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Music Theatre History (253-0-20)

Instructors

Janine Ellen Chow

Meeting Info

Wirtz 225 Instruct Black Box 2: Tues, Thurs 12:30PM - 1:50PM

Overview of class

Musical theatre history is not dusty and done. It lives on, and we are a part of it today. And that comes with a responsibility to know what it is that we as artists are reviving, sustaining, reinventing. History is always in the process of being made, and one way it is made is in its telling. How should the history of musicals be told? We will be investigating that question all quarter. Through readings, performance analysis, and discussions, in this class students gain an expanded toolkit and base of knowledge for thinking critically about musical theatre as it has changed over time. (This year the class includes an optional musical theatre writing component that interested students may elect to complete in lieu of selected course assignments; you may writing/compose—individually or as part of a writing team—original songs related to the historical periods we are studying at key junctures throughout the quarter.)

Class Materials (Required)

All readings/video available on Canvas. We may take a trip to see a musical off-campus, which will be subsidized or covered outright, possible cost of $10-$25 per student.