Musical Theatre

 Musical Theatre Analysis/Expansion of Knowledge:

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Blue means opinion

Green means health and safety

Black means information

Motown the Musical: 

Motown: The Musical is a Broadway jukebox musical that premiered on Broadway on April 14, 2013, at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, after previews that began on March 11. The musical is based on Berry Gordy's autobiography To Be Loved: The Music, the Magic, the Memories of Motown (1994), which details his establishment and management of the Motown record label, as well as his personal and professional partnerships with Motown artists such as Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, and Michael Jackson. The production's songs and lyrics are drawn from the Motown archive. At the 67th Tony Awards, it won four nominations. The original Broadway run of the musical concluded on January 18, 2015, after 37 previews and 738 regular performances.

Synopsis:
In 1983, recording stars assembled at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium to commemorate Motown Records' 25th anniversary. In a flashback, a teenage Berry Gordy observes his Detroit neighbours dancing. Berry, as an adult, establishes his own record label in 1957 and continues to develop lifelong partnerships with recording artists/singers such as Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson. Berry finds more artists, including the Supremes and Diana Ross.

Opinion:

Because of the limited constraints of stage props and context, it was much easier to keep our attention on the actors. The staging was rather simple, with precise arch and pillars that were appropriate for the musical. As the spacing was both wide and spacious, the actors were able to comfortably switch about and deliver at various places where the crowd was seated. It also helps the actors to have an intimate public interaction with the audience members by encouraging them to engage or engage with them while performing or interacting to provide more of an exciting flare.

However, the health and safety precaution is that if they trip, they can end up on top of the crowd, which is not appropriate, particularly if they are doing choreography in a dress and heels.

The lighting was minimal primary colours such as blue, yellow, and red that matched the moments during the show, such as the moment with the ladies in golden gowns as it helped brighten and make them stand out more, particularly for the audience members in the back, and allowed to catch the audience interest of the sudden change of spotlights and colour changes focusing on the current solo or performers.
 Overall, the brief clip we saw of the musical was really joyful and hopeful, and it was inspiring because it featured historical musicians and personalities, and it was able to build a sense of harmony because of the variety during the production, and the audience participation was great. And the attention to detail on the clothing that was fitting for the time period gave it a nostalgic feel.

As a result of seeing Motown: The Musical, What I should do with my live show for Fame is use projection and annunciation because this would help the crowd to appreciate what is going on on stage and experience the songs included in the set. I will also mention stamina and attitude because I don't want to bore the crowd, particularly if I'm doing a musical, so my attitude would always be tailored for the role I'm trying to play or while being an ensemble member as Motown everybody was upbeat and energised which is required for musicals, especially when you're also performing.

Motown: The Musical - Wikipedia              https://youtu.be/RVnAi-LgmFQ (5:05)

Songs included: 

• 'ABC' 
• 'Ain't no mountain high enough'
•  'For once in my life' 
• 'Happy birthday'
•  'I got a feeling'

Jesus Christ Superstar:

Synopsis: 

Jesus Christ Superstar is a phenomenon: a magnificent example of contemporary filmmaking that brings a classic rock opera to the big screen. The narrative, told exclusively through song, pictures, and music, centres on the final week of Christ's reign, his deception, and crucifixion, as seen through the eyes of Judas.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's music and Tim Rice's lyrics inspired the 1970 rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar. Since the composers were unable to obtain financing for a stage performance, they released it as a rock opera album musical. The album's success resulted in the show's Broadway debut in 1971. And no spoken dialogue, the musical is entirely sung. The plot is largely based on the accounts in the Gospels of Jesus' last week on earth, starting with the preparations for Jesus and his disciples' arrival in Jerusalem and concluding with the crucifixion. It portrays political and emotional tensions between Judas Iscariot and Jesus that aren't found in the Bible.

Opinion:

When we first watched Jesus Christ Superstar in class, I was very familiar with the material because I am a Christian myself, and I was initially uncomfortable to see something so important to Jesus as one of his disciples went against him and it was a massive hard deception that Jesus faced. However, the production was very different from what I am used to seeing in musical theatres; the excitement I could feel from everyone on stage, especially Tim Minchin as Judas, was something I would take from the musical and add to my live performance.

The staging and props were incredibly detailed and very eye catching especially when 'Jesus' comes down from the cross, and the scenery everyone is in unison which create some sense of power that Judas has because he still was able to remain the attention from the audience whilst dancing/movement is also occurring on stage especially to what I believed was a showstopper, this is something that I would take absolute consideration because in Fame there is a showstopper which I play the lead role, and I must have the audience attention as I wont be able to express the emotion or storyline that my character is expressing.

Going back to the staging, it lets the viewer understand maybe where the scene is taking place because if I wasn't necessarily aware of Jesus' backstory, how could I possibly follow along, I understand there is dialogue to illustrate but there is especially material that is difficult to explain but the way they were able to construct staging to help show as the audience's focus to the attention of detail of the thorn crown and both the good and evil angles it helped to boost up the current situation occurring, as the spotlight mainly focused on Judas however when it didn't you could still feel the power that he had, which made him stand out even though 'Jesus' was hurt and in pain.

