Musical Theater
The evolution of musical theater is the true are of telling a story. Musical theater dates all the way back to the 5th century BOE. This was a time the Romans nailed metal to shoes to create the first tap shoes, wagons were called “stages on wheels” and poetry was cited with a melody. Musical theater is presented all around the world thru history, “boots musicals”, and many popular musical films. In ancient Greece, music and dance war introduced thru staged comedies and tragedies. As early as the 3rd century BCE Romans performed in “theaters” by creating the technical part of dance – tap shoes. Now dance steps can be heard. This form of theater is a combination of songs spoken dialogue, acting, and dancing. Musical theater is often compared to opera. The only difference is musical theater targets popular music and opera focuses more on classical. They can also contain different stories from love to tragedies. Composers and singers contribute to explain each character’s feelings thru the music. Musical theater isn’t what it is without a performer who is extremely talented in dancing, singing, and acting. Since the 20th century, musical theater productions are what we know as musicals. Producing a musical contains set designing, costumes, props, lights, and sound. The three key parts of a book musical are music, lyrics, and of course a book. The story is well created full of drama. Musical plays bring songs and dances to another level so real emotions other than laughter can be displayed. A musical can run from one and a half to three hours. The greatest dramatic moment of a book musical is often performed in a song. Other than book musicals, musical theater is also a major part of Disney. Since Hollywood didn’t appreciate what musical theater offered to films Disney definitely took on the opportunity. The Beauty and the Beast was the best musical film created. In 1991 it also became a great business deal with Broadway. Beauty and the Beast is every child’s favorite especially my nieces. In 1992, Robin Williams gave us plenty of humor by having Genie in Aladdin. The Lion King is one musical film that has been recreated in film still to this day. “Akuna Matata” is a song we all know. Disney is still making more music films. Musical film gave a different life to a theater stage and to children that can watch a cartoon to explore music, art, dance, and emotions. Which I think was a great idea; just these two movies along will never be for gotten as long as I live. The Beauty and the Beast I can only imagine as a woman how she felt at first probably scared, afraid, and lonely not knowing what to do. What interested me the most was that the first, musical theater was done in Charleston South Carolina in a small courtroom. To me that’s a piece of history that I didn’t know and being from South Carolina I found that to be very interesting. I would have thought that the first one would have been held in a big city somewhere and not in a courtroom. I was shocked when I had read that. I think everybody will also remember the part in Beauty and the Beast when he stop being so mean and realize that she liked him for who he was and not how he looked.
Since musical theater is a part of the big screen it will evolve and continue to influence our world. I found musical to be very interesting. From the origin of films the theater in Greece to now shows how the tradition of music has changed and still entertains with great humor in films.