Join Me in my new Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/417126059784261

Menu

e-learning

Is In the Heights The Next Big Thing in Movie Musicals?

By Leave a Comment

Is In the Heights The Next Big Thing in Movie Musicals

The first time I saw In the Heights on the Tony awards I wasn’t sure I would relate to it and enjoy it.

However, when it toured through Denver we had a chance to grab some last minute tickets to see the production and wow!

I loved it!

Its fresh outlook, fabulous music, incredible dancing and story won me over right from the beginning.

I think we will all be thrilled with the new movie version.  The reviewers are raving about it!  Check out In the Heights on Broadway 

In the Heights

What is the story of In the Heights?

From Broadway.com:

In the Heights tells the universal story of a vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood – a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open, and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. It’s a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams, and pressures, where the biggest struggles can be deciding which traditions you take with you, and which ones you leave behind.

What makes In the Heights so long awaited?

Where do I begin to answer this question.

I create drama education lessons and In the Heights was one of the first Broadway musicals which I examined. Although I greatly enjoyed the musical, I never thought about the elements which would be terrific to teach in the classroom. Oh. my. gosh!

Five Reasons to See In the Heights

 

1.Family viewing--First, the show is suitable for your family, ages 11 and up.  That’s a big plus because it means the family could have a special outing and see the film together.  Hooray! (If you parents are okay with just a little language, then you can see it without any trepidations.)

2. Message–An important part of a play or musical is its message.  In the Heights doesn’t disappoint in this manner                with a message of hope and optimism.  Don’t we all need hope?

The Next Big Thing in Movie Musicals

3. Setting–Many areas of New York City are hotbeds of cultural exchange and diffusion, and Washington Heights is no           exception. This neighborhood has transformed drastically over the years as the majority ethnic group in the area                     changes. Today, the large majority of residents are hispanic, and thus, the neighborhood is sometimes referred to as              “Quisqeya Heights,” referring to a municipality in the Dominican Republic. While traces of previous cultures remain such           as the Jewish population and the Irish and Germans, the area is extremely rich in Latino food, religion, events, and                   languages.

4. Diversity--How refreshing to see a musical about a very vibrant and important culture in our country.  The Latino               people deserve some recognition for their presence here and I, for one, am thrilled to see this!

5. Music–How can you beat Lin-Manuel Miranda’s music?  Clever, appropriate, spicey in all the good ways.

6. Dancing--Have you seen the dancing? Chris Scott’s choreography is spot on.  If you aren’t familiar with him,                       Christopher   Scott is a three-time Emmy-nominated choreographer whose bold routines and fearless creativity step             beyond the traditional boundaries of dance. He is most recognized for his innovative hip-hop duets and signature group routines that fuse dance styles on Fox’s SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE.  Here’s an example of his work from the movie trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4CRPvel2Vc

The Origin of In the Heights

Miranda wrote the earliest draft of In the Heights in 1999 his freshman year of college. After the show was accepted by Wesleyan University’s student theater company Second Stage, Miranda added “freestyle rap … bodegas, and salsa numbers.”[

It played from April 27 to 29, 2000 as an 80-minute, one-act show that reportedly sounded like “A hip-hop version of Rent“. After seeing the play, two Wesleyan seniors and two alumni, John Buffalo Mailer, Neil Patrick Stewart, Anthony Veneziale and Thomas Kail, approached Miranda and asked if the play could be expanded with a view to a Broadway production. In 2002, Miranda worked with director Kail and wrote five separate drafts of In the Heights.Book writer Quiana Alegría Hudes joined the team in 2004.

The rest, as they say, is history….

In the Heights Broadway Musical Lesson

As I mentioned, I have a lesson about In the Heights.  In fact, I have several–one is a PDF, one is digital and one is for the Google classroom.  

This two-day lesson focuses on the Tony award winning In the Heights musical. In the Heights tells the story of a vibrant Hispanic community in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood. Students have an opportunity to become very familiar with the production itself and its journey to Broadway.

The lesson can stand alone or be combined with one of my Famous Artist Biographies (Lin Manuel Miranda or Sarah Bareilles for example) or other musical lessons (Hamilton or The Wiz)

Wicked the Musical Broadway Musical Lesson

HOW DO I USE THIS LESSON IN MY CLASSROOM? A drama, music, reading or a language arts class would enjoy this lesson. Study its music, story line, elements, cultural references–you name it!

The lesson contains:

  • Letter to Teacher
  • Warm Up–MY Version of a Popular Acting Exercise
  • Teacher’s Script–What I Say and How I Say it!
  • Photos of Lin Manuel Miranda
  • Synopsis of the Musical
  • Plot of the Musical
  • Short Biography about Lin Manuel Miranda, book writer Quiara Alegria Hudes and choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler
  • Separate File of Photos for Teacher’s Use in Lecture
  • History about the Origination of the Production
  • AND a Mini Lesson on: What are the Tony Awards?
  • List of Tony Awards
  • New York City Map with Competing Theaters Labeled
  • Student Note Page
  • Teacher Note Page Key
  • Trivia about Broadway and In the Heights
  • Songs List
  • Pinterest Board Link Specifically about In the Heights
  • Extension Activities– NINE Terrific Suggestions of Ways to Secure the Learning and Enrich the Experience either Individual or Group
  • Sources & Links to Film Clips from the Show
  • And More!

