Lesson Plan: 3 Tips on Singing Musical Theater Songs

Ordway Teaching Artist Andy Kust leads you through 3 simple steps to creating a musical theater vocal performance

Check out our Challenge Activity at the end of the lesson and put these concepts to work for you!

Video Lesson Guide

1. Choose Songs To Which You Connect

• One of the most critical elements when singing a musical theater song is that you, the singer, is able to connect to the words that you’re singing. At the most basic level, we have to treat the lyric as text and the audience has to see the singer creating these thoughts authentically for the very first time, during every performance or audition. 
• The way to encourage this connection is by taking initiative when you choose your repertoire. It’s a huge time commitment, but a great investment to really listen and sing through a ton of songs to find those 3 or 4 pieces that really fit you like a glove. Look at new composers as well as shows that were perhaps nominated for Tony Awards, but didn’t win….
• When you approach the character that is singing the song that you chose, assess which personality traits of your own that you need to enhance, as well as the personality traits that you need to turn down in order to serve the story. We all have a common well of emotions that we have access to - it’s just a matter of being specific when you choose which ones to use for each song. 

2. Use All The Tools The Composer Gives You

• When you choose a musical theater song to sing, there are a ton of musical elements that we can tune-in to, like melody, rhythm, song form, volume, harmonies, meter, range, and so many others! Each of these elements can clue you in to the composer’s intent, and can help you create interesting, nuanced, detailed performances. 
• If you just examine the rhythms, look at what words have been assigned to shorter rhythms and what words have been given longer, sustained phrases. A purposeful composer would give more important thoughts more time, so in general, the longer a note is held, the more thought and emotional weight the should apply to it. 

3. Enhance The Relationship Between Your Singing and Speaking Voice

• This is a topic that not many coaches talk about, but it is so essential to being a musical theater actor. Your singing voice and your speaking voice should share as many characteristics as possible. Why, you ask? Because when a character goes from speaking in a scene to singing in a song, the bridge between those two sounds needs to be as well-constructed as possible, thus making it believable that the character breaks into song without sounding like a completely different person. 
• The first step of this is to choose a phrase from one of your songs and start in the middle of your range by speaking the phrase. Then, without changing the tone color of your voice, add the prescribed pitches. Go back and forth with this until you can feel the similarities between the two elements. Once you’re comfortable with this, start to add more musicality to the phrase until it feels performative. 
• The ultimate goal is to be able to slip in and out of singing and speaking without the audience really hearing the difference. The “Dear Evan Hansen” original cast is filled with actors who are masters at this craft. Give them a listen!

Challenge Activity

TRY IT:  Find a recording of your favorite Musical Theater song, and a copy of the song lyrics.  First look at the lyrics: what emotions do the lyrics remind you of?  If you were composing this piece, what lyrics would you emphasize? Would you speak any of the lyrics? Then, listen to the recording, noting how the artist interpreted this piece.  Compare and contrast your interpretation with the artist's interpretation.

Lesson Plan: 3 Tips on Creating a Character

Ordway Teaching Artist Britta Ollmann leads you through a pointed way to dive into a character, picking out useful information from the script before beginning the rehearsal process.

This is a great activity if you are preparing for show, looking at a script for the first time or just fun to do if you’re interested in a particular character. 

Check out our Challenge Activity at the end of the lesson and put these concepts to work for you!

Video Lesson Guide

1. Initial Read-Through

• Get the script, and soundtrack (if it’s a musical).
• Read what the playwright has given you, and listen to the music in the context of what you’re reading. 
• No note taking! Just experience the show and the character as an audience would.
• This gives a big picture view of the story and where your character fits in.
• Notice: What kind of feelings wash over you? How do you feel at the beginning vs the end? What kind of journey has the story taken you on?

2. Character Notes

• Create a document with 4 different categories:
• What are the facts? 
• Character description (age, location, family, etc.) and plot points that your character is part of.
• What does the character say about themselves? 
• This can be in talking to another character, talking to themselves, talking to the audience. You can also question whether what they’re saying is the truth. How do they present themselves to other characters?
• What does my character say about other people? 
• Notice when they are talking about someone else and what they say.
• What do other people say about my character? 
• This helps to see how others perceive your character and what their relationship to other characters is.

