John Kenrick is a credited playwright. He is also a theater and film historian that has worked with many popular boroadway productions. This source written by him is an overview of exactly what a "musical" is. The intended audience in this source are probably people who are interested in learning about how theater works in every aspect. In this specific article, the author is explaining what a nmusical is and how it is an art form. He also wants to state where he predicts musical theater is goin to go. In his thesis statement he says, "The musical, in all its various forms, is very much a living art form. Our goal in these history essays is to see how the musical has developed over the last few centuries on stage and screen, to assess where it currently stands, and to finally make some educated guesses as to where it may be headed in years to come."
He takes a trip back in time to visit some older works in musical theater history to further explain where musical theater descended from. He goes back to the ancient Greeks to talk discuss the history of the topic. He refers to another author to explain his point
"If the Roman theatre contributed little to the Greek literature that today's dramatic theatre rests on, musical comedy inherited spectacle and numerous technical achievements from this austere, mechanical, and jaded society."
- Denny Martin Flynn, Musical: A Grand Tour (New York: Schirmer Books, 1997), p. 22."
This work is logical and gives good insight to where musical theater started and where it is now. It also gives good infornmation about what a musical is. The topic of this artical has been adequately adressed and gives credible infromation. I believe that the author loves musical theater, so he is biased towards it.
This source is helpful in my research because it is a perrfect starting point for exactly what i want to exlplain and do. From this source, I learned more about the history of musical theater and exactly how it came to be. This helps me develope my thesis because it basically gives me ground to stand on for what i want to do.
McMahon, Jacqueline. "How to Direct a Musical" Helium 2002.
Jacqueline McMahon is a the co-owner of a performing arts studio. For a part time job she writes plays and musicals for drama classes. She also has inside experience with Broadway. This source is an informational report written by her on how to direct a musical. This was written for people who may want to direct a musical. The author starts off by saying that it is a good idea to start small when directing a musical. She recommends starting with a children's play or something more juvenile and work your way up to the big leagues. This source is just informational, the author is not providing any argument. This work seems like it is coming from personal experience. The topic has been adequately addressed and is very clear. Once again, this is a strictly informational source.
From this source i learned exactly where to start if i were to direct a musical. This source will help me for my hands on part of my project and further understanding of what the job of a director is and what he/she has to do to make a production what it is.
Trapnell, Lynda . "Produce a Musical" The Stage Advice
Lynda Trapnell is editor and proprietor of Musical Stages Magazine. She has had a lot of experience with musical productions and plays. This is another informational report. This source is for someone who may want to become a producer of musical plays. She explains every step in producing a musical and everything you would need to do so. She is not arguing any specific point, she is just giving an explanation. Being who she is, she is giving wisdom from personal experience. This topic has been adequately addressed. She uses a list type format, to explain everything that goes into producing.
This source gave me great insight on what to do if i were a producer. It explained how to budget, get publicity etc. Getting the rights to a play is also apart of a producers job, according to the article. This is important because if you do not get this, you could be in very serious legal trouble and have to owe someone a lot of money.
Cohen, Harry. “How to write a musical” Writing Musicals.
Music Critic: Los Angeles TimesTheater Critic: L.A. Herald-Examiner Agent: Stage Musicals and Plays Playwright Lyricist Musician Actor Director
Scope and Purpose of Work
This is an informational report on how to write a musical. It explains in great detail what goes into the process and what it takes to actually put a scene together on paper. The intended audience of this writing is playwrights, lyricists and composers who are interested in writing a musical, as stated in the article.
Summary
The author is explaining the important parts of creating a musical. He is basically giving helpful tips and advice to aspiring playwrights. In addition, he explains everything that goes into creating a musical and what to watch out for in the business. In one part of the article, he says that he does not believe in writing critics. He argues that they tell talk about how things can be improved but they do not tell you how.
Evaluation
This work seems as if the author is speaking from experience, as opposed to tangible, paper, solid research. Even so, I feel as if the author does know what he’s talking about. The topic has definitely been adequately addressed. This article isn’t really arguing anything. It is a “how to” type article.
Reflection
This source has been very helpful in my project. The information provided, helps me understand what goes in to the very beginning stage of creating a musical play
This work explains the musical “book” and all the elements that go into making a musical from the very beginning.
Summary
This work explains everything that a musical playwright should think about and should include when creating a musical theater production. It talks about everything, from scene structure, to rewrites. It also talks about the key book elements that a playwright should be keeping in mind while they create their play. Some of these include, keeping the story line clear, creating characters that are easy to relate to, creating situations that will lead the character into song etc. It also uses examples of other successful musicals as a source of information for the reader.
