Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines music, spoken dialogue, and dance. It is usually accompanied by orchestral instruments, such as a piano or violin.
Musical theatre originated in Europe during the 17th century and has since spread to other parts of the world. It is closely related to opera and operetta, and has been popularized by shows such as West Side Story, The Phantom of the Opera, and Les Misérables.
Musicals are typically divided into two categories: musical comedy and musical drama. Musical comedies are light-hearted stories with humorous songs, while musical dramas are more serious stories with deeper messages.
Both types of musicals tell stories through their music and dialogue. The choreography is also an important aspect of musical theatre, as it helps bring the story to life. Most musicals feature large casts with singers, dancers and actors.
The lyrics for a musical are usually written by one or two lyricists, while the music is composed by one or two composers. The librettist (or book writer) writes the dialogue for the production. The director oversees all aspects of the production from casting to rehearsals to performances.
What Is the Definition of Musical Theatre?
In short, musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines music, spoken dialogue, and dance to tell stories through its music and dialogue. It features large casts with singers, dancers and actors, along with composers who write its music and lyricists who write its lyrics. The librettist writes the dialogue for each production while a director oversees all aspects of it from casting to rehearsals to performances.
In conclusion, musical theatre has been popular for centuries due to its combination of music, spoken dialogue and dance that help bring stories alive on stage. Its large casts consisting of singers, dancers and actors along with its composers who write its music and lyricists who write its lyrics make it an art form that continues to captivate audiences around the world.