EA440-7-SP-LO:
Music Theatre
2023/24
East 15 Acting School
East15 (Loughton) Campus
Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 15 January 2024
Friday 22 March 2024
30
24 July 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
This module addresses the specific challenges and opportunities for the director of theatre that incorporates music as a key element of its aesthetic.
The aim of this module is:
- This module examines questions arising from directing musical comedies, opera and other forms of music theatre. It examines scenes from works with specific stylistic, background or technical problems.
Knowledge and understanding of and ability to demonstrate:
- Roles and functions of all participants responsible for creating theatre.
- Diverse rehearsal processes and techniques.
- Group working skills.
- Guidance of acting.
- Relationships between theoretical and practical challenges for directors.
- Appropriate research methods.
Syllabus
Indicative selection – the specific choice will vary according to the particular student cohort.
Examination of the historical roots of the musical and its connections with similar performance modes such as the music hall, popular music, dance and opera.
American musical
Brecht
Opera
Post-war revolution and the changing social content of the musical: eg Porgy and Bess, Oklahoma, Carmen Jones
British musicals since the sixties: eg Lloyd-Webber and Rice, Will Russell.
Adaptations of classical dramatic and other material to musical forms: eg Return to the Forbidden Planet, Cats
Beyond entertainment: Sondheim and his epigones.
Teamwork in the musical: problems of collaboration with composers, musical director and choreographers
Rehearsal planning
Technical problems: sound systems, lighting etc
Directed autonomous learning, workshops, rehearsals, seminars, presentations and feedback sessions.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Coursework |
|
75% |
| Coursework |
Logbook |
|
25% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
No
No
No
Prof Robert Swain
Birkbeck
Professor
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
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