Musicals in the high school : an analysis of the Broadway musical and its alternatives
Date
1989
Authors
Marchand, Gregory James
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Abstract
The purpose of this thesis is to assist teacher/ directors with their selection of musicals for presentation at the high school level. An analysis of current literature dealing with the high school musical shows that. although the productions themselves are very popular, some educators have reservations about the learning outcomes of producing musicals. A brief history of music theatre defines the various forms of the genre and traces the developments of the contemporary American musical. A compendium of over forty Broadway musicals summarizes production requirements and provides a critique of the educational and performance value of each musical. Using the theories expressed by drama in education and aesthetic education which concentrate on the aesthetic and pedagogical value of student-centred learning, alternatives to the Broadway musical are presented. Providing information specifically designed for the high school level, this thesis gives the teacher/ director the opportunity to choose an appropriate Broadway musical or a valuable alternative.