• Now you have a condensed version of the script with the material categorized that is CENTERED around your character.

3. Character Choices

• Make some initial decisions about you character. 
• Why does your character chart looks like it does?
• Does your character talk about themselves a lot? 
• Do they talk to or about specific characters more than others? 
• Does how your character thinks about themselves match with how others think of them?
• What questions or ideas do your categories bring up?

By taking the time to dig into your character BEFORE rehearsal even begins, you can approach the whole play with a point of view that will help your character come to life and serve the larger story!

Challenge Activity 

TRY IT: Choose a show that has an adaption that you can watch right now. Maybe Cinderella or the Baker from Into the Woods. First do the character study activities above. Then watch the movie version and see if you can see the specifics you identified coming out in the performances of the movie actors. What did they emphasize that you agree with? What might they have missed? What did they find that you didn't see in your analysis?

Arts Brain Break: Quote of the Day

Everyone needs a brain break now and then- why not use that break to express your creativity?  Arts Brain Break is your source for quick activities to recharge your mind and spirit.

Activity: Quote of the Day

1. Pick out a favorite quote from a musical, actor, Broadway creator or just about the Arts in general
2. Brainstorm the reasons why that quote is important to you- does it remind you of someone special? Bring back memories of a favorite place or time? Inspire you to be a creative person? 
3. Think about how you might artistically represent this quote.  You can draw a picture, write a story, write a song- the possibilities are limitless! 

Here is an example: 

One of my favorite quotes about the Arts is from Albert Einstein-  "Logic will get you from A-Z, imagination will get you everywhere"

First, I brainstormed all of the ways that this quote is important and relevant to me:

 Next, I thought about different ways I could artistically represent the quote:

After reviewing my brainstorm list, I decided to make a drawing:

How will you represent your favorite quote?

Send a copy of your creation to ordwayeducation@ordway.org or tag the Ordway on social media with the hashtag #ordwayschooled- you may just see it on one of our channels!

Musical of the Week!: In The Heights

Photo by Rich Ryan

In this feature, Musical of the Week!, the Ordway Education team is highlighting past Ordway Originals. Join us as we take a deep dive into the story, themes and characters of these favorite musicals.

This week, we're taking a look at the Ordway's 2017 production of In the Heights.

Over two years, the Ordway and Teatro del Pueblo collaborated to produce West Side Story and In the Heights at the Ordway - working together on casting, creative direction, community engagement, marketing and educational initiatives. Core to this collaboration was to establish an equitable and transparent partnership between the two organizations, starting with bottom line discussions and clarity of roles and responsibilities. Many lessons were learned along the way, as well as outcomes achieved, including the offering of matinees for schools, a tour to Dayton Ohio of In the Heights, professional growth and development for artists and administrators and in creative teams and casts that represented the racial and ethnic diversity of the artists who stories were being told. "- Shelley Quiala, Vice President of Education and Community Engagement

Content below is adapted from the Ordway's In the Heights Study Guide- click here to view the full guide.

Story:  

In the Heights centers on Usnavi, who owns his family’s bodega in Washington Heights. Through the eyes of Usnavi, the show weaves together the stories of the residents of Washington Heights: Nina, home from her freshman year of college, struggles to reconcile her family’s expectations with her desires; Benny, her boyfriend, has aspirations of being a business owner; Daniela, a hairdresser, dreams of making an affluent life for herself in downtown; and Abuela Claudia does her best to hold her family and culture together in her new country while still longing for her life in Cuba. All of these characters exist within a larger drama: which of Usnavi’s customers holds the winning $96,000 lottery ticket that was purchased in his bodega? 

