My most enjoyable experiences directing musicals came as a result of collaboration with choir teachers at the school from which I retired. On alternating years, a Theatre II, III, and IV combined class met the same block as a Musical Theatre class in the choral music program. I directed and handled the technical aspects of the show. The choir teacher taught and directed the music. We used a student choreographer when possible, and hired a choreographer when we needed to.
We began the class with an audition unit, culminating in auditions for the show we were producing within the class. I gave students a group of short monologues to choose from and work up. The choir teacher checked ranges and taught the 16-bar pieces to SATB groups. On a selected day, we had auditions, usually bringing in a fresh set of eyes to watch auditions with us. Everyone in the combined classes watched all the auditions and callbacks.
Then we started rehearsals with the choir teacher teaching group numbers while I worked on technical aspects with whatever students were not rehearsing ensemble numbers. Eventually, I had most of the students for blocking and rehearsals of non-musical parts of the show, while the choir teacher worked on solos and duets. It sounds mad, but it worked.
Many Musical Theatre students ended up taking Theatre classes later. They saw that the Theatre II-IV students had knowledge and skills that made them better performers. Of course, it worked the other way too. Some Theatre students who had never sung discovered they were good at it. In short, the collaboration helped both programs.
Naturally, I don't know whether your vocal music teacher would be interested in a collaboration. If your choir teacher participates in choral competitions, you might suggest a fall musical collaboration, rather than a spring one.
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CJ Breland
Retired Theatre Arts Educator
NC
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-03-2023 11:55
From: Cathy Archer
Subject: musical theatre classes
Hi
I am trying to think of ways/classes that will entice the students at my high school to take theatre classes. In order to graduate from Rutland they have to take a theatre and a music class or a theatre and an art class or a music and a art class. At the moment art and music are getting more students. They do not have theatre until high school and come with many misconceptions! I am contemplating starting a musical theatre class.... this would be a quarter class and would end with some kind of presentation. For those of you who teach musical theatre .... what do you teach? Are you all musically trained? I am not but could bring people in. Thoughts? Ideas? Thank you
Cathy
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Cathy Archer
EdTA Member or Troupe Director
Rutland High School
VT
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