringing the module to a climax through the performance of a full length traditional musical theatre production.

It will be necessary to carry out a substantial amount of work in your own time, and you may draw upon a wide range of sources in order to bring the material and your character to life during workshops, rehearsals and eventual performance. Your ability to work in a conscientious, supportive, committed manner - embracing etiquette, dedication, focus, research and ability to take direction and advice - will all be considered at assessment, together with an ability to faithfully reproduce for the stage the performance role that has been created, explored and delivered in the rehearsal process.

Strategies in this module are active and practically focussed and will require a mix of individual and collaborative learning, both in and out of timetabled sessions. Activities will allow you to apply your existing theoretical knowledge, and creative and technical skills through full-length traditional musical theatre production, thus allowing you to make sense of your prior learning in a professional work related context. You will continue to learn from others by exploring existing work and by making connections with the tasks you have been set. These tasks will challenge you to combine and refine your abilities through practise, discovery and problem solving. The assignment will require you to engage in independent learning through research into the performance as a whole and the character that you are portraying, whether this be from primary and/or secondary sources and there will be an expectation throughout this module that you approach this requirement proactively in order that your progress is not hindered.

Learning will be facilitated through the following:
• In class research activities including an exploration of existing work via streaming services, DVD, internet, cable and satellite
• Independent research (primary and/or secondary as applicable) an including visits to the theatre
• Theory to practice workshops exploring the impact of artistic, social and political influences and debate on own work
• Technical workshops
• Rehearsals
• Auditions and castings
• Performance to audience
• Reflective practice
• Group critique
• 1:1 tutorials and progress review

Acting Studio
Theatre Venue
IPads
CD / USB / iPod Boom Box
Internet and IT Access
Licenced script / performance material
Assorted Costumes / Props

DK. (2005) Musicals: The Definitive Illustrated Story: DK
Everett, W. A. (2008) The Cambridge Companion to the Musical: Cambridge
University Press
Ganzl, K. (2004) Musicals: Carlton Books
Green, K (2014) Broadway Musicals: Show by Show: New York Applause
Henshall, R. (2012) So you want to be in Musicals?: Nick Hern Books
Hughes, M (2014) The Pocket Guide to Musicals: Remember When
Mordden, E. (2015) Anything goes: A History of American Musicals: Oxford University Press USA
Ostwald, D. F. (2005) Acting for Singers: Creating Believable Singing Characters: Oxford University Press
Riddle, P. H. (2003) American Musical: History and Development: Mosaic Press
Taylor, M. & Symonds, D. (2014) Studying Musical Theatre: Theory and Practice: Palgrave Macmillan
White, M. (1999) Staging a Musical: A&C Black, 1999

1. UNDERSTAND THE PRINCIPLES AND CONTEXT OF TRADITIONAL MUSICAL THEATRE AND KNOW HOW TO INTEGRATE YOUR OWN PERFORMANCE SKILLS (I.E. ACTING, SINGING AND DANCING) IN ORDER TO APPROPRIATELY AND FAITHFULLY REPRODUCE CHARACTER AS PART OF A TRADITIONAL PLAY, APPLYING PROFESSIONAL ETIQUETTE AND WORKING TO INDUSTRY STANDARDS
[Knowledge and Understanding]

2. EXAMINE TRADITIONAL MUSICAL THEATRE PERFORMANCES USING CONCEPTS AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS AND EXPLORE HOW THEY GENERATE MEANING FOR AN AUDIENCE.
[Analysis]

3. RECOGNISE PROBLEMS AND PRESENT CREATIVE AND TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS WHEN WORKING THROUGH THE PHASES OF PRODUCTION FOR A TRADITIONAL MUSICAL THEATRE PERFORMANCE. [Problem Solving]

4. MAKE CREATIVE AND TECHNICAL DECISION IN ORDER TO REPRODUCE CHARACTER FOR A TRADITIONAL MUSICAL THEATRE PERFORMANCE, SO THAT THE NARRATIVE AND CONTEXT OF THE PLAY IS CONVEYED WITH RELEVANCE TO A CONTEMPORARY AUDIENCE
[Communication]

5. DEMONSTRATE COMMITMENT AND FOCUS WHEN WORKING AS PART OF A TEAM, EMBRACING ETIQUETTE, AND DEMONSTRATING AN ABILITY TO TAKE DIRECTION AND ADVICE
[Working with Others]