Songs in Musicals

My blog posts for the last two weeks discussed reasons why those artists who write rhymes and beats should write for theater. This week’s blog is how I think hip hop songs are best used in musical  theatre.

A musical tells a story.

1. It has a beginning where the hero (and the hero’s needs) gets introduced with the world the hero inhabits.
2. It has a middle where challenges to the hero’s needs are presented, and
3. An end where the challenges are met (or not).

Each of these sections are musicalized most successfully in different ways.

The opening requires lots of information to be conveyed quickly and efficiently. The middle shows the conflict. The end bring about the resolution, either joyful or bittersweet.

Look at the Structure

Musical structure is similar to a roller coaster. A ride that is most interesting is one that goes up, down, as well as on the level. The style of a song performs this function in a musical.

What this means is that not all the songs in a hip hop musical should be raps. A rap style works best when information needs to be given to the audience.

The opening, which requires that we learn who the hero is and what the world of the musical is, is the perfect place for rap to be used.

At least this is what we think.

What do you think?

Let us know if you agree or not.

Business of Musical Theater Pt. 2

Last week’s blog encouraged MCs and beat writers to become involved in theater.

The two reasons I cited are that

1. Theater pays better and
2. The artist maintains ownership of the work.

One that I didn’t mention is one that is almost as important. This third reason is that you, the writer, gets paid for having written the work and that payment begins once the show is performed.

How Theater Works

In theater, a producer puts up the money to do a production. This is called the capital budget. It covers all the expenses that needs to be paid before the first performance.

After performances begin there are still expenses. Actors are paid a salary. The theater owner is paid rent. Advertising and marketing agencies are paid. This budget is the weekly operating budget. All revenues that come in are called gross revenues.

Gross revenues minus weekly operating expenses gives net revenues.

All theater productions assume that, initially, the expenses of the production will exceed the gross revenues until the public realizes what a great show it is and the production sells out. The capital budget accounts for this by setting aside an amount of money to cover these losses.

In most artistic endeavors, the creators get paid from the net revenues. If there is no profit, then the creators don’t make any money.

Theater is different. Because the capital budget includes more than is needed to cover expenses, writers are able to get paid from the gross.

So, if you write rhymes or beats, wouldn’t you rather get paid from day one?

Yes? Then you should be writing for theater.

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