I can’t believe In the Heights first opened on Broadway in 2008!  It just seems like yesterday when my husband and I left singing and dancing our way to the parking lot afterward.  (That’s a great memory for us.)

If you’d like more information about Lin-Manuel Miranda or my Hamilton lesson, check out these posts Hamilton the Musical: A Drama Lesson with a Unique Perspective or want to have your students create their own musical (at least the beginning steps), check out Create Your Own Musical

In the Heights opens in select theaters on June 4, 2021.   It’s full of wonderful elements, themes and messages which we all need to hear. What do you like most about the show?  You know, I’d love to hear your thoughts.  Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net.

woman behind DramaMommaSpeaks

Wicked the Musical Broadway Musical Lesson

 

Will Wicked The Musical Ever Rule the World?

By 3 Comments

Will Wicked The Musical Ever Rule the World?

I have a confession to make. I’ve wondered, will Wicked the Musical ever rule the world? Maybe so.

The first time I saw the musical Wicked, I didn’t care for it too much.

Can you believe it?

Let me explain.  Wicked opened in October of  2003. The first time I learned of it was while watching the Macy Thanksgiving  Day parade.  They presented a preview of it. All I noticed were the costumes and hats.

It just looked weird, like it was trying too hard.   A musical about the backstory about Glenda and Elphaba? In opinion (and aren’t we glad I was wrong) there wasn’t much way this musical would be popular and stick around for a long time.

Will Wicked The Musical Ever Rule the World?

“Times Square Fisheye” by Randy Le’Moine Photography 

The next year, we took a school group on spring break to see the production. I really enjoyed it.

Our youngest daughter, age 15 returned home from the trip starstruck. She wore out the CD as she listened and sang to it for probably a year.

A year went by and the show, became very popular and well, the rest is history!

Will Wicked the Musical Take Over the World?

What makes Wicked so popular?

Where do I begin to answer this question.

I create drama education lessons and Wicked was one of the first Broadway musicals which I examined. Although I greatly enjoyed the musical, I never thought about the elements which would be terrific to teach in the classroom. Oh. my. gosh

Four Reasons for Wicked the Broadway Musical’s Excellence 

1.Costumes--First, the show won a Tony award for Best Costume Design and it is easy to see why. Here’s a quote from the designer, Susan Hilferty concerning her concept: “The whole idea of the clothes of the citizens of Oz—I imagined that in 1911, basically when the book was written, as if a chunk of earth had been lifted off and sent out into the universe.The whole idea of the clothes of the citizens of Oz are their own distortion and changing of the Edwardian Era. When I was looking at all the clothes, I was looking at various clothes from the Edwardian time, and then twisting them on  their center. The twist actually has nothing to do with the tornado.” Check out this video about Hiferty’s costumes:  Threadbanger:  Interiew with Susan Hilferty, Costume Designer and/or pick up my new Costume Design with Wicked Characters Lesson

Will Wicked the Musical Take Over the World?

Will Wicked The Musical Ever Rule the World?

2.  Set–Set Designer Eugene Lee won the Tony for Best Set Design.  Concerning the set, “We opted to create an environment inspired by the inner workings of a clock.  The shapes, textures, colors, and functional aspects of clock  gears and mechanisms contributed to a permanent environmental structure, which defines the stage space.”  What of  the materials he used? We were interested in natural, realistic materials, not the newest industrial-strength polymers.

The wood we chose has  proven to be the perfect material and continues to improve with age and distress.  The show the deck, which is constructed  of natural maple, is equipped with seven automated tracks, all lined with steel for visual  interest.  To stay consistent with our concept of clock mechanisms, many of the automated deck units are designed to reveal the mechanics that operated them.” Amazing, huh?

Have you ever considered decorating your or your child’s bedrooms with a Wicked theme?  Check out this article for tips:  Wicked Room Decor: Channeling Your Inner Witch

Will Wicked the Musical Ever Rule the World?

Behind the Notes: The Musical Genius of Steven Schwartz

3.  Music--The very accomplished composer, Steven Schwartz wrote the music for Wicked.  The easiest song to write?               “Popular.”  The most complicated? His fifth try of the angry roommate song, “What is this feeling?”   The first song he wrote was (which is apparently not his usual way of beginning), “No One Mourns the Wicked.”  The music was   nominated for  a Tony award this time for Best Music.  I’m seeing a pattern here, are you? You can’t compare  Schwartz’s  music to  anyone else.  It is fabulous and something your students would enjoy studying.

