MT Genres & Types of musicals

Question 1

What is Melodrama

Answer 1

A dramatic piece with exaggerated characters and events.

Question 2

What is an Extravaganza (or spectacle)? name the 5 types

Answer 2

Put stagecraft foremost. 5 types.

1. Equestrian (horseback)
2. Military-nautical (stage machines)
3. Burlesque (girls, dance)
4. Fairy (Animals, Magical)
5. Romantic (Natural Disasters)

Question 3

What is a Musical Comedy

Answer 3

American term derived from opera bluffs

Question 4

What is the origin of Variety Shows/Vaudeville/Music Hall?

Answer 4

It is almost impossible to pin it origins except with the ‘olio’ portion of Minstrel Shows. Features specialised performers to entertain between acts.

Question 5

What is a Pantomime?

Answer 5

British theatrical entertainment, mainly for children, which involves music, topical jokes and slapstick comedy. It is based off of fairytales or nurseries.

Question 6

What was the origin of Minstrel Shows ?

Answer 6

Representation of black people played by white people, this was exploited and black people almost never make it onto the stage. - ‘Blackface’

Question 7

What is the structure of Minstrel Shows?

Answer 7

Divided into 3 acts

1. Song and dance skits, choral singing and it ends in a walk-around
2. ‘olio’ or fantasia of extended specialties, odd instruments or women are imitated.
3. Other pieces or works were burlesqued including operas, plays, politics etc.`

Question 8

What is Burletta?

Answer 8

3 act comic opera that spoofed history, myth and legend.

Question 9

What are Shadow Shows?

Answer 9

Puppets, probably inspired by asian theatre which was operated behind screen and bright light.

Question 10

Revue genre

Answer 10

Same performers throughout
No set plot
Very similar but not quite variety, vaudeville or music hall shows.
All performances were related somehow?

Question 11

What is Tin Pan Alley?

Answer 11

Tin Pan Alley was the collection of New York City music publishers and songwriters who dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th century and early 20th century.

Question 12

What were some iconic characters in pantomime (2)?

Answer 12

1. Pantomime dame - male role dressed as a girl, over the top and grotesque
   Example - Trunchbull from Matilda
2. Principal boy - female role.

Question 13

Burlesque originally was…?

Answer 13

An amusing travesty or satire of familiar work such as a play or fairytale. These travesties employed any means for comedy and entertainments

Question 14

Burlesque (negative)

Answer 14

John Hollingshead

For comedy, female costuming became skimpy and dance-oriented. This was lesser preferred for families.

Question 15

What are some Tin Pan Alley publishers?

Answer 15

Irving Berlin, Inc.
Shapiro, Bernstein & Co.
E.B. Marks Music Company

Question 16

What are some Tin Pan Alley artists/composers?

Answer 16

George Gershwin
Irving Berlin
Jerome Kern
Cole Porter
Bing Crosby

Question 17

What is a concept musical?

Answer 17

Musical theatre that the book and music are structured around conveying a theme or message, rather than a narrative plot

Question 18

What is Bolero rhythm?

Answer 18

Bolero is a slow, beautiful, expressive dance that is somewhat of a hybrid. It combines the dance patterns of Rumba with the rise and fall action of the Waltz.

Question 19

What is a torch song?

Answer 19

A stereotypical love song - lounging over a piano type singing.