Central Themes:

Family, Community, “What is Home?”, Latinx Culture, Immigrant Communities

Musical Genres:

Latin, Afro-Caribbean, Salsa, Hip Hop, Rap, Pop

2008 Broadway Cast Album is available on Spotify

Deep Dive Enrichment: The Music and Language of IN THE HEIGHTS

Characters:

Photo by Rich Ryan

Usnavi De La Vega: Usnavi is the 24 year old owner of De La Vega’s Bodega. His Dominican Republic immigrant parents passed away, so he lives with Abuela Claudia.  He is the narrator who sets the pace for the stories of the residents of Washington Heights.


Nina Rosario: The daughter of Kevin and Camilla, Nina has just completed her freshman year at Stanford University. She is a first generation college student, and represents the opportunity that exists outside of Washington Heights.   

Benny: Benny works for the Rosarios as a cab driver. He and Usnavi are best friends, and he eventually falls in love with Nina. He sees a future for Nina and him through becoming a businessman.
Daniela: Daniela owns and runs her own salon. Due to the rising price of rent, however, she is being forced out of her successful business. 

Abuela Claudia: The matriarch of the neighborhood, Abuela Claudia raised Usnavi after the death of his parents.  She emigrated to “The Heights” at a young age from Cuba, and has committed her life to helping those in a similar situation.

Activities and Lessons: 

Photo by Rich Ryan

Activity for Students and Parents:
Recommended for Grades K-5

Create a play or musical about your neighborhood.

• What would be the title?
• Create a character list with descriptions. Who would live within this world?
• What would the central plot be that would convey life in your neighborhood?
• Describe or draw the scenic design and set.
• Describe or draw the characters’ costumes.

Share your picture, description, or set design with us!
Send an email to ordwayeducation@ordway.org or Tag #ordwayschooled 

Lesson Plan for Teachers and Parents: 
Recommended for Grades 6-12 

Objective: Students will explore how a musical is developed from a literary text or historical event.

Materials:

• computer
• a list of literary texts students have read through their regular curriculum
• The Kennedy Center’s ArtsEdge’s “Developing a Musical” Handout (http://bit.ly/QrGcB5)

Instructions: 

1. Remind students that many Broadway shows are derived from literary works (e.g. Once on this Island, The Color Purple.) Explain to students that it is now their turn to pick a literary text to turn into a popular musical.
2. If possible, divide the class into virtual groups of two or three. Share with students your list of literary texts and the “Developing a Musical” handout.
3. In those groups, ask students to select one literary work. Then have them brainstorm the various aspects that would be needed to stage this literary piece using the prompts from the “Developing a Musical” handout.
4. Ask each group to share their findings with the class. After each presentation, lead a discussion with the students on the possible opportunities and challenges that may exist with each adaptation. 

We'd love to hear from you! Let us know how you adapted this lesson to make it work in your online learning! Email us at OrdwayEducation@ordway.org. 

Video Feature:

Rush Benson and Renee Guitar were in the ensemble of In the Heights at the Ordway- check out their Musical Theater Dance combo to a great song from the show.

Introducing Ordway Education: Online!

Photo by: Laura Alpizar

Dear Educators, Parents and Friends of Ordway Education,

We are committed to supporting our community, and want to continue this support even in the midst of unprecedented changes to your school year. 

To that end, the Ordway Education team is so excited to announce the launch of Ordway Education: Online, a place for teachers, students and caregivers of all ages to continue to experience arts education.

Ordway teaching artists will create lessons, activities and video tutorials focused on all things Broadway, musical theater and the performing arts!

If you are:

 - a teacher preparing online content for students,

 - a parent searching for arts education tools and lessons,

 - someone loves musical theater and needs a dose of joy in this stressful time,

This is a tool for meant for you!

You can find us on YouTube and on the Ordway's website.

Make sure to subscribe to this blog for written lesson plans, content and encouragement.

Stay in touch with us through social media using the hashtag #OrdwaySchooled.

We can't wait to see you back at the Ordway but in the meantime, let's make some beautiful art, together!

Your Partners in Education, 

Kelli, Chloe and Sarah


Major support for Arts Education at the Ordway has been provided by Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation.