Theatre Tips

Music:

This month's subject for Theatre Tips is "Music." Any contributions by readers are welcome (see below). Musical Score (even in a non-musical production)
Beginning teacher-directors often tend to think of a musical score as being the domain of a musical comedy alone. Indeed, musical scripts come with complete musical scores for songs which, depending on the level of the production, will either include a complete orchestral score; a piano score; or simply a CD of instrumental versions of the songs to be sung by soloists and chorus which the school can play on a sound system during musical numbers.

Seasoned directors realize, however, that a music score can be a tremendous asset to any production, including a drama. It sets the tone for many scenes, can bridge transitions between scenes and cover scene changes, and can provide something for the audience to listen to before the show starts and after it ends, again enhancing the mood or setting the style or even historical period.

Any genre may be used. Classical, however, music provides a wide variety of moods and styles for almost any kind of story, and has the added advantage, usually, of being old enough to be in the public domain, and therefore not subject to royalties.

And one trick for original productions, or plays which are adaptations of children's stories or folklore, is to take a melody from a classical music selection and set original lyrics to it. Let the cast create the lyrics. They will enjoy the creative process, and feel proud of having created their own song.

ACTIVITY: SAMPLE MUSIC PLOT

From the Wizard of Oz Scene by scene breakdown:

Scene 1:

"Old Macdonald" - Use the children's song.
"Magic” - is original.

Scene 2:

Ho, Ho, Ho, He, He, He is to the tune of "Little Brown Jug" by Joseph Winner, recorded by Glenn Miller.
The Yellow Brick Road dance, is to a rap track gotten from a music store. The kids make up a rap chorus to it using their own words. The first time they appear, Dorothy does a verse and the dancers do the chorus. The second time, the Scarecrow has the verse, etc.

Scene 3:

For the "Easy Life" the Crows do a dance to a rap track, no singing. It is used as their entrance.

Scene 4 & 5: are reprises
Scene 6: Use Nutcracker, by Tchaikovsky

the Arabian for the poppies and
the Sugar Plum Fairies for the snowflakes.

Scene 7:

Emerald City song is sung to the tune of "Jamaica Farewell" with changed lyrics.

etc.

***

Help us with your ideas:
To comment on this idea, or offer music score suggestions of your own for producing plays for schools, community theatres or any low budget productions, write us at comments@creativeeducationalsystems.com. Your thoughts will be posted to this site.

Note: This tip and many more ideas for productions for theatre for young people may be found in the book Producing the School Play. For more information, go to http://www.creativeeducationalsystems.com/web_files/Producing.html

Home * Plays for Family Audiences * Plays by Category * Contact Us