In the immortal words of Gus the Theater Cat from T.S. Eliot鈥檚 Old Possum鈥檚 Book of Practical Cats, 鈥淲ell, the theater is certainly not what it was!鈥 You can say that again. Cats has closed on Broadway鈥攕o has Les Miserables. Now, in addition to the few classics like 42nd Street that have managed to survive, there鈥檚 a new crop of musicals like Urinetown and The Producers. With all the change, it鈥檚 an exciting time to major in musical theater鈥攚hether your talents lean more toward sweet Christine in Phantom or sultry Mimi in Rent. As a musical theater major, you鈥檒l learn about every aspect of putting on a show鈥攆rom the lighting and set design to costumes and makeup to the acting, singing, and dancing that brings those scores to life. You鈥檒l study the technical aspects of the theater, like how to make a production run smoothly from the set changes to the curtain call. After blocking scenes and choreographing lively dances, you鈥檒l be challenged to make those old songs seem new again鈥攁nd to make the new songs part of our cultural history.
If strengthening your own acting, singing, and dancing skills is what you鈥檙e after, you鈥檙e in luck. As a musical theater major, that will be your primary concern. You鈥檒l get plenty of practice in musical performances on both small and large scales, and you may even have the opportunity to direct your own. You鈥檒l take lessons in voice and you鈥檒l learn the fundamentals of movement for the stage. You鈥檒l also learn what it takes to make yourself a presence on the stage, a valued addition to any cast.
Prima donnas won鈥檛 escape a bit of backstage grunt work too, as musical theater majors are required to take a look at the gears that turn behind the scenes to make musicals such a success鈥攊ncluding production, stage managing, and directing. You鈥檒l learn about the history of musical theater鈥攚here it got its start, how it has grown and changed, and the struggles it faces today. You鈥檒l study musical theatre repertoire and literature. And while a major in musical theater is no guarantee that you鈥檒l see your name in Broadway lights, you鈥檒l learn a great deal about this art form and you鈥檒l definitely have a very good time.
Acting Fundamentals
Dance
Diction
Dramatic Literature
Ear Training
History of Musical Theater
Music Performance
Script Analysis
Speech and Voice
Stage Directing
Stage Movement
Stagecraft & Lighting
Technical Production
Theatre Repertory
Vocal Ensemble
The best preparation for a major in musical theater is a broad selection of courses, with a focus on those in the humanities. Courses in English, religion, philosophy, psychology, and history will be especially valuable in giving you perspective on the world鈥攏ecessary for any skilled actor or actress. Math will help too; music and math go hand in hand. Studying a foreign language is always a good idea, and might be valuable to your career in theater. And we鈥檒l bet you鈥檙e already involved with the drama club at your school or theater groups in your community鈥攖here鈥檚 no better way to prepare for a major in theater than by actually doing it.
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