4.  Book--The origin of the script of Wicked is an interesting one.  I won’t divulge it here, but suffice to say the writing of  the script changed this author’s life…for good.  Though the Tony award for Best Book of a Musical did not go to  Wicked, it was nominated.  That’s a tremendous accomplishment!

Will Wicked the Musical Ever Rule the World?

Drama Desk Awards for Wicked

Wicked won several awards from Drama Desk as well.  Maybe that’s why Wicked could take over the world. They include:  Outstanding Musical, Lyrics, Book of a Musical, Director, Orchestration, Set Design and Costume Design.  Drama Desks are the only awards that consider Broadway, off-Broadway, and off-off-Broadway shows in the same competitive categories.

What about its message?  At first glance, you may think it’s a revved up “Wizard of Oz”, but no. You need to look deeper than the flying monkeys and magic spells. This enchanting musical is really about friendship, identity, and standing up for one’s beliefs, even when it seems like the rest of the world doesn’t agree with them.

I see Wicked has just surpassed Cats to become the fourth longest running musical on Broadway.  Read here. 

Differentiation at its best

As I mentioned, I have a lesson about Wicked.  In fact, I have several–one is a PDF, one is digital, one is for the Google classroom and one teaches through  Boom cards.

Boom Cards

This two-day lesson focuses on the Tony award winning musical Wicked. When Dorothy famously triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West, we only ever heard one side of the story. Gregory Maguire‘s acclaimed 1995 novel, ‘Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West’, re-imagines the Land of Oz, creating a parallel universe to the familiar story written by L. Frank Baum and first published as ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ in 1900. storm. Students have an opportunity to study the musical’s journey to Broadway, composers, plot, trivia, etc.

Additionally, the lesson can stand alone or be combined with one of my Famous Artist Biographies (Lin Manuel Miranda or Sarah Bareilles for example) or other musical lessons (Hamilton or The Wiz)

Wicked the Musical Broadway Musical Lesson

How do I use this in my classroom? 

A drama, music, reading or a language arts class would enjoy this lesson. Study its music, story line, elements, cultural references–you name it!

The lesson contains:

  • Letter to Teacher
  • Warm Up–MY Version of a Popular Physical Warm Up
  • Teacher’s Script–what I say and how I say it!
  • Photos from the Broadway Production
  • Separate File of Slides for Teacher to Use to Lecture
  • Plot of the Musical
  • History about the Origination of the Production
  • Information concerning the composer, Steven Schwartz
  • Information about the playwright, Winnie Holzman
  • A Shortened Lesson on: What are the Tony Awards?
  • Tony Awards it Received
  • What are the Tony Awards
  • New York City Map with Competing Theaters Labeled
  • Student Note Page
  • Teacher Note Page Key
  • Trivia
  • Quotes from the Musical–Good for Discussions and Assignments
  • Extension Activities–One Pager Assignment, a Terrific Way to Secure the Learning and Enrich the Experience
  • One Pager Templates
  • Flip Book Template, Instructions and Assignment
  • Sources & Links to Film Clips from the Show

Will Wicked the Musical Ever Rule the World?

Here’s a two week resource about Wicked!

Will Wicked The Musical Ever Rule the World?

I can’t believe Wicked has been on Broadway since 2003!  Frankly, it just seems like yesterday when I was gob smacked by it the first time. Check out this blog post for more Broadway musical info: The Reasons to Teach Broadway Musicals to Your Students

If the musical Wicked could rule the world, that would be fine with me!  And the movie is now is a movie! Check it out here: Wicked the Musical movie. It’s full of wonderful elements, themes and messages which we all need to hear. What do you like most about the show?  You know, I’d love to hear your thoughts.  Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net.

Will Wicked the Musical Ever Rule the World?

Wicked the Musical Broadway Musical Lesson

 

Has Covid Ended the Broadway Theater?

By 2 Comments

Has Covid Ended the Broadway Theater?

Recently, my husband and I caught a wonderful performance on BroadwayHD of “Slava’s Snow Show.”  It is quinessential circus theater and we nearly wept with joy while watching it..  Even though it was a filmed performance, it was the closest thing we’d gotten to live theater in nearly a year.

These are unprecendented times, yes?  Everyone in the world is in the same boat.

Will Broadway Theater Re-open?

Broadway, Font, Letters, Sign, Lights, Red, Yellow

It is hard to believe, but Broadway is coming back sooner than we think!

A time line has been drafted for the potential reopening of Broadway theaters and live entertainment venues.

As reported in Broadway News, New York state can reopen venues through a combination of quick Covid tests and socially distanced seating. Although audience numbers would be significantly lower than pre-lockdown levels, it’s the first step to Broadway being back open again.

Speaking about the framework, Governor Cuomo said: “The overall effort is headed towards reopening with testing. And we’re going to be smart, but also aggressive about it.” He also said that Broadway theatres could realistically open if everyone was proven to be Covid negative. As long as all safety protocols were signed off, “You can open a Broadway stage with a set percentage of occupants, where people have tested prior to walking into that Broadway theater.”

