The Stage directions guide to musical theater / edited by Stephen Peithman and Neil Offen.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Peithman, Stephen.

Offen, Neil.

Series:

Heinemann's Stage directions series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Musical theater--Production and direction.

Musical theater.

Physical Description:

xvi, 154 pages ; 23 cm.

Other Title:

Guide to musical theater

Place of Publication:

Portsmouth, NH : Heinemann, [2002]

Summary:

Musical theater is total theater, encompassing spoken dialogue, song, dance, and instrumental music. But it's even more than that, as Stephen Peithman and Neil Offen make clear. Drawing from the columns and archives of Stage Directions magazine and adding new material and introductions that put the information into perspective, they focus on five main areas of responsibility in musical theater -- producing, directing, performance, musical direction and choreography, and technical support. From here, they paint the big picture of musical theater as the most collaborative of the performing arts, creating challenges and rewards at every turn.

Most of all, their book is a bible for budding or veteran directors and producers of community theater, and performers too, on the ins, ups, downs, hows, whys, and why nots of musical theater.

Contents:

Part I The What and How of Musical Theater: Understanding the Basics 1

1 "I Got a Song" The Forms of Musical Theater 2

2 "Putting it Together" What Makes a Musical Work 7

Part II Producing the Musical: How to Choose the Right Show the Right Way 13

3 Thirteen Questions to Help You Focus 14

4 "Let's Go on with the Show" Fifty-Six Strong Candidates to Consider 17

5 "It's Today" Finding Contemporary Tie-ins to Older Musicals / Lisa Viall 29

6 "Where Am I Going, and What Will I Find?" Locating and Using Sources for Musicals 31

7 "I'd Rather Be Right" Playing by the Rules 34

8 "Some Enchanted Evening" 41

9 "Reviewing the Situation" 46

10 "I Could Write a Book" Ten Steps for Creating Your Own Musical / Diane Seymour 49

11 Since You Asked 53

Part III Directing the Musical: How to Provide the Guiding Vision 57

12 "Putting It Together" The Musical as Collaborative Art 58

13 "It's Not Where You Start (It's Where You Finish)" The Power of Transformation 60

14 "Have You Heard?" Let Them Know What You Want 63

15 "A Simple Little System" The Eight Basics of Directing the Musical / Stephen Peithman 67

16 "Keep A-Hoppin'" In Musicals, Pacing Is Key 71

17 "So Many People" Large Casts, Small Groups 72

18 "It's the Little Things You Do Together" Big Show, Small Cast / Scott Miller 74

19 "Side by Side by Side" Using Directorial Shorthand 77

20 "Finishing the Hat" How to Design an Effective Curtain Call / Stephen Peithman 79

Part IV Musical Direction and Choreography: How to Keep Your Production Moving 83

21 "I Feel a Song Coming On" Comparing Notes with Two Musical Directors / Hope S. Breslauer 84

22 "The Sound of Music" Resources Are There for the Finding 87

23 "The Music That Makes Me Dance" Putting the Orchestra on Stage / Stephen Peithman 89

24 "Take a Little One-Step, Two-Step" Choreography for Non-Dancers 95

25 "Something to Dance About" How One Non-Choreographer Coped / Stephen Peithman 103

26 Since You Asked Choreographing, Collaborating, Creating 106

Part V Performing the Musical: Tips for On Stage and Off 109

27 "I Hope I Get It" How to Make a Good Impression / Nancianne Pfister 110

28 "I'm the Greatest Star" Secrets to a Great Performance 115

29 "If They Could See Me Now" How's Your "Lighting Sense"? 120

30 "That Certain Feeling" Going on Sick (and Staying Well) 122

Part VI Sets, Lighting, and Sound: Dealing with Technical Challenges 127

31 "One" The Advantages of the Unit Set / Stephen Peithman 128

32 "Soft Lights and Sweet Music" Keeping the Conductor in View / Mike Bromberg 130

33 "The Music of Sound" Where to Put the Speakers / Malcolm Bowes 132

34 Microphone Clinic 136

35 Since You Asked Body Mics and Book Voices 140

Part VII Resources: Books and Video 143

36 "How Long Has This Been Going On?" Help on the Printed Page, from A to Z 144

37 "I Can See It" Video Instruction for the Director and Actor 151.

Notes:

Includes evaluative bibliography and videography (pages 143-152.

ISBN:

0325003491

OCLC:

47996572