Overall I believe that this performance taught me that the only key thing to help portray the story or musical is yourself because it was mostly the acting of the performers on stage, and the presence that is presented is hugely unbelievable and is something that I most desperately want to include in my live performance because I cant rely on the staging to present the scene or my character so I must be able to present the confidence and characterisation to allow the audience to understand what's going on. But I dislike this performance because I felt quite offended even though it has historical accuracy the style it was presented in might be offensive towards other individuals as a song is presented in a rock style about the crucifixion of Jesus.

The health and safety is the caution of 'Jesus' being on the cross and going up on a high distance, if not carefully checked on the safety it could cause a extremely painful incident, and the performers must be aware and have a safe distance so no one is crushed or injured if such incident must occur.

Jesus Christ Superstar - Wikipedia

https://youtu.be/5lTwmK__TDo

Songs included:

• 'Heaven on their minds'
• 'The Temple'
• 'The last Supper'
• 'Everything's alright'
• 'The arrest'

Les Miserable:

Synopsis:

Les Misérables is a musical version of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel of the same name, written by Claude-Michel Schönberg (music), Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel (original French lyrics), and Herbert Kretzmer (English lyrics). The first French opera, directed by Robert Hossein, premiered in Paris in 1980. Its English-language version, directed by Cameron Mackintosh, has been running in London since October 1985, making it the longest-running musical in the West End and the world's second longest-running musical after The Fantasticks' original Off-Broadway production. Les Misérables is set in early nineteenth-century France and tells the story of Jean Valjean, a French farmer who was released in 1815 after spending nineteen years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread for his sister's starving child. After a bishop inspires him with a great act of grace, Valjean attempts to break his parole and start again, but he is pursued by a police inspector called Javert. Along the way, Valjean and a slew of other characters are drawn into France's June 1832 Uprising, where a party of young idealists try to topple the government at a street barricade in Paris.

Opinion:

The ability to present such a historical context in a musical is so empowering because the accuracy was presented clearly and the viewer was able to follow the plot. The scenery and display of the characters are cleverly placed in the song 'One Day More,' and the costumes help to provide an understanding of what period of time the musical is based on so it wouldn't make sense to wear modern clothing for anything based in the 1980s, and the accents also help to empathize the period, which I need to take into consideration as our production Fame is based also in 1980s. Each character has monologues and introspective moments that clash with the rousing ensemble pieces that accompany them. The display is propelled along by the fast shifts of emphasis. Another thing that propelled the show in the original production was a prominent revolve that quickly swapped settings and produced its own propulsive force, and it delivers a perfect representation from the actual novel. The staging is so simple but so detailed, which helps suit the solemn feel that this performance is portraying when it's about something historically serious, and the performers attitude and movement are so appropriate because it wouldn't make sense if they were acting happy during a negative sad moment, which is something I would apply to my performance when the song 'In L.A' is played because it's about something historically serious.

The health and safety that could occur during Les Miserables is the number of performers on stage since, based on the film, the stage and theatre seem to be very thin, and the gentlemen in the back waving the flag would require some considerable preparation and strength because it may strike or injure the other performers nearby. Performers must shield themselves from injuries by predicting complications that can arise during a live performance. Broken props or fallen scenery, for example, may be hazardous, and debris must be swept up to avoid stumbling or falling until it is possible to proceed. In the event that a clean-up is needed, stagehands should have equipment ready in the wings.

Les Misérables (musical) - Wikipedia

https://youtu.be/gIidSA8S4ZY

https://youtu.be/DLKO4kN4Z1k

Les Miserables: Theater Review | Hollywood Reporter

safety on musical theatre - Bing

Performers - Health and safety considerations - Edexcel - GCSE Drama Revision - Edexcel - BBC

https://youtu.be/gIidSA8S4ZY Bitesize

Songs Included:

• 'At the end of the day'
• 'I dreamed a dream'
• 'Lovely Ladies'
• 'Who am I'
• 'Come to me'

Six:

Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss wrote the script, songs, and lyrics for the British musical Six. Formalized paraphrase The musical is a contemporary retelling of Henry VIII's six wives' lives portrayed as a pop show, with the wives taking turns singing and telling their stories to see who struggled the most as a result of Henry and could thereby become the group's lead singer. Cambridge University students performed the musical for the first time at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017. It has since went on to receive professional performances in the West End and around the world. 

The six Queens appear at a pop concert, informing the crowd that the role of the band's lead singer would be awarded to whoever they judge had the worst experience at the hands of their common husband, Henry VIII. 
Themes of feminine beauty are discussed in Hans Holbein's painting workshop, where the Queens mock a dating app by providing Henry with a choice of three women to marry. He prefers Anna of Cleves, but soon refuses her and annuls the marriage due to her dissimilarity to her portrait.