Evaluation
The author is using his personal experience to explain to the reader what he is trying to explain. I feel as is he knows exactly what he is talking about. The topic has adequately addressed my topic. There is no specific “argument” in this article.
Reflection
This source has been helpful. It was very informational and got the point across. This information was a good source of overall information about my whole project.
Kenrick, John. "Dance in Stage Musicals" Musicals 101
This work was written to explain the role that dance plays in musical theater.
Summary
This talks about the history of dance in musical theater. Also what role it plays in musical theater. First it gives many examples of musical theater dance and analyzes them. Then he goes into more of a information mode and explains why it's important and how you should go about inserting dance into your production. It talks about choreographers, concept musicals and dance musicals.
Evaluation
The author is using his personal experience to explain to the reader what he is trying to explain. I feel as is he knows exactly what he is talking about. The topic has adequately addressed my topic. There is no specific “argument” in this article.
Reflection
This work certainly addresses my topic correctly. It will help in explaining the dance aspect of musical theater, which is imperative in my project. Hands-on and not hands-on .
The purpose of this work is to explain and trace back the history of musical theater in America.
Summary
This goes back to the very beginning of musical theater in America. It talks about Flora, the first musical play in the colonies. It then goes along a long timeline of musicals in history and how musical theater has evolved to what it is today in America. It discusses famous american playwrights, such as, Rogers and Hammerstein. At the end it speaks of the future that musical theater had, which is our present.
Evaluation
This is an informational report on history. This site seems as if it is reputable and can be trusted. This has adequately addressed my topic.
Reflection
This will help me so that i know the origin of which i am working. That is important when working with theater
Kislan, Richard. The Musical: a Look at the American Musical Theater. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1980. Print.
Authors Credentials Author of many books about the subject at hand
Scope and Purpose of Work This books intent is to explain the history
Kenrick, John. "What is a Musical?" History of Musicals 2004
<http://www.musicals101.com/musical.htm>
John Kenrick is a credited playwright. He is also a theater and film historian that has worked with many popular boroadway productions. This source written by him is an overview of exactly what a "musical" is. The intended audience in this source are probably people who are interested in learning about how theater works in every aspect. In this specific article, the author is explaining what a nmusical is and how it is an art form. He also wants to state where he predicts musical theater is goin to go. In his thesis statement he says, "The musical, in all its various forms, is very much a living art form. Our goal in these history essays is to see how the musical has developed over the last few centuries on stage and screen, to assess where it currently stands, and to finally make some educated guesses as to where it may be headed in years to come."
He takes a trip back in time to visit some older works in musical theater history to further explain where musical theater descended from. He goes back to the ancient Greeks to talk discuss the history of the topic. He refers to another author to explain his point
"If the Roman theatre contributed little to the Greek literature that today's dramatic theatre rests on, musical comedy inherited spectacle and numerous technical achievements from this austere, mechanical, and jaded society."
- Denny Martin Flynn, Musical: A Grand Tour (New York: Schirmer Books, 1997), p. 22."
This work is logical and gives good insight to where musical theater started and where it is now. It also gives good infornmation about what a musical is. The topic of this artical has been adequately adressed and gives credible infromation. I believe that the author loves musical theater, so he is biased towards it.
This source is helpful in my research because it is a perrfect starting point for exactly what i want to exlplain and do. From this source, I learned more about the history of musical theater and exactly how it came to be. This helps me develope my thesis because it basically gives me ground to stand on for what i want to do.
McMahon, Jacqueline. "How to Direct a Musical" Helium 2002.
<http://www.helium.com/items/349599-how-to-direct-a-musical>
Jacqueline McMahon is a the co-owner of a performing arts studio. For a part time job she writes plays and musicals for drama classes. She also has inside experience with Broadway. This source is an informational report written by her on how to direct a musical. This was written for people who may want to direct a musical. The author starts off by saying that it is a good idea to start small when directing a musical. She recommends starting with a children's play or something more juvenile and work your way up to the big leagues. This source is just informational, the author is not providing any argument. This work seems like it is coming from personal experience. The topic has been adequately addressed and is very clear. Once again, this is a strictly informational source.
From this source i learned exactly where to start if i were to direct a musical. This source will help me for my hands on part of my project and further understanding of what the job of a director is and what he/she has to do to make a production what it is.
