21M.704
Musical Theater Workshop
Spring, 2011
M 7-10pm 50-201
Thomas F. DeFrantz
10-272| 14E-316 defrantz@mit.edu 3-6957
Office Hours by appointment
This workshop is designed to introduce students to the art and technique of musical theater performance. Movement, singing, and acting will be explored during the semester, with a focus on the use of the body as an expressive tool. Hopefully, we will come to understand how musicals are composed, and the nature of the actor's input to this dynamic theatrical form.
The course will culminate in a showing of material developed specifically from the workshop.
We will study several musicals in depth, to be chosen among:
Carousel (1945)
Gypsy (1953)
West Side Story (1957)
Sweet Charity (1966)
Applause (1970)
A Chorus Line (1975)
Nine (1982)
Falsettos (1992)
Rent (1996)
Spring Awakening (2006)
There will be occasional writing assignments, along with scenework to be conducted outside of class time.
Carousel Assignment due Monday February 14, 2011
Biographical Sketch Assignment due Tuesday Feburary 22, 2011
Private Moment Assignment due Monday February 28, 2011
Strip Tease Assignment due Monday March 14, 2011
Applause Writing Assignment due Monday March 14, 2011
Nine Writing Assignment due Monday April 4, 2011
All students should participate in an end-of-term showing of material, to take place Monday, May 9 during classtime in Walker 201.