Courses
PD COURSE
Teaching Musical Theatre in the Drama Classroom
by Colin Oliver
Colin Oliver leads this introduction to teaching Musical Theatre in the Drama Classroom.
In this course, you will learn how to build musical theatre into your dramatic courses of study. “Why might you want to do that? Singing is scary! You want me to teach my students how to do it? I don’t even know how to do it.” This course approaches musical theatre preparation performance much as we would approach preparing a monologue in drama. If you use script analysis in monologue preparation in your class, you can teach musical theatre.
By the end of this course, you’ll have a great, full-body physical warm-up, a student-driven research assignment, character development exercises, a little bit of musical theory, and a performance assignment complete with assessment.
So, join us for teaching Musical Theatre in the Drama Classroom. It’s as easy as Do-Re-Mi!
Units
UNIT
Musical Theatre
by Anna Porter
Musical Theatre has two components that separate it from straight plays: song and dance. This unit gives students the opportunity to try out both. In musical theatre, music signifies heightened emotion. We can’t express ourselves with just words, we need music (and through extension, song and dance) to take it further.
This unit includes three lesson plans:
1. Acting the Song - “Musical Tactics”
2. Acting the Song - “Textual Analysis”
3. Introduction to Dance
A solo performance assignment is also included, and the unit includes assessment tools - rubrics, reflections, and self-evaluations.
UNIT
Improvisation in Musical Theatre
by Annie Dragoo
Understanding basic improvisation skills will help musical theatre performers understand that musical theatre is more than just singing and dancing. It’s about using all the tools (voice, body, and mind) an actor has at their disposal to create a character.
This unit focuses more on the improv aspect rather than the musical theatre aspects - in fact students need no prior musical theatre knowledge. Annie Dragoo, creator of the unit, uses this material as her first unit in her musical theatre class. It’s a great introduction and will get your students in the right frame of mind to approach musical theatre.
The lessons explore a variety of improv skills such as vocal responses, movement, character study, sensory awareness and culminate in an improv scene and unit essay.
UNIT
Musical Theatre History Museum Project
by Annie Dragoo
Musical Theatre is a uniquely American art form, explored through this unique unit by instructor Annie Dragoo.
It is divided into two parts: first, students view a documentary called Broadway the American Musical - available on YouTube. Students will reflect after each episode and there is an available viewing quiz.
After viewing, discussing and reflecting on each episode of the PBS Documentary, Broadway: The American Musical, students will research a specific topic in order to create and design a musical theatre museum exhibit. It’s a great three-dimensional demonstration of knowledge, and there is a rubric provided for the completed exhibit.
This is not your traditional textbook history learning!
UNIT
Creating a Musical: Project
by Annie Dragoo
Want a fun project that has your students collaborating and creating? In this unit by Annie Dragoo, students in groups will write and perform an original musical by adding modern songs to a traditional fairy tale story.
The six lessons take students from writing their script, to choreography and planned movement, to rehearsing, performing and evaluation.
The Rubric will focus on student performance. That means vocal delivery, emotional delivery, blocking/choreography, energy, focus, and characters.
UNIT
Creating Your Own Musical
by Laramie Dean
Instructor Laramie Dean uses this unit as the final project for his Drama 2 students. Drawing upon any of the skills students have developed throughout, they create a product that could be used within a new piece of musical theatre.
Students start by analyzing three musicals, study guides included, and practice creating musical elements. They are then given class time to prepare in groups as many elements as they can for a new musical using devised theatre techniques.
There are 24 lessons in this unit which culminates in a final assessed performance.
UNIT
Introduction to Musical Theatre: Movement
by Annie Dragoo
Musical theatre performers use their bodies to sing, to dance, and to act. We must think of our bodies as instruments and learn to use our instruments properly in order to be better musical theatre performers.
The overall objective with this unit, by Annie Dragoo, is for students to demonstrate an understanding of the use of good movement as it connects to musical theatre. Some of the activities include using action verbs, moving as animals and inanimate characters, nonverbal communication and situational movement. Students will then perform a scene that will allow them to put to practice all the movement techniques they have learned.
Lesson Plans
LESSON PLAN
Emergency Lesson Plan: Fallen Phrase Puzzle - Musicals
by Lindsay Price
In this ELP, students complete a Fallen Phrase Puzzle using quotes from musicals.
LESSON PLAN
Group Musical Poster
by Matthew Banaszynski
Students will read the description of a musical then break into groups to create a poster for the show. Each group will present their poster to the class and explain their representation. Note: This lesson works well if students have had a basic introduction to musical theatre.
LESSON PLAN
Emergency Lesson Plan: Musical Theatre Licensing Masterclass
by Lindsay Price
In this ELP, students participate in an online masterclass on directing and complete a viewing quiz.
