Accessing the World of Theatre: Musicals and Music Theatre

Goodwin (2019) states music theatre is a type of stage performance using music from various forms such as ballets, operas, cabarets, and contemporary music. Musical theatre uses different techniques (e.g. music, dance, songs, acting as well as spoken dialogue) to tell a story to the audience. Musicals originated from Ancient Greek, the Greeks would use musical components such as dance and songs in their plays.

Musicals and Music theatre are different in terms of how they are performed. The motive of musicals is to deliver a form of entertainment (or amusement) to the audience. Musicals bare the power to attract audiences, connect with individuals and engage with emotions. Music theatre centres on being creative rather than telling stories. Musicals still remain triumphant in attracting larger amount of audiences rather than music theatre because of their small scale of work.

Spencer (2013), states musicals are therapeutic and provide the opportunity for the audience to release pain as well as endure a special sense of community of theatre to the audience and temporary escape of their lives. Musicals not only weald the power provide entertainment, but it can help individuals in touch with their human side and awaken people in a way no medium can. Furthermore, musical theatre is not just something you see an audience member, but what we observe is something personal and this can help people heal from challenging or traumatic experiences. Music theatre is promoted in the educational system, for instance in schools children are provided with instruments and are instructed by their teachers to think of a plot while testing the instruments and see what sounds they can make on their own. Thus this allows children to learn music more effectively by using musical activities (Tong, 2017).

Musicals continue to be easier to access than music theatre because they are performed in larger venues such as Broadway as well as being publicized on social media platforms to encourage people to attend performance. On the other hand, music theatre has become more difficult on access because they are mostly promoted in academic institutions and smaller venues (Green 2016). Also, musical theatre composes music for their shows, whereas music theatre use music from recent times making them more unique.

I was fortunate to have a glimpse of ‘Disney Aladdin (2016). The play does demonstrate aspects of musical theatre; for instance the play features some production numbers such as ‘One Jump Ahead’ which takes place as Aladdin is taking a piece of bread, the palace guards catch him and commence to chase him through the market place of Agrabah. This song is raised with ‘Friend like me’ sung by the Genie which included a dancing number and kept the audience of their feet. The best number was ‘A Whole New World’ which featured characters Aladdin and Jasmine on a flying carpet, but the carpet was flying above the audience. Withal, there were moments of humour as well where the Genie (played by Trevor Dion) told some funny jokes which entertained the audiences and garner some laughs. The whole cast showed impressive vocal ability, which kept the audience interested; overall it was a great show with lots of activity which captures families’ interest as well as children.

Hairspray, another piece of theatre also demonstrates aspects of musical theatre. The story follows a dance loving teenager (Tracey Turnblad) and she audience for a chance to be featured on the Corny Collins Show. There was one section of the play that included 1960’s style dance, music and downtown rhythm blues, the audience and I was drawn to the 1960’s style. There was an impressive vocal performance by one of the characters and they brought an Aretha Franklin style.

Lastly, I had the opportunity to watch ‘Misty’ in West End Bush Theatre. The play revolves around a performance by Kene that blends various styles such as comedy, drama, rap, alongside spoken word against visual images and love versus hate. There was a good use of the two onstage musicians, who stood on both sides of the stage and provided percussion score and play music in the background when other characters performed. Also, personal magnetism was created through the use of rap and instruments. The play was a powerful piece of performance, influential and a pleasure to watch and I believe it’s a voice for people for those who feel wrongly represented in London culture.

In conclusion, musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance advertised on the stages of Broadway and uses techniques such as songs, dance, acting and dialogue to tell a story and provided entertainment to audiences, whereas music theatre is known as a reactive in which spoken dialogue is translated through the use of music.