During the seven-month Pop Up Festival announced recently, small crowd sizes will be introduced for live performances. This will be the next step since the outdoor Bills Stadium reopened its doors, with up to 7,000 fans attending games.

Here’s the deal, though.  On February 23, venues with a seating capacity of over 10,000 will be allowed to reopen. Of course, this doesn’t include Broadway theater which are much smaller, but hey that’s a start!

Outdoor, Street, Road, City, View, Night, Evening, Time

Not everyone is excited about this plan. From the newyorktheatreguide.com, ” … Broadway leaders previously stated theatres can’t open until Coronavirus levels are low enough to sustain full houses in auditorium.”

Theater is expensive! My personal experiences with administrating theater companies taught me it is not cost effective without a full house. According to nytix.com, “Some may say that any attendance is better than no attendance, but operating costs for Broadway plays are often so steep that they need to sell at least 80% of tickets (or more!) just to break even.

Spending the producers’ money to put on Broadway shows for just 10-25% capacity, could very well create even more losses than having no shows at all. It seems like a real world skit of the famous Nathan Lane show The Producers, but with real consequences for art and people. Broadway Theatres could increase ticket prices but they would have to be 2-3 times the normal cost and they would soon run out of patrons with pockets that deep to buy them.”

At present, Broadway theaters are closed until May 30.

Broadway and West 34th St.

Which Shows Will Re-open?

If you think about it–we are talking about over 97,000 people returning to their jobs and/or be cast.  Unfortunately, they can’t just iron the costumes, turn on the lights and open the grand curtain.  It will take several months for a production to open again.

I looked around to see if I could discern which shows would re-open first. It’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack. According to Broadwayworld.com  productions are slated to open sometime in the fall.

Productions included are:

  • The Music Man by December 20, 21l.
  • Caroline or Change
  • David Byrne’s America Utopia
  • MJ the Musical

Many productions (Dear Evan Hansen, Aladdin, Book of Mormon, Aint Too Proud, etc.) haven’t made an announcement yet.  I’ll update this list as news becomes available.

Who will open first?

Who will open first?  According to the newyorktheatreguide.com website, there are rumors that Hamilton will be the first Broadway show to re-open, with potential performances from Jul. 4, 2021. Yippee!

Speaking to Variety, Lin-Manuel Miranda said: “I think when theater comes back it’s going to be in conversation with technology in an entirely different way. I don’t think we go back to a world where a show premieres on Broadway, and then no one can see it unless they have two hundred bucks. I think producers are going to have to start thinking about how they’re going to capture [their work] because in capturing it they can actually capture a much larger audience for their live show.”

I’m intrigued by this comment.  Does Lin-Manuel mean covid precautions? Or recorded music?

Is Theater Dead? 

As a theater lover, director, producer, actress and teacher I worry about theater even without the pandemic.

It’s easily misunderstood and not everyone understands the power of the performing arts.  I didn’t know it at the time, but this post has come to pass: How Fulfilling is Life Without Theatre? 

I’m always reminded of this quote by John Steinbeck, “The theater is the only institution in the world which has been dying for four thousand years and has never succumbed.  It requires tough and devoted people to keep it alive.”

It does require grit from us in theater arts.  All around you right now there are people working to bring back theater for all of us. Feel comforted by that thought–theater people are a harty bunch!

In the meantime, while we wait to see live theater I can help a little. Here are some lessons which might be of interest to you.

They are quite popular with other teachers. I’ll tell you a secret. (Most of my lessons come with a teacher’s script so a teacher doesn’t have to think what to say to begin the lesson.  I’ve provided it for them.) I have lessons for grades two to twelve. If you don’t know about me, I am a retired drama teacher now selling drama resources. You can find them at Dramamommaspeaks Store

 

Hamilton
Boom Cards
Costume Design
Wicked
Come From Away
Costume Design
Storytelling
High School
Radio Theater
Readers Theater
Drama Vocabulary
Theater will live through this time.  I’m certain it will take several months before we see packed theaters. How exciting will it be to see happy people roaming around Times Square before a performance. I plan to be there, don’t you?

If you could pick which musical and play you’d like to open first, which would you select?  I’d love to hear from you.  Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail. com or DeborahBaldwin.net

Deborah Baldwin of DramaMommaSpeaks

Six Great Lessons Students Can Learn from Ground Breaking Musicals

By Leave a Comment

Six Great Lessons Students Can Learn from Ground Breaking Musicals

Lin-Manuel Miranda is quoted as saying, “The musicals that leave us kind of staggering on our feet are the ones that really reach for a lot.”

I agree with him.  Recently, I happened upon a YouTube video of performers in a Smash Mob from Les Mis’.  The video was from 2017.  The singing made me cry it was so beautiful.

Certain musicals do leave me staggering, how about you?  I consider them to be ground breaking.