As the Queens continue to disagree about who is the real winner, Catherine Parr challenges the point of a rivalry that distinguishes them by their relationship to Henry rather than by their personality. Realizing they have been stripped of their individuality, the other Queens leave the contest and announce that they do not need Henry's affection to feel accepted as individuals. They use their remaining stage time to reinvent their stories, singing as a group rather than as solo singers and creating their own "happily ever afters."

This musical is amazing and inspiring for the females, particularly when each female is belittled by a narcissistic greedy King who rips away their individuality, which I found incredibly rude and disrespectful because his main purpose in these romantic or materialistic relationships was to obtain a son because one of his relationships was able to bear a son but died during childbirth. This musical personally helps to inspire or educate females to know that even though we may need a partner to have families, that does not stop us from continuing our own legacy and accomplishments of being able to achieve your dreams and etc, and most importantly, you should not let someone stop you, especially a man, to belittle you because the economy evolves more around men, and women are seen as precluded from achieving your dreams and etc. Another thing I like is that they depend entirely on each other and they work as a team, which I think is incredibly important, particularly in a musical theatre, because you are able to motivate and assist your partner on stage while in your job, as feeling that someone close to you is helping you is the most beautiful energy to have, and I sincerely believe that Six presents this so beautifully.

The health and safety required in the musical is that the vocalists have spatial knowledge because when completing choreography we would like to prevent bumping into each other and falling off stage, and certainly vital for this musical production is to do Vocal warm-ups are just as important as physical. In the days leading up to a show, it is important to rest the voice and drink lots of water, as well as practice proper posture and breathing exercises.

Six (musical) - Wikipedia

London • About Us | Six the Musical

Songs Included:

• 'No way'
• 'Get Down'
• 'Heart of stone'
• 'Six'

Fame: 1980s

Synopsis:

Alan Parker directed the 1980 American teen musical drama film Fame. It is set in New York City and follows the lives and struggles of students at the High School of Performing Arts (now known as Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School) from their auditions to their freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior years. The premise was conceived in 1976 by producer David De Silva, who was partly influenced by the musical A Chorus Line. Before selling it to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, he commissioned playwright Christopher Gore to compose the screenplay, which was originally titled Hot Lunch. Parker rewrote the script with Gore after being hired to direct the film, striving for a darker and more dramatic feel. The New York Board of Education objected to the script's subject matter, prohibiting the movie from shooting at the real High School of Performing Arts. The film was filmed entirely on location in New York City, with principal photography starting in July 1979 and lasting 91 days.

A group of adolescents audition in New York City to enrol at the High School of Performing Arts, where they are divided into three departments: drama, music, and dance. And, over the years of completing Performing Arts High School, many people were able to fulfil their aspirations, with the exception of a few people who were unable to remember the most important lesson: fame isn't necessarily what it seems to be.

Fame 2020:

The worldwide mega hit series follows the lives of students at New York's High School For The Performing Arts as they experience the highs and downs, romances and heartbreaks, and ultimate elation of life. This bittersweet yet uplifting victory delves into challenges that many young people face today, including racism, identification, pride, literacy, sexuality, drug abuse, and perseverance.

The audience's position should be considered, particularly if they are unable to remain still, such as young children or while performing in a promenade configuration. Some movements that could hurt the viewer as the performer moves through the aisles would need to be reconsidered.

Performers must shield themselves from injuries by predicting complications that can arise during a live performance. Broken props or fallen scenery, for example, may be hazardous, and debris must be swept up to avoid stumbling or falling until it is possible to proceed. In the event that a clean-up is needed, stagehands should have equipment ready in the wings.

Performers will rehearse in costume and can spend time getting acquainted with the action restrictions of the costume. If the outfit is not acceptable for the type of action expected on stage or if it presents a threat, it must be handled as quickly as possible, Stage models with protection measures are available to protect the actors and crew that manage the objects.

Personally, I liked Fame 2020 because it was important to me because I take courses related to the subjects involved in the results. Another thing is that fame gives you a whole new outlook and we are told that we must go into college so that we can broaden or adapt our skills so that we can take the next major step of our lives and follow the professions we want. Personally, I liked Fame 2020 because it was important to me because I take courses related to the subjects involved in the results. Another thing is that fame gives you a whole new outlook and we are told that we must go into college so that we can broaden or adapt our skills so that we can take the next major step of our lives and follow the professions we want. And seeing other characters have their own plot or sharing makes it more believable because many journeys are taking place, particularly in high school, and it's interesting when we can see various identities and paths unfold at the same time. And I thought it was clever because, as a college student, it felt familiar and informative because we were able to see a new side of our own lives through these characters. Viewing this performance makes me more aware of the more physical and vocal skills I could use to enhance my performance especially accent, projection and annunciation as I want to achieve a clear direct performance that the audience will be able to understand what's occurring. For physical skills movement, body language and gestures to help enhance my development of character which then will ensure me as a performer I will be able to deliver clear characterisation towards the audience.

Fame (1980 film) - Wikipedia

Songs Included:

• 'Fame'
• 'Hard work'
• 'Bring on tomorrow'
• 'Let's play a love scene'
• 'In L.A.'