Theatre 110 Exam 1 flashcards
Here are organized, exam-ready flashcards based on your study guide. They’re grouped by reading and lecture topics to help you review efficiently.
📘 Packet Reading #1 – Kislan
Kislan’s Parts of a Musical
Q: What is The Book (Libretto) in a musical?
A: The script of the musical — includes dialogue, dramatic structure, characters, and plot. It provides the story framework that integrates music and lyrics.
Q: What are The Lyrics?
A: The words of the songs. Lyrics express character emotions, advance plot, provide exposition, and reveal theme.
Q: What is The Score (Music)?
A: The complete musical composition — melodies, harmonies, orchestrations. It shapes emotional tone and dramatic pacing.
Q: What is The Dance in a musical?
A: Choreographed movement that advances story, reveals character, or heightens emotional/dramatic moments.
Kislan – Key Concepts
Q: What are the key parts of a musical according to Kislan?
A: Book, lyrics, score, and dance — ideally working together in integration.
Q: What is an Integrated Musical?
A: A musical in which songs, dance, and story are seamlessly connected and all elements serve the narrative and characters.
Q: What is the Production Team in musical theatre?
A: Director, producer, choreographer, music director, designers, performers, and technical crew — larger and more complex than non-musical theatre teams.
Kislan’s View of Musicals
Q: What does Kislan argue musicals do?
A: They heighten reality through music and movement to express emotions beyond spoken dialogue.
Q: What is the purpose of musicals?
A: To entertain, move audiences emotionally, and reflect societal values.
Q: What is their function?
A: To integrate story and music into a unified dramatic experience.
Q: Why do musicals exist (according to Kislan)?
A: To express heightened emotion and human experience in ways spoken drama cannot.
📘 Packet Reading #2 – Miller’s “Overture”
Q: What does Miller explore in “Overture”?
A: How the American musical developed and evolved stylistically and structurally.
Q: According to Miller, how did the musical form develop?
A: From European operetta, vaudeville, minstrel shows, spectacle pieces, and revue formats into a uniquely American form.
Q: How did early musicals differ from later integrated musicals?
A: Early works focused on spectacle and star performers; later works emphasized cohesive storytelling.
📘 Our Musicals, Our Selves – Introduction & Ch. 1 (Jones)
Jones’ Perspective
Q: What is Jones’ main argument in Our Musicals, Our Selves?
A: Musicals reflect American identity, culture, politics, and social change.
Q: Why does Jones use specific musicals as examples?
A: To illustrate how musicals mirror the historical, political, and cultural context of their time.
Q: What are Jones’ framing devices?
A: Historical eras and thematic headings that connect musicals to American values and national identity.
Chapter 1 Concepts
Q: Why does Jones mention important works from each era?
A: To demonstrate how musicals reflect major cultural and political shifts.
Q: Why is historical context important when studying musicals?
A: Because musicals often respond to or celebrate major national events.
Q: What are you responsible for knowing?
A: Broad concepts, themes under chapter headings, historical context, and works discussed in lecture.
🎭 Lecture Materials
What is Theatre?
Q: What must exist for formal theatre to exist?
A: Performers, audience, script or structure, and a designated performance space.
Non-Musicals vs. Musicals
Q: How do creative teams differ?
A:
Non-musical: playwright + director primarily.
Musical: book writer, composer, lyricist, choreographer, music director, orchestrator, etc.
Composer/Lyricist Roles
Q: What does the composer do?
A: Writes the music.
Q: What does the lyricist do?
A: Writes the words to songs.
Q: Why is their collaboration important?
A: Music and lyrics must support character and dramatic structure.
🎟 Important Works from Lecture
The Black Crook
Q: Year?
A: 1866
Q: Why is it important?
A: Often considered the first American musical.
Q: What made it unique?
A: Combined melodrama with ballet and spectacle.
The Ziegfeld Follies
Q: What were they?
A: Lavish Broadway revues produced by Florenz Ziegfeld.
Q: Focus?
A: Spectacle, chorus girls, comedy sketches, popular songs.
Q: Importance?
A: Represent the revue tradition before integrated storytelling became dominant.
🎭 Developing & Producing a Musical
Q: What are the steps in developing a musical?
A: Concept → Writing (book/music/lyrics) → Workshops → Revisions → Tryouts → Broadway production.
Q: What is required to produce a musical?
A: Significant funding, creative team coordination, casting, marketing, and technical production.
🎼 Key Big-Picture Concepts for the Exam
Q: How do historical events influence musicals?
A: Wars, economic changes, social movements, and political shifts shape themes and storytelling.
Q: What distinguishes an integrated musical from earlier forms?
A: Narrative cohesion — songs and dances advance plot and develop character.
Q: What conclusions were drawn in class discussions?
A:
Musicals reflect American optimism and conflict.
The form evolved from spectacle to serious storytelling.
Creative collaboration is essential.
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