LESSON PLAN
Acting vs. Performing a Song
by Annie Dragoo
In musicals, it is important to remember that acting does not stop when the music begins. In this lesson, students will learn to find meaning behind the lyrics of a song so that they can convey the character’s feelings while performing.
LESSON PLAN
Introduction to Musical Theatre Conventions
by Annie Dragoo
Students will explore the different theatre conventions through various activities and then apply this knowledge to musical theatre by viewing musical theatre numbers.
LESSON PLAN
Character Analysis - Musical Theatre Version
by Annie Dragoo
Use this lesson plan as a response activity connected to viewing a video of a musical in class. For example: At the end of semester or if you need a lesson plan during tech week - watch the musical and then do the exercise.
After viewing a musical, students will exhibit their ability to analyze a specific character from a musical by creating a visual character profile.
LESSON PLAN
The Musical Theatre Audition Slate
by Annie Dragoo
Making a first impression is the most important part of an audition. By learning to slate with confidence, students will learn how to introduce themselves in an musical theatre audition.
LESSON PLAN
A Podcast Musical Analysis
by Annie Dragoo
Students will listen to and analyze a podcast musical called 36 Questions by Christopher Littler and Ellen Winter, starring Jonathan Groff and Jessie Shelton. This lesson is intended for senior grades only (11 & 12). Please see content warning in the lesson plan (p.1).
LESSON PLAN
Reading Basic Musical Dynamic Markings
by Annie Dragoo
Students will be able to identify musical dynamic markings that will allow them to vocally interpret the music effectively. Understanding musical dynamic markings will help you navigate a song, and you can do this even if you do not read music.
LESSON PLAN
The Musical Theatre Audition Portfolio Project
by Annie Dragoo
Part of the audition process is preparation. And that is not just memorizing a single monologue or one song. It’s preparing a wide variety of material for a variety of situations. By preparing an audition portfolio, students will be ready for any type of audition that may arise. The portfolio will also help students explore different genres of musical theatre.
LESSON PLAN
Improv a Musical
by Ed Reggi
In this lesson, students will explore how to make their own Broadway musical through improvisation. Broadway musicals like The Book of Mormon, Urinetown, and Forbidden Broadway were developed from improvised work. Students will learn how to improvise an original musical in front of an
audience. There are excellent opportunities for both the singer and non-singer who wants to explore improv like never before. This is also a great opportunity for singers to become far more confident with their performances. There are hands-on activities for students at all levels.
Resources
RESOURCE
Masterclass with Jim Hoare: Musical Theatre Licensing
Masterclass is a series of one-on-one interviews with experts, creators and innovators in the world of Theatre that you can study in-depth, or share with your classes. Think of this series as ‘Inside the Actor’s Studio’ for Drama Teachers.
This Masterclass with Jim Hoare from Theatrical Rights Worldwide is all about Musical Theatre Licensing, and is hosted by Matt Webster.
Attachments
RESOURCE
Vocal Warm-up
Learn a great vocal warm-up "What a to-do" from DTA instructor Todd Espeland. It promotes diction, projection and breath control.
Attachments
RESOURCE
Musical Theatre Vocal Warm-Up
This warm-up takes students through the 3 key components of warming up the body before singing: Stretching, Breathing, and Resonator and Articulator exercises.
RESOURCE
Cinderella Movie Viewing Quiz
The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical is available to watch for free on Youtube. Have students research and answer
the questions below before they watch.
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xkQjuwihYI&t=25s&has_verified=1
PLCs
PLC
Musicals
Hosted by Matt Webster, Roxane Caravan, Tricia Oliver
Our host and panel discuss budgets, production options, student/parent contracts, and the tips that make staging a musical worthwhile.
Hosted by Matt Webster, joined by Tricia Oliver, Roxane Caravan, and Lindsay Price.
Recorded on January 12, 2016 at 8pm
Attachments
PLC
Musicals: Rehearsals
Hosted by Matt Webster
You've got the rights, the music, the script... now where do you start with your student actors? Learn from Matt Webster, Craig Mason, Cindy Sams and Tricia Oliver as they lead you through how to get rehearsals started and the process up to opening night.
Recorded on March 8, 2016.
Attachments
PLC
Putting Up Your First Musical
Hosted by Matt Webster, Lindsay Price, Jeremy Bishop, Jessica McGettrick
Musicals! There's nothing like them. Especially if you have never done one before... Musicals aren't like "regular" theatre - they are so much more: More planning, more performers, more crew, more time, more money...more, more, more!! It's enough to give a new teacher nightmares - When do you start? How do you organize? Who do you cast? WHY DID I AGREE TO THIS...??
Take a deep breath, relax, and join us for an in depth conversation about the nuts and bolts of producing your first musical.
Attachments