Trapnell, Lynda . "Produce a Musical" The Stage Advice
<http://www.thestage.co.uk/connect/howto/prodmusical.php>
Lynda Trapnell is editor and proprietor of Musical Stages Magazine. She has had a lot of experience with musical productions and plays. This is another informational report. This source is for someone who may want to become a producer of musical plays. She explains every step in producing a musical and everything you would need to do so. She is not arguing any specific point, she is just giving an explanation. Being who she is, she is giving wisdom from personal experience. This topic has been adequately addressed. She uses a list type format, to explain everything that goes into producing.
This source gave me great insight on what to do if i were a producer. It explained how to budget, get publicity etc. Getting the rights to a play is also apart of a producers job, according to the article. This is important because if you do not get this, you could be in very serious legal trouble and have to owe someone a lot of money.
Cohen, Harry. “How to write a musical” Writing Musicals.
<http://www.musicalsconsultant.com/>
Author’s Credential
Music Critic: Los Angeles Times Theater Critic: L.A. Herald-Examiner Agent: Stage Musicals and Plays Playwright Lyricist Musician Actor Director
Scope and Purpose of Work
This is an informational report on how to write a musical. It explains in great detail what goes into the process and what it takes to actually put a scene together on paper. The intended audience of this writing is playwrights, lyricists and composers who are interested in writing a musical, as stated in the article.
Summary
The author is explaining the important parts of creating a musical. He is basically giving helpful tips and advice to aspiring playwrights. In addition, he explains everything that goes into creating a musical and what to watch out for in the business. In one part of the article, he says that he does not believe in writing critics. He argues that they tell talk about how things can be improved but they do not tell you how.
Evaluation
This work seems as if the author is speaking from experience, as opposed to tangible, paper, solid research. Even so, I feel as if the author does know what he’s talking about. The topic has definitely been adequately addressed. This article isn’t really arguing anything. It is a “how to” type article.
Reflection
This source has been very helpful in my project. The information provided, helps me understand what goes in to the very beginning stage of creating a musical play
Kenrick, John. "Elements of a Musical" The Book.
<http://www.musicals101.com/book.htm>Author’s Credentials
Credited Playwright
Theater and Film Historian
Scope and Purpose of Work
This work explains the musical “book” and all the elements that go into making a musical from the very beginning.
Summary
This work explains everything that a musical playwright should think about and should include when creating a musical theater production. It talks about everything, from scene structure, to rewrites. It also talks about the key book elements that a playwright should be keeping in mind while they create their play. Some of these include, keeping the story line clear, creating characters that are easy to relate to, creating situations that will lead the character into song etc. It also uses examples of other successful musicals as a source of information for the reader.
Evaluation
The author is using his personal experience to explain to the reader what he is trying to explain. I feel as is he knows exactly what he is talking about. The topic has adequately addressed my topic. There is no specific “argument” in this article.
Reflection
This source has been helpful. It was very informational and got the point across. This information was a good source of overall information about my whole project.
Kenrick, John. "Dance in Stage Musicals" Musicals 101
<http://www.musicals101.com/dancestage.htm>Author’s Credentials
Credited Playwright
Theater and Film Historian
Scope and Purpose of Work
This work was written to explain the role that dance plays in musical theater.
Summary
This talks about the history of dance in musical theater. Also what role it plays in musical theater. First it gives many examples of musical theater dance and analyzes them. Then he goes into more of a information mode and explains why it's important and how you should go about inserting dance into your production. It talks about choreographers, concept musicals and dance musicals.
Evaluation
The author is using his personal experience to explain to the reader what he is trying to explain. I feel as is he knows exactly what he is talking about. The topic has adequately addressed my topic. There is no specific “argument” in this article.
Reflection
This work certainly addresses my topic correctly. It will help in explaining the dance aspect of musical theater, which is imperative in my project. Hands-on and not hands-on .
"Theater History" American Musical Theater
<http://www.theatrehistory.com/american/musical030.html>
Scope and Purpose of Work
The purpose of this work is to explain and trace back the history of musical theater in America.Summary
This goes back to the very beginning of musical theater in America. It talks about Flora, the first musical play in the colonies. It then goes along a long timeline of musicals in history and how musical theater has evolved to what it is today in America. It discusses famous american playwrights, such as, Rogers and Hammerstein. At the end it speaks of the future that musical theater had, which is our present.
Evaluation
This is an informational report on history. This site seems as if it is reputable and can be trusted. This has adequately addressed my topic.Reflection
This will help me so that i know the origin of which i am working. That is important when working with theaterKislan, Richard. The Musical: a Look at the American Musical Theater. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1980. Print.
Authors Credentials
Author of many books about the subject at hand
Scope and Purpose of Work
This books intent is to explain the history