What are some ground breaking musicals?

That’s a tough question.  There are many, almost too numerous to list here.

Number One: Rent

My curiosity for information regarding those exceptional musicals was piqued.  Which musicals carved their own way in musical theater?  Looking around, I found this information.

“You might call this one, the “anti-Cats” musical. Drawing on his memories of his first apartment in New York — with rotting floorboards, no heat and a shower in the kitchen — and the friends he’d made then, writer Jonathan Larson created the musical “Rent.” Based on the Puccini opera “La Bohéme,” “Rent” tells the story of a group of struggling artists, and while it’s meant to capture the passion and love often associated with the Bohemian lifestyle, it also illustrates the dire aspects of being a “starving artist,” so to speak.

The re-imagining of the famed opera takes it from tuberculosis-riddled Paris to the East Village in New York City, at a time when AIDS was causing much distress. It depicts love and passion in spite of progressive, incurable illness. The musical, which dispensed with many Broadway staples, like dimming the lights and starting with an overture, went on to win a Pulitzer Prize for drama. It was only the seventh musical ever to earn the distinction.”

The lesson to be learned from Rent?  Live in the moment and to live every day like it is your last.

A teacher who used my unit of Rent, stated,  :Extremely satisfied This was fantastic for discussing and analyzing “Rent”. My student’s were completely focused and active participants. Thank you for such a professional and high quality resource.:

Other Ground Breaking Musicals

Lesson Two:  Oklahoma!

From the 1920s into the 1940s, popular tunes inevitably came from Broadway musicals. Composers such as Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Rodgers and Hammerstein and Irving Berlin were in the height of their careers. Oklahoma! was ground breaking in several ways. Rather than a huge ensemble number it opens with cowboy Curly singing, Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’! There’s a healthy dose of insanity and murder. Songs aren’t just musical window dressing anymore; they drive the story forward.

The lesson to be learned from Oklahoma!: Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule; Be tolerant of differences; Use good manners, not bad language; Be considerate of the feelings of others; Don’t threaten, hit or hurt anyone; Deal peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements. Pick up my unit for Oklahoma here: Oklahoma! Broadway Musical Unit

One teacher who reviewed the unit said, “Extremely satisfied. This resource is very complete and provided lots of teaching options to use with my students. Versatile and appealing!”

Lesson Three:  West Side Story

Another innovative musical is West Side Story.  Wow, you can’t beat it, can you?  The carefully cut costumes of the Jets and the Sharks still look fresh from the dryer. There is no profanity (unless you count, “Krup you!”) and only one gun. But in the 1950s, a gang version of Romeo and Juliet packed with racial tension and a bittersweet conclusion was a big deal. Reviewer Walter Kerr of the New York Herald Tribune summed up the reaction after opening night when he wrote, “The radioactive fallout from West Side Story must still be descending on Broadway this morning.” The musical scored by Leonard Bernstein was also doubted initially as too operatic.

The lesson to be learned from West Side Story:  There are consequences of racial/ethnic/cultural hatred and what occurs when one’s pride controls a person’s behavior and attitude. You can find my unit here: West Side Story Broadway Musical Unit.

One review said, “Extremely satisfied. This resource is extremely detailed and well-written. I love West Side Story. This resource kept my older students engaged. What a awesome lesson!”

Lesson Four:  Jesus Christ Superstar

Let’s not forget Jesus Christ Superstar!  Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and librettist Tim Rice, both British, debuted with the first rock opera, all of the dialogue set to music. That style of libretto has since evolved into the norm for musicals. I remember hearing the musical for the first time at a youth group meeting–amazing experience.  If you haven’t seen the live television version of it, check out my blog post concerning the talent who portrayed Judas, Brandon Victor Dixon and  The Two Most Inspiring People I’ve Seen This Year

The lesson to be learned from Jesus Christ Superstar: There are consequences to success and the power that comes from it.  

Lesson Five:  Chorus Line

“Five, six, seven, eight!”  Those are familiar directions to a cast.  Chorus Line looks inside the lives of seventeen dancers competing for eight spots in a Broadway production. Before its fifteen-year run ended, the Michael Bennett musical further loosened the definition of how musicals had to be structured. With A Chorus Line, monologues and songs could serve as their own plot, if they stayed consistent with a central idea. This philosophy gave future musicals permission to try other, less traditional innovative forms.

The lesson to be learned from Chorus Line: Dreaming is important, but action is even more important.  

Lesson Six:  Hamilton

Here are several quotes from websites about Hamilton which I think say it better than I can,  “The show combines hip-hop, rap, R&B, soul, and traditional show tunes to create its novel score. And Miranda’s witty, sophisticated lyrics bring the familiar historical characters to life in a whole new way, drawing the audience in with their humanity and familiarity. The resounding success of Hamilton is undeniable.”

The blog, Broadwayinbound, mentions, “America’s founding fathers were all white, and many of them owned black slaves; in Hamilton, however, people of color play the leading roles — and Miranda says that was very intentional. “This is a story about America then, told by America now, and we want to eliminate any distance.”

