Conventions in Musical Theatre are the shared practices and understandings of how musicals are constructed and performed. These conventions can be broken down into three distinct categories: structure, staging, and style.
Structure
The structure of musical theatre is generally divided into two parts: dialogue and song. Dialogue is used to drive the plot forward and develop characters, while songs are used to express emotion and provide a contrast to the spoken text.
The combination of these two elements creates a unique form of storytelling that has been embraced by audiences for centuries.
Staging
The staging of a musical is an important part of its overall presentation. A successful staging will bring out the nuances in both the dialogue and song, which can be done through careful blocking, use of props, costumes, lighting, and sound design. Staging can also be used to tell a story or set a mood for a scene through creative use of space.
Style
The style of musical theatre is also an important element that helps define it as a genre. Musicals often combine elements from other genres such as opera, jazz, pop music, ballet, or folk music to create unique soundscapes that bring the story alive. The choreography can also add another layer to the performance by emphasizing certain themes or creating visual metaphors.
Conclusion
Conventions in Musical Theatre are essential components that help bring together every aspect of performance from dialogue to song to staging and style into one cohesive experience for audiences around the world.