What Is the Difference Between Musicals and Musical Theatre?

Musical Theatre|Theater

The distinction between musicals and musical theatre can be quite confusing for those who are not familiar with the technical aspects of theatre. Musical theatre is the term used to describe the genre of plays that combine music, spoken dialogue, and dance.

Musicals, on the other hand, are a type of musical theatre that usually involves an original score, complex plots and stories, and several songs.

Musicals tend to be more lighthearted in nature than traditional plays. They often feature larger-than-life characters who sing and dance their way through a story.

The focus is on entertainment rather than on delivering a message or expressing a point of view. Musicals typically contain humorous lyrics, catchy melodies, and vibrant production numbers that add to the show’s overall appeal.

In contrast to musicals, musical theatre features longer stories with more complex plots and characters. It also tends to have more serious themes than those found in musicals. It is generally considered to be more “theatrical” in nature as it emphasizes dialogue and character development over song-and-dance numbers.

Another difference between musicals and musical theatre is that musicals usually feature a book (or script) written specifically for the show while most musical theatre pieces are adaptations of existing works such as novels or films.

Conclusion:

To summarize: Musicals are typically more lighthearted in nature compared to traditional plays, contain humorous lyrics and catchy melodies, while Musical Theatre features longer stories with more complex plots and characters as well as serious themes. Additionally Musical Theatre pieces are often adaptations of existing works such as novels or films while Musicals usually feature a book (or script) written specifically for the show.