Musical Foundations
By definition, what is a musical?
A stage, television, or film production utilizing popular style songs to tell a story or showcase talents (with optional dialogue)
Who was the first soloist to step out of the chorus and is considered the first actor in history?
Thespis of Icaria.
In what year did The Black Crook premiere, and how many performances did it run for in its initial run?
1866; 474 performances.
Who wrote the music, and who wrote the lyrics/libretto for Oklahoma!
Music by Richard Rodgers; Lyrics and libretto by Oscar Hammerstein II.
Name at least THREE of the requirements listed in class to earn Honors Credit for the course.
Participate in the High School Musical
Participate in Drama Fest
Participate in a Dance Class/Performance outside of school
See 2 outside performances and submit a written reflection
What are the 5 core elements of a musical?
Music/Lyrics, Book/Libretto, Choreography, Staging, and Physical Production.
What was the name of the ancient Greek musical retellings of mythological tales sung by a chorus?
Dithyrambs.
The Black Crook is historically significant because it is considered the very first what?
The first Broadway musical to become a nationwide hit / first book musical.
Oklahoma! premiered at the St. James Theater in 1943 and is known as the first cohesive musical because of what structural achievement?
It was the first musical where script, song, and dance all furthered the plot together.
According to the "Wizard of Oz" analogy in class, what three key elements do all great musicals have?
Brains (Intelligence), Heart (Emotional Content), and Courage (Guts to do something fresh).
What annual 5-day spring celebration honored Dionysus and hosted a tragedy competition?
City of Dionysia
Who is the evil sorcerer in The Black Crook that bargains with the Devil, and who is the protagonist he tries to sacrifice?
Hertzog (the sorcerer) and Rodolphe (the poor artist).
Who revolutionized musical theatre choreography in Oklahoma! by using dance to advance the plot rather than as ornamental spectacle?
Agnes de Mille.
What is the difference between a musical's "Book/Libretto" and its "Music/Lyrics"?
The Book/Libretto is the connective story expressed in script or dialogue, while Music/Lyrics are the actual songs
Why can some early Greek dramas be classified as early integrated musicals?
Because their songs were used to advance the plot and develop characters, and the chorus handled all musical duties.
How does Rodolphe defeat the evil forces in The Black Crook?
He unknowingly rescues Stalacta, the Fairy Queen (disguised as a dove), who uses her magic to save him and defeat evil.
In the comedic subplot of Oklahoma!, how does Ali Hakim help Will Parker win Ado Annie's hand in marriage from her father?
Ali Hakim strategically helps Will win his $50 back (which Will accidentally spent on items from Ali's cart) so Will can marry Annie, allowing the peddler to escape a shotgun wedding.