Y8 Performing Arts - Knowledge Organiser 3
Musical Theatre - Key Terminology
Musical theatre combines music, songs,
spoken dialogue and dance. Also called
'musicals', they are usually performed in
theatres.
 Performers are trained in all key disciplines;
Singing, dancing and acting.
 These disciplines are all held together by the plot.
 Musicals are usually performed in theatres, most
famously on Broadway and in the West End of Lon-
don. Broadway is also used as a general term to refer
to American musicals.
 Although most musicals use dialogue some
are through-composed. There is little or no
dialogue, nearly everything is sung.
Musicals set out to entertain
through a combination of:
Catchy music in a popular style
Solo songs, duets, choruses and ensem-
bles
Orchestra or band accompaniment
Format 1: Character song
A character expressing their
Format 2: Action song
feelings
Move the plot forward
Ballads - romantic and reflective
Comedy songs - funny, so the lyrics are very important.
Production numbers - involve the full company and are used to show major changes in location or plot, and
often open and close acts.
The chorus - Often contains the title words usually returns several times, always with the same words is nor-
mally the 'catchiest' part of the song
The verse - has different words with each repetition.
Underscore - Instrumental music played underneath dialogue.
Overture - Instrumental music played at the start of a musical, introducing musical ideas. There are normally
no performers on stage.
Reprise - A song that is repeated in a musical. It is normally changed to reflect a different situation.
Balance Holding still with control and poise.
Choreographer A person who composes or invents ballets or dances.
Cooling down Stretching and moving slowly at the end of a class to calm the heartbeat.
Direction Pathway a movement takes – forwards, backwards etc.
Dramatic Dynamic contrasts, moods and feelings.
Elevation Being in the air, either as a jump or a lift.
Extension Stretching, reaching out into space.
Rhythm Sequence of beats, with accents, within a phrase of movements.
Unison Moving in time with each other.
Warming up Process of moving aerobically, stretching, swinging and bending, to get blood flowing
to muscles and increase the heart rate.
Weight transference Moving weight from one foot to another, or to a hand etc.
 Y8 Performing Arts - Knowledge Organiser 3
Key Musical Theatre Terminology Mat

Musical theatre definition: Telling a story on a stage through the integration of singing, dancing and acting.

Types of Musical
Book Musical - Musicals adapted from novels/ stories, E.g. ‘Matilda’.
Concept Musical - Where the shows metaphor/ statement are more important than the narrative E.g. ‘West Side Story’.
Film Musical - A film that uses song and dance to support the storyline, E.g. ‘The Greatest Showman’ and ‘The Lion King’
Jukebox Musical - A musical where a story is built around existing songs, normally from one artist. E.g. 'Our House' music from
the band Madness.
Music Hall/ Vaudeville - Variety shows involving dance, music, singing and speciality acts, E.g. ‘The Entertainer’.
Musical adaptations - Musicals that are adapted from musicals, E.g. ‘West Side Story’ adapted from ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
Musical Comedies - Comic plays developed to amuse audiences, E.g. ‘Spamalot’.
Opera - A dramatic work using classical song to tell the story. E.g. ‘Madame Butterfly’
Operetta - A style of opera, usually with less music, a 'light-hearted' story, but still with classical-style vocals. Gilbert & Sullivan
were famous composers of operetta. E.g. 'South Pacific’
Rock/ Pop Musical - The use of rock or pop music (or Rock/ Pop Opera to further the story, usually with little or no dialogue., E.g.
‘Phantom of the Opera’.
Sung-through -A musical that is sung throughout. E.g. 'Les Miserables'.