What Genre Does Musical Theatre Come Under?

Musical Theatre|Theater

Musical theatre is an art form that combines music, spoken dialogue, and dance to tell a story. It is one of the most popular forms of entertainment and has been enjoyed for generations. Although it originated in Europe in the 18th century, it has become increasingly popular in the United States over the past century.

Musical theatre is often classified under the umbrella term “theatre” or “performing arts.” This is because musical theatre combines elements from both traditional theatre and music. It requires actors to not only act and sing but to also move with choreography, creating a unique blend of the two art forms.

The genre of musical theatre can be divided into several sub-genres based on their style and content. These include traditional Broadway-style musicals, operettas, cabarets, revues, opera-musicals, rock operas, and more recently jukebox musicals like Mamma Mia!

and Jersey Boys. Each of these has its own unique style that appeals to different audiences.

Broadway-style musicals are some of the most popular shows in the genre. They are characterized by their use of professional actors and singers who perform original songs with elaborate choreography set to a complex score composed by a team of composers and lyricists. Operettas are similar to Broadway musicals but usually have a lighter tone with more comedic elements than serious plotlines.

Cabarets are smaller productions that focus on singing performance rather than story-telling while revues are similar but feature sketches rather than songs as their main focus. Opera-musicals combine elements from both opera and musical theatre while rock operas are rock concerts featuring theatrical elements such as costume design and stage sets. Jukebox musicals use existing pop songs rather than original compositions in order to tell their stories.

In conclusion, Musical Theatre comes under the Theatre or Performing Arts genres since it incorporates both music and drama into its productions for a unique form of entertainment that appeals to all types of audiences. From traditional Broadway shows to modern jukebox musicals, there is something for everyone in this ever growing art form!