Is Musical Theatre Classical?

Musical Theatre|Theater

The debate of whether musical theatre is considered classical has been a long standing one. Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines music, spoken dialogue and dance. It originated in the mid-19th century and has since become an important part of the performing arts culture.

Musical theatre can be seen as a combination of two distinct art forms – music and drama. As such, it draws on elements of both classical and modern musical styles as well as theatrical conventions such as dialogue, staging and choreography. This fusion of two artistic forms has been described as being “at once traditional and modern”.

The influence that musical theatre has had on classical music cannot be denied. Many popular composers such as George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein and Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote some of their most famous works for the stage. These works have gone on to become part of the wider classical repertoire, with orchestral versions often performed by symphony orchestras worldwide.

However, there are those who argue that musical theatre does not qualify as ‘classical’ due to its reliance on popular culture for its themes and storylines. While it is true that many musicals draw inspiration from popular sources, this does not take away from its importance as an art form in itself.

Ultimately, it can be argued that while musical theatre may not be considered ‘classical’ in the traditional sense, it is nonetheless an important part of performing arts culture.

Conclusion: The debate over whether or not Musical Theatre is classified as ‘classical’ is still ongoing; however, one thing is certain – Musical Theatre remains an important part of performing arts culture which has had a significant influence on classical music over the years.