| In this article we're going to try to explain just what | | | | between a musical and an opera. As a matter of |
| it is that makes a musical a musical and go over the | | | | fact, Tommy is actually considered a rock opera |
| more technical aspects of the form.By technical | | | | more than it is considered a musical.Usually the |
| definition, musical theater is a form of theater that | | | | highlights and most dramatic moments of a musical |
| combines music, songs, dancing and spoken dialogue. | | | | are done in song. The reason is because these are |
| It is actually closely related to opera, while purposely | | | | the moments that the creators want you to |
| avoiding many of the conventions of opera in order | | | | remember the most and it is much easier to |
| to have a more general appeal.The musical | | | | remember a well done three or four minute song |
| components of a musical is called the score. The sung | | | | than it is to remember three or four minutes of |
| lines are called lyrics as opposed to plain spoken | | | | spoken dialogue. If the emotion that needs to be |
| dialogue which is simply called dialogue. Usually the | | | | conveyed is too strong even for song then in those |
| person writing the lyrics to the musical is not the | | | | cases dance is added to or even put in place of |
| same person who has written the actual story. An | | | | singing. A perfect example of this is the fight scene in |
| example of this would be "Wicked" where the songs | | | | "West Side Story" which was done entirely in |
| were written by Stephen Schwartz, the script by | | | | dance.Finding a balance between spoken dialogue and |
| Winnie Holzman and the book that it came from by | | | | song is not easy. On top of that the writers must be |
| Gregory Maguire. This is not uncommon in musical | | | | careful to write songs for each character that |
| theater.A musical can be anywhere from a few | | | | actually fits the character. For example, a character |
| minutes to a few hours long. The average running | | | | who is an evil villain is not going to sing songs about |
| time for a modern musical is about two and a half | | | | being happy and in love.Also, it is difficult to establish |
| hours with an intermission about half way through | | | | the drama in a musical because a five minute song |
| the play. Some musicals however do run straight | | | | has fewer words in it than five minutes of spoken |
| through if they aren't too long. The intermissions, | | | | dialogue. When an hour and a half of your musical is |
| when they are present, are about ten to fifteen | | | | actual music, this makes it very important that the |
| minutes long. An average musical will have about | | | | writers make very good use of the lyrics for each |
| twenty to thirty songs. Some will be very short | | | | song as this will be the vehicle for telling most of the |
| pieces and others can be quite long. Most musicals | | | | story.Musical theater is a truly unique and wonderful |
| usually start with an overture which highlights several | | | | form of entertainment. If you haven't had the |
| of the songs that will be heard throughout the play | | | | pleasure of going to see a modern day musical or |
| and set the mood for what is about to come. Some | | | | even a revival of an old musical, you owe it to |
| musicals, like "Tommy" can be sung through from | | | | yourself to do so. It is an experience you will not |
| beginning to end, which can really blur the fine line | | | | soon forget. |