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Unit

Musical Theatre History Museum Project

Created by Annie Dragoo

8 lessons musical theatre

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!

Start here
The overview outlines the materials in the unit, which are divided into two parts: viewing a documentary and researching/creating a museum exhibit on a musical theatre topic.
  1. 1
    Lesson 1
    Give My Regards to Broadway
    By viewing this documentary, students explore Broadway’s history from the vaudeville shows and operettas of the 20th century to 21st-century extravaganzas such as Hairspray and Wicked. In this lesson, students will view, discuss, and reflect on Episode 1.
  2. 2
    Lesson 2
    The Charleston, Jazz, and the New American Slang
    In this lesson, students will view, discuss, and reflect on Episode 2.
  3. 3
    Lesson 3
    Broadway Gives Hope
    In this lesson, students will view, discuss, and reflect on Episode 3.
  4. 4
    Lesson 4
    The Golden Age
    In this lesson, students will view, discuss, and reflect on Episode 4.
  5. 5
    Lesson 5
    Broadway Reinvents Itself
    In this lesson, students will view, discuss, and reflect on Episode 5.
  6. 6
    Lesson 6
    Broadway and the Global Economy
    In this lesson, students will view, discuss, and reflect on Episode 6.
  7. 7
    Lesson 7
    Topic Research and Exhibit Planning
    In Part Two of this unit, students will research the influence of a musical theatre topic in the past and present. Students will apply their knowledge by creating, designing, and presenting a musical theatre museum exhibit.
  8. 8
    Lesson 8
    Museum Day
    Students will showcase what they have learned about their musical theatre topic in a museum exhibit. Students will also learn about additional musical theatre topics by viewing other exhibits and answering questions found in the Museum Exhibit Questionnaire Book.

Standards Addressed

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