Author Question: According to musical theatre historian John Kenrick, what are the key traits of a megamusical? What ... (Read 94 times)

craiczarry · **on:** Aug 27, 2018

According to musical theatre historian John Kenrick, what are the key traits of a megamusical? What were some
of the elements that contributed to the initial success of The Phantom of the Opera?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What are the major qualities that distinguish a musical from a traditional play? What makes musical theatre unique?

What will be an ideal response?

adammoses97 · **Reply #1 on:** Aug 27, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANSWER:Megamusicals
are sung through, with little if any dialogue.
The songs and emotions are big, loud, and bombastic.
Characterization is often explained rather than dramatized.
The music tends to be rock-pop and does not reflect the sound of any particular era.
The plots are melodramatic, with limited humor.
All major professional productions are carbon copies.
One factor in the success of The Phantom of the Opera was Harold Prince's staging,
which featured opulent sets.
Overall, the production offered a degree of spectacle not yet seen on the Broadway
stage.

Answer to Question 2

ANSWER:Whereas
realistic theatre is representational, with the actors pretending that the audience
is not there, musicals are often presentational, with the performers fully aware of the
audience's presence.
Though a musical may contain scenes performed in a representational manner, there will
also typically be song or dance numbers that are played directly to the audience.
Musicals tend to have higher energy and a heightened level of reality and emotion.
Many musicals are perceived as more entertaining and uplifting than most traditional
plays.
Whereas most nonmusical plays consist only of dialogue, musicals are comprised of three
elements: the music, the lyrics, and the libretto.
Whereas most plays have a single author, most musicals have multiple authors.