Here’s another from https://www.cbc.ca, “From childhood Miranda loved musicals, and performed in several high school productions. One of his all-time favorites is Les Misérables, and that musical theatre classic inspired Miranda’s thinking on Hamilton. The things that you can see in Hamilton that are affecting people are also present in Les Mis. One, it’s trying to capture so much of the human experience that even if we fall short, we’ve got a lot of it. I mean, Les Misérables starts in prison. It’s ‘Look down, look down, you’re standing in your grave.’ And then it goes up from there,” he said in an interview.”

I especially like this quote from The Guardian, :Hamilton features black and brown actors, but its story never depicts a slave. That said, it’s also true that minstrelsy is crucial to Miranda’s project: he takes the long American minstrelsy tradition of white people in blackface on stage and reverses it.”

Isn’t it easy to understand why it is so popular?

Every season in the fall,  I look forward to the next ground breaking musical, don’t you?

I have several Broadway musical lessons (all useful for distance learning)  which demonstrate these lessons.  For more information about them, check out:  DramaMommaSpeaks

What musical do you think is significant?  I’d love to know.  Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

Deborah Baldwin of DramaMommaSpeaks

 

Teacherpayteachers.com Sales Expectation Versus Reality

By 1 Comment

Teacherpayteachers.com Sales Expectation Versus Reality

Can you make money on Teacherspayteachers.com?

This question has been asked of me several times and I decided to address it today.

Simply put, the answer is yes.  You can make money on Teacherspayteachers.com

However, it is absolutely NOT a get-rich scheme.  If it was, I’d never be involved in it.

If you are looking for quick cash, you will have better luck with selling some used items on a website.  Do us a favor, and stay away if that’s your goal–in my opinion, you just muck up the website and confuse the buyer. Teacherspayteachers sellers understand this is a marathon, not a sprint.  We spend an inordinate amount of time creating a product and keeping it updated. If you become a long term seller, we are super serious about it.  We pride ourselves on our resources.

Who sells on Teacherspayteachers.com?

Generally, sellers are classroom teachers, retired teachers and graphic artists.  No offense, but unless you’ve been a teacher you don’t really understand what is needed in the classroom.  Occasionally, you see someone trying to sell a product which they think educators would want.  The product sticks out like a sore thumb and I’ve noticed over time the seller drifts away.  That’s a good idea.

These sellers who stick around have resources are either time-tested (like mine for thirty-eighty plus years of teaching) or brand spending new straight from the classroom.

These are professional educators.  They have studied in college and universities, many with advanced degrees (even doctorates), or trained in a particular area such as reading, math, STEM or the arts.

Teachers must re-certify their license to continue teaching during their career.  In other words, they don’t just receive their teaching certificate and that’s the end of learning.  Quite the opposite–they take classes about every six years to stay fresh.  They are required to keep their license up just like other professions such as medicine, law enforcement, hairstyling, etc. Consequently, the Teacherspayteachers sellers know their stuff!

Occasionally, someone will grumble about the lesson they purchased was poor. It is hardly fair to blame the entire website just because one person didn’t receive what they expected.

Haven’t you read a book you didn’t like for whatever reason?

In defense of TPT sellers, perhaps the buyer didn’t look closely at the product.  The buyer needs to check out the previews because the choice is always on the buyer.  So just because one buyer doesn’t like something doesn’t mean all TPT products are below average.

I’ve been a Teacherspayteachers seller for two and a half years.  From time to time, I review seller’s products that I’ve purchased or found for free. Let me tell you folks, be happy if your child’s teacher purchases a Teacherspayteachers lesson.  I can say with absolutely honesty I review more excellent products than not so.

Are there free lessons?

There are many free lessons and resources available on Teacherspayteachers.  Sellers are very generous. Sometimes too generous.  If you are interested in something free, check out: Free Teaching Resources Blog Hop.

Or check out my freebies at Free Stuff!

We Are Here to Help

We don’t claim to be the foremost authority in our subject area.  We offer one perspective for teaching a concept.  There are many angles a teacher takes to complete a benchmark.

We are offering help, period.  At least, that’s where I come from.

Do we make money?  Yes.

Is it a lot of money?

It can be, however that’s subjective to the person selling.  It depends upon the seller’s goal–to make a little extra cash for vacations and gifts?  To make enough to stay home once their baby is born? To send their child to college?  The reasons are many.

My Why

image.png

I stayed home with our daughters when they were young.  Because of this decision, I lost half of my pension by making this decision.  Now that I’m retired, my hope was to catch up that pension by selling through my DramaMommaSpeaks store.  I’m pleased to say my products sell well. I’m constantly comforted and pleased knowing I’ve helped some overly busy teacher saving them some time and their sanity.

If you think you may want to begin a store on Teacherspayteachers, check out my post How to Make Things to Sell on Teacherspayteachers This post will give you insight about the various steps I take when creating a product.

