ARTSEDGE: The Kitchen Sink

So, we’ve talked about what happens on stage and how it all sounds, but what about how it looks? That’s important, too, and the scenic designer, costume designer, lighting designer, and choreographer all help create the look and feel of a show.

High quality equipment may help you become a better DJ, but nothing beats having the right “touch.”

In a musical, songs and music play an important role in telling the story—helping audiences understand what is happening, what the characters are feeling, and even how characters are changing.

The story of Elephant and Piggie’s We Are in a Play! began as a book (well, six books to be exact). But to tell the stories on stage, the playwright Mo Willems had to adapt, or change, them so they would work together as one story.

The Navy was once the most integrated of the US military services. There was a time when African-Americans could serve in the Navy and nowhere else. But over time, when society changed, the Navy became the branch of service where racism and discrimination were most deeply engrained. Each time that the Navy moved to change its racial discrimination, it turned to musicians to be the pioneers. African-American musicians have stood by their fellow Sailors in the cause of freedom and liberty around the world. These Sailors not only served their country, but also fought for social justice. This podcast explores their story, a rich narrative of the spirit of our nation’s complex history.

Students are introduced to musical scoring for films—music specifically composed to assist storytelling, underscore emotions, and stir ideas. Students are introduced to composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold and his music for the movie The Sea Hawk.

Students learn composers often write music to inspire listeners to think or meditate. They are introduced to different types of listening through Jules Massenet’s Meditation for the opera Thaïs.

Students learn that composers sometimes use music to “paint” or depict the action, characters, and setting of a story by listening to Mikhail Glinka’s opera, Ruslan and Ludmila. Students also experience how the music inspires creativity when designing their settings and costumes.

¿Se acuerdan de la postura de los brazos cerrados y la de brazos abiertos del nivel uno de Baile Latino? Las van a usar otra vez en esta lección de cha cha cha.

Do you remember the closed and open arm holds from Latin Dance, Level 1? You’ll think about them again in this Cha Cha Cha lesson.