1. The story (plot): Unless the musical is a revue (made up of a series of songs and sketches often around a relevant theme), there will be a series of events that make up the story. As with any play, novel or story, the plot can be on a variety of subjects from the ‘love story’ to the ‘hero versus villain’ to a ‘look into the lives of a certain group of people’.
2. The characters: Like any genre from play to movie to book, an assortment of character types interact within the plot. Most plots have a hero/heroine, a villain and numerous other individuals with varying personalities and characteristics dependent upon the nature of the story.
3. The songs: This is the key element that differentiates a musical from a play. Songs are usually an extension of the characters and often replace dialogue. Characters can relay emotions to the audience, interact with one another (ensemble numbers) or advance the plot through a song. And of course, one can’t have songs without dancing. Production numbers (big, showy numbers involving large groups of the cast and chorus) blend singing and dancing in an often extravagant and always entertaining fashion.
4. The sets: Whether the musical is a movie or a live theatrical production, the story has to take place somewhere. Sets are necessary to create the location for the story and can range from a very simple location (like a room in a house) to something quite spectacular (Sleeping Beauty’s castle).
5. The costumes: In any story it is necessary for the characters to wear clothing appropriate to the time period of the story and the status of the character (judge/doctor/figure skater etc.) Make-up and hair styles also go hand in hand with the costumes to create a believable character.
These are the main designations that make up a musical. Taking away the songs would result in a straight stage play. (Some stage plays do use music for scene changes or to build suspense but the music is not in the form of sung songs but rather, instrumental music used in the background).
Although not a big draw in today’s market, movie musicals were common in earlier years. Just as there were plays and musicals, the movie industry created regular movies and movies with music. (Many of these movie musicals were actually adaptations of stage musicals. One such example would be “The Music Man”).
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