Boom Learning

Understandedly, on-line businesses are booming now.  There is another company you not be know–Boom Learning.  Boom Learning is an educational marketplace where teachers sell digital task cards.  If you’d like more information about them, check out my post How Do I Use Boom Cards in My Drama Class? I have several Boom cards sets–drama vocabulary, set design, hybrid lesson for the Broadway musical Wicked with more to come.  Check out my Boom lessons at:  Dramamommaspeaks at Boom Learning

Boom Learning is fairly new and growing like a weed.  Most of the Boom cards are created with elementary students in mind, however I’m beginning to see more secondary grade level resources.

I’ll leave you with this thought, Steve Maraboli says, “Get-rich-quick schemes are for the lazy and unambitious.  Respect your dreams enough to pay the full price for them.” Steve Maraboli is a life-changing Speaker, bestselling Author, and Behavioral Scientist who lends his popular voice to various topics.

I so agree.  Respect your dreams enough to pay the full price for them.  It is always worth it.  Everything I’ve ever accomplished which took work and dedication has paid off handsomely for me.  My teacherspayteachers.com store is my latest example. 

Do you have an idea for a lesson?  I’d love to know more about it.  Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

Hamilton, the Broadway Musical

 

 

 

 

Five Reasons You Shouldn’t See The Prom Musical on Your Own

By Leave a Comment

Five Reasons You Shouldn’t See The Prom Musical on Your Own

I know this blog title sounds like I’m going to talk about something scary in The Prom–it’s quite the opposite! It’s wonderful.

Did you know Netflix is streaming The Prom musical?

It’s available to stream beginning December 11.  I’m looking forward to seeing it.

Here are five reasons you shouldn’t see The Prom musical on Your Own:

Reason #1–Movies are meant to be seen with someone, in my opinion. How much fun is it to see a musical all by yourself? You need someone to sing with you!

1960's prom night. : TheWayWeWere

A Synopsis of The Prom

Emma becomes an instant outcast and a national headline when her high school cancels the prom rather than let her attend with her girlfriend. Sensing a chance to correct an injustice and maybe get some good publicity along the way a group of fading celebrities takes up the cause, and invades Emma’s small Indiana town. But their bumbling attempts at social activism make the situation far worse than they or Emma could have ever imagined. Cultures clash and the town erupts in chaos. The community’s reputation, Emma’s future, and the celebrities’ careers, all hang in the balance, until a true hero emerges to save the day. Uproarious and ultimately uplifting, this musical proves that standing up for yourself and inspiring others to accept their differences can make you the star you were always meant to be.

40 Cool Pics of the '70s Prom Couples ~ Vintage Everyday

Emma becomes an instant outcast and a national headline when her high school cancels the prom rather than let her attend with her girlfriend. Sensing a chance to correct an injustice and maybe get some good publicity along the way a group of fading celebrities takes up the cause, and invades Emma’s small Indiana town. But their bumbling attempts at social activism make the situation far worse than they or Emma could have ever imagined. Cultures clash and the town erupts in chaos. The community’s reputation, Emma’s future, and the celebrities’ careers, all hang in the balance, until a true hero emerges to save the day. Uproarious and ultimately uplifting, this musical proves that standing up for yourself and inspiring others to accept their differences can make you the star you were always meant to be.

An All Star Cast

Reason #2–The Cast is exceptional! Having someone to chat with about the direction makes the viewing all the more worthwhile.

Nice, huh?

The movie cast is excellent and includes Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Andrew Renalls, Kevin Chamberlain, Ariana Grande, Keegan Michael-Key, Kerry Washington and a host of other great performers.  Newcomer, Emma Pellman will portray the lead role of Emma and Arianna DeBose as Alyssa.

Wow!

The Creative Team

Reason #3–This is an excellent artistic staff at the helm.  I mean, Casey Nicholaw?  You can’t get someone much better than him.  Just check out his biography. You might miss something in the direction  if you watch by yourself and a friend might catch it.  I understand the humor is spot on.

Casey Nicholaw, Director

Casey Nicholaw (born 1962) is an American theatre director, choreographer and performer. He has been nominated for Tony Awards for directing and choreographing The Drowsy Chaperone (2006), The Book of Mormon (2011), Something Rotten! (2015), and Mean Girls (2018) and for choreographing Monty Python’s Spamalot (2005) and Aladdin (2014), winning for his co-direction of The Book of Mormon. He also was nominated for the Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Direction and Choreography for The Drowsy Chaperone (2006) and Something Rotten! (2015) and for Outstanding Choreography for Spamalot (2005).  

