1. Definition:
Musical theater (English: Musical theater, referred to as Musicals), which was originally translated as musicals, is a stage art form that combines singing, dialogue, Acting, dancing. Through the close combination of songs, lines, music, body movements, etc., the storyline and the emotions contained in it are expressed. Although musicals are similar to stage performances such as operas, dance dramas, and dramas, their uniqueness lies in the fact that they pay equal attention to songs, dialogues, body movements, performances and other factors. Musicals are performed all over the world, but the most frequent performances are on Broadway in New York City in the United States and the West End in London in the United Kingdom.
2. Category:
(1) Broadway
Like the relationship between "Hollywood" and American movies, people will naturally think of "Broadway" when it comes to reminds me of American drama. "Broadway" is the name of a street in Manhattan, New York City. The middle section of this street has always been the center of commercial theatrical entertainment in the United States, so "Broadway" has become synonymous with American theatrical activities.
(2) Black people
The expression method of musicals has moved from being mainly European to being mainly American, because of black jazz, soul music, troubadour and blues. of popularity. Later swing music also had a strong black musical background. Famous black musicals include "Show Boat", "Porgy and Bess", "Sky Cabin", "The Women of St. Louis", "Flower Room" (1954), "Jamaica" and so on.
(3) West End London
West End musicals are more influenced by opera and operetta. The development of British musicals has rarely made particularly outstanding improvements in dance. The art form here combines the traditions of opera, operetta and musical comedy with jazz, tap dance and ballet to a certain extent.
(4) World Musicals
Musicals created in other English-speaking countries are usually better recognized on Broadway and London’s West End, such as those created in Australia, Canada, South Africa and other countries of musicals.
Widely popular musicals created by continental European countries include "Elixier" and "Ludwig II" created in Germany, Austria's "Dance of the Vampires", "Elizabeth", "Mozart", "Rebecca", Czech "Dracula", French "Notre Dame de Paris", "Les Misérables", "Romeo and Juliet", "The Little Prince" and so on.
Japanese localized musicals created using games and anime stories, such as "Kiki's Delivery Service", "Prince of Tennis", "Sailor Moon", "Sakura Wars", etc., have also received long-term performances.
In other countries including South Korea, the Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Russia, Turkey, China, etc., musicals are also gradually developing.
3. Features:
The text of the musical is composed of the following parts: the music part is called score, and the singing words are called lyrics. , the words of dialogue are called scripts (book/script). Sometimes musicals will also use the title of opera, and the lyrics and script are collectively called libretto.
There is no set standard for the length of a musical, but most musicals are between two and three hours long. It is usually divided into two acts, separated by an intermission. A complete musical usually contains twenty to thirty songs, including song repetitions and background music.
Musicals are good at using music and dance to express the emotions of the characters, the development of the story and the conflicts of the drama. Sometimes strong emotions that cannot be expressed in words can be expressed through music and dance. In terms of the form of dramatic expression, musicals are expressionistic. In a song, time and space can be compressed or enlarged. For example, the hero and heroine can change from acquaintance to falling in love during the course of a song. This is not allowed in ordinary realistic dramas.