Musical Well-Being
With summer term already in full swing, many teachers will be thinking about the end-of-year school musical. Some may even be dreading it.
Which is precisely why we ensure our musicals are written to make things as easy (not to mention fun) as possible.
If a musical is inclusive, providing plenty of named parts and lots for the whole cast to do, it gives everyone a wonderful sense of involvement and ownership. Which makes rehearsals a whole lot more productive and a lot less stressful.
If the songs are catchy, contemporary and relatively short, then children will not only learn them more quickly, but you’ll have a job stopping them from singing them, whether on stage or not.
If lines are kept quite short and are divided across a wide range of characters, they will be much easier to learn, not to mention easier to perform. That awkward pause whilst a poor child tries desperately to remember another long chunk of dialogue will be a thing of the past.
If an editable script is provided so that the director can make the inevitable changes without having to type up the whole script (usually late in the evening), the time saved can be put to far more productive use … such as resting.
Or how about a page in the book which tells you all of the characters in each of the scenes? Or how many lines each character speaks – very useful to know when casting a production. Staging tips help too, as do props lists, costume ideas and guidance on how to adapt the play for larger or smaller casts. Throw in a great story, engaging characters, lots of laughs and some rip-roaring tunes, and you’re well set for a memorable musical adventure that everyone can enjoy … including you!
For more top tips and handy hints, have a read of our blog Summertime And The Musical’s Nearing.