Bob Martin, Co-Playwright

Bob Martin began his career acting and directing at The Second City in Toronto in 1996. He won a Tony award for Best Book for a Musical and Best Actor in a Musical category portraying “Man in Chair” in Drowsy Chaperone.  In addition, Martin wrote the Urinetown music and lyrics. Among many of ventures,  he returned to Broadway by co-writing the book for Elf with Thomas Meehan. He co-wrote Prom the Musical with

Like many artists, Martin’s resume is varied.  It includes writing the book for a musical adaptation of the 1973 film The Sting and is currently writing the book for a sequel to The Drowsy Chaperone, a musical adaptation of The Princess Bride, a musical adaptation of A Night at the Museum, and a musical adaptation of Millions.

Chad Beugelin, Lyricist and Co-Playwright

Chad Beguelin (born September 24, 1969) is an American playwright and four-time Tony Award nominee. He wrote the book for Disney’s Aladdin, as well as additional lyrics for the score. He was nominated for Best Original Book and Best Original Score for Aladdin. He is also known for his collaborations with composer Matthew Sklar, having written the lyrics and co-written the book for the Broadway musical The Wedding Singer and the lyrics for the Broadway musical Elf the Musical. Beguelin was nominated for two Tony Awards for his work on The Wedding Singer, as well as a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics. He, too, graduated from New York University’s Tish School of the Arts.

What did the Reviewers Think of it When It Opened on Broadway?

Reason #4–Reviewers love the Broadway version.  See if you agree with the reviewers.  You can’t exactly discuss the pros and cons of the production with just yourself.   When it opened on Broadway, the reviewers extol much praise on the show.  That’s a good sign the musical will be well accepted, too.

The Prom was the first musical of the 2018–2019 Broadway season to be named a New York Times Critics Pick, with Jesse Green calling it “such a joyful hoot. With its kinetic dancing, broad mugging and belty anthems, it makes you believe in musical comedy again.”

Frank Rizzo, writing for Variety wrote that “with a tuneful score, a playful book, and performances that remind you what Broadway heart and chutzpah are all about, this cause celebre of a show turns out to be a joyous, funny, and sweet production that should appeal to several generations of musical fans.”

New York Magazine‘s Sara Holdren wrote: “There’s such genuine joy rolling off the stage in The Prom that you’re ready and willing to forgive it its minor misfires… Did I shed several real tears in The Prom’s final scene? Maybe I did… I also seldom stopped laughing. The show is full of witty delights.”[16]

Adam Feldman of Time Out Magazine gave the show 4 out of 5 stars, saying “It is cheering to see a musical comedy that engages with modern questions, with a teenage lesbian romance at its center to boot… But while the issues are contemporary, there is a 1980s feel to the character types and the overall style of Chad Beguelin and Matthew Sklar’s score, which resembles their work in The Wedding Singer; a stronger dose of reality in the lyrics and the book (by Beguelin and Bob Martin) would better justify the show’s eventual turn to sentimental education. But Casey Nicholaw’s peppy direction helps give the show enough momentum to power past its narrative potholes and occasional bumps of heavy-handedness.”

In The Hollywood Reporter, David Rooney called the show “one part satire, packed with delicious theatrical in-jokes delivered with aplomb by game stage veterans playing caricatures of themselves; and one part inclusivity teaching moment, reminding us there’s a place for everyone beneath the Mylar balloons at a high school dance, even in conservative Indiana. If the two halves aren’t entirely seamless, especially in the uneven second act, the show has enough humor and heart to paper over the cracks.”

Reason #5  Your Students will LOVE it! You will feel so trendy because you will know the newest scoop in the show. There’s nothing better than making them happy (it does wonders for your ego too.) The Prom is contemporary, fun, quick witted and entertaining.

I have a Broadway musical lesson for The Prom available at The Prom Broadway Musical Lesson

It includes:

  • Letter to Teacher
  • Warm Up–MY Version of a Popular Physical Warm Up
  • Teacher’s Script–What I Say and How I Say it!
  • History of Prom and How it Became an Important Event in a Young Person’s Life
  • Photos (1950’s & 2018)
  • Plot of the Musical
  • Separate File of Photos for Teacher’s Use in Lecture
  • History about the Origination of the Production
  • Information on the Director, Casey Nicholaw
  • Information on the composer and choreographer, Matthew Skylar
  • Information about the Co-Playwrights, Bob Martin & Chad Beugelin
  • Information about the lyricist, Chad Beugelin
  • A Shortened Lesson on : What are the Tony Awards?
  • List of Tony Awards
  • New York City Map with Competing Theatres Labeled
  • Student Note Page
  • Teacher Note Page Key
  • Trivia about The Prom, LGBTQ rights and Recent Data About Prom
  • Lyrics from “Just Breathe”–good for class discussions or as a jumping off point
  • Extension Activities–Terrific Suggestions of Ways to Secure the Learning and Enrich the Experience
  • Sources & Links to Film Clips from the Show
  • And More!

If hope you’ll check out The Prom soon.  I know I will!  What Broadway musical is your favorite?  You know I’d love to know more about you. Don’t know much about me?  Check out:  The Top Reasons to Listen to Podcasts   Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

Dramamommaspeaks