Musical Theatre Essay

innovator of the musical theatre dancing style within the 1900s. His best works feature famous names such as Barbra Streisand and shows like West Side Story, The King and I, and Fiddler on the Roof, with the man himself known for “displaying an inexhaustible gift for combining character, comedy, and storytelling in dance”, something never before done in American musical theatre. While highly proficient in traditional Russian ballet, performing in both Balanchine’s Ballet Theatre and many others,

Throughout my entire life I have never had any real interest in musical theatre. One time when I was in about 5th grade, my grandfather took me, my brother and my cousin to a showing of the “Nutcracker.” Let me tell you, I tried my hardest, I really tried, but I couldn’t stay awake for the entire performance. This experience I had put a bad taste in my mouth as for the next several years, I never attended another musical theatre event. One day in the spring, I was going through Golden Bear Advising

Attitudes towards women, and their role in American Musical Theatre. For my essay, I am going to look at the attitudes towards women, both from men and other women, and the significant role that that women had in telling the stories in American musical theatre. Showboat was the first musical of its kind. Up to this point, musicals consisted of songs and dances, with often feeble storylines based around the big stars. Showboat had a real story, adapted from a novel, and both the singing

Watching Musical Theatre as a kid always excited me. Especially watching "Cats", "Beauty and the Beast", "The Lion King", and "Grease".watching musicals always took me to another world and always made feel positive after watching them. Musicals are an important part of the theatre tradition as stated by Wilson, " Proof of its significance and universal appeal is the fact that it is now imitated-often quite successfully -and performed throughout the world," (267). Musicals have a lot to offer to

My limited experience with Broadway suggests that musical theatre has its own special beauty. However, it is different from that of ballet! Broadway-themed ballets, therefore, are less appealing, and programs focusing on such works--any pragmatic reasons behind them notwithstanding--problematic. The second week of NYCB's Spring Season is not comparable to the first. With such talented performers the "Tribute to Robbins" program (I did not attend "All Robbins No. 1: Bernstein Collaborations”) nevertheless

Two great writers of American musical theatre, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, had one idea in common. They wanted to present to the American public a new and revolutionary musical that would stand out above the rest. They wanted to make an impact on the societies of the era. They wanted to be creative and do something that was considered rebellious. When they finally combined their ideas together they created an American masterpiece in musical theatre: Oklahoma!. It was the first Rodgers

through service and performance, in school, or in my case, on a gap year. This past semester, I wrestled with car troubles, 5am shifts, and family trials for my dream. Often, I questioned why I didn’t leave home, accept my offer to be a BFA in Musical Theatre, and start a new narrative on campus. However, I’m glad I didn’t. These tests have revamped my resilience, teaching me that circumstances shouldn’t hinder my ability to choose joy and how to rise up to these “grown-up” difficulties, rather than

Lights...Curtain...Act I Anyone who has seen a musical theatre production has seen the world through new eyes. They have most likely oohed and aahed at the scenery, the bright lights, the simple, yet effective costumes, and of course, the talent of the performers. The way the actors melodic voices carry out over the crowd, the way the choreography emanates their emotions, pouring heart and soul into their role. An audience member at a musical theatre production is whisked away into an alternate universe

The world is packed full of talented individuals. Every individual has something that can be considered a talent. Specifically, in musical theatre, talented actors, singers, and dancers are in abundance. But being “talented” isn’t what makes a successful artist. The industry has created a skewed vision of “success”. Many consider a successful artist to be simply talented, but I believe it goes beyond talent. One’s work ethic and character should be equally if not more prioritized than talent. Though

The musical theatre scene of the 1980’s was dominated by the emergence of the “mega-musical,” on the West End and Broadway alike. These elaborate shows usually featured a pop-influenced score, consisted of both large casts and sets to match, and were heavily characterized by their sizable effects and budgets. Many of the mega-musicals were based on beloved literature or other previously existing works, a formula meant to guarantee success. The big budget mega-musicals redefined everyone’s expectations