Alonso High School Theatre Department

Thespian Troupe 9-6299
MUSICAL THEATRE

           

Alonso High School

Theatre Department

Musical Theatre

Instructors:  Mrs. Lisa Vorreiter

Contact:  alonsotheatre@tampabay.rr.com

lisa.vorreiter@sdhc.k12.fl.us

 

 

Webpage:  www.alonsotheatredepartment.com

 

Course Description:  The purpose of this course is to enable students to participate in varied aspects of musical theatre, with special attention to the fundamentals of voice production, stage movement, acting, characterization, dance and technical aspects of a musical production. The student will be introduced to the foundations of musical theatre through the use of exercises, assignments, prepared musical selections, play/concert attendance and written assignments. This class may require, as outlined in the Florida Department of Education Sunshine State Standards, students to participate in extra rehearsals and performances beyond the school day.  

 

Objectives:

  • Performance and auditioning techniques
  • History
  • Acting techniques and character analysis
  • Performance analysis and evaluation
  • Careers and vocational pursuits in musical theatre
  • Role and influence of musical theatre
  

This course is geared toward creating a “triple threat.”  You will participate in singing, dancing and acting each week.  .  You should be comfortable with movement.  Major emphasis will be placed on creating believability and honesty in your acting. 

  

Class Procedures: 

  1. No food, gum, drinks in the classroom.  Water is allowed in the auditorium, but not the music room.  (Grade will be reduced for each infraction.)
  2. Have music notebook, pencil and paper at seat when bell rings unless otherwise instructed.  
  3. Keep the work area neat and orderly.  If you borrow something, put it away better than you found it. 
  4. Unexcused absences will result in a lower 9 weeks grade. 
  5. No cell phones allowed in class.  

Hillsborough County Grading Scale:

 

A =      90 – 100          Outstanding

B =      80-89               Above Average

C =      70 – 79            Average

D =      60-69               Lowest Acceptable Progress

F =       0 – 59              Failure


DRESS

            Wear comfortable, non-confining clothes that you can move in, and that you don’t have to worry about damaging.  Wear shoes….NOT sandals, clogs, high heels, or any footwear that impedes movement.  You may be required to sit or squat on the floor for certain in-class exercises.  Dance (jazz) shoes are not a requirement, but are highly recommended. 

 

MEMORIZATION

            Unless otherwise specified, all performances should be memorized.

 

DECORUM

            This work requires a trusting and trustworthy, collaborative atmosphere in the classroom.  You will be expected to conduct yourself in a manner which shows respect for yourself, all others, the facility, and our common process at all times.  Persons unable to accomplish this will be removed from the class. 

 
WEBSITE

            You will be expected to check the website weekly for assignments and announcements.  Our website can be accessed through the school computers so everyone should be able to view the website at least once a week. 

  

 

 

 
Expand Your Knowledge of Musical Theatre Repertoire
and Reap the Rewards

1) The more shows you know, the less research you will have to do for each individual audition. When auditioning for a show you are already familiar with, you can go right on to prepare your audition material because you already know the casting requirements and musical style. This can save you a great deal of time, especially when we often hear about auditions on short notice.

2) The more songs you know, the more interesting your audition selections will become as you move beyond the typical songs that everyone knows. You will be able to select an audition piece easily because you will already be familiar with the composer, his/her other shows, and other composers of a similar style.

How do you expand your knowledge without spending a fortune on cast recordings? The answer may be easier than you think:


Get Listening! If there are individual songs you are interested in, you can now preview them for free and download them individually from iTunes. If you have no idea what to even look for, try online radio such as MaximumBroadway on Live365 . If you get satellite radio, there are some great Broadway stations available as well.


Keep a listening journal. When you hear something you like (on radio or otherwise) take note of it. You may notice that certain shows or composers come up more often, and these are ones you might want to look for more of. One of the nice things about Live365 is that the stations have a player window that pops up, so you'll always know what song is playing and what show it is from.


Get reading! There are lots of very interesting books and websites that can help you expand your knowledge in a relatively small period of time.

Get out and see some shows! There is no substitute for seeing a live show.

Links for Expanding Your Musical Theatre Knowledge

          The Virgin Encyclopedia of Stage and Film Musicals

          Broadway Musicals - Show by Show

          The Broadway Song Companion

     Sunday Matinee
A 2 hour radio show aired every Sunday. You can download the show for free weekly.