Category Archives: Theatremaking

The “Happy Birthday, MISS SAIGON” Quiz

Posted on September 20, 2016 by David Fick

Today in 1989, Miss Saigon had its world premiere in London. Here’s a little quiz to celebrate. Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Quizzes, Theatremaking | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Musical Theatre Sunday School: Divine Integration

Posted on August 31, 2014 by David Fick

There are three separate elements of divine integration in musical theatre: the book, the music and the lyrics. Continue reading →

Posted in Musical Theatre Sunday School, Theatremaking, Theory and Practice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

TITANIC: the Broadway Musical vs the Blockbuster Movie

Posted on December 31, 2013 by David Fick

In 1997, two different versions of the “Titanic” story were told in two different styles in two different mediums. The film a fictional love story set against the backdrop of the ill-fated ship of dreams, while the musical used the stories of the real life Titanic passengers as a basis for its tale.
Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Theatremaking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dumbed Down Discourse: Challenges Facing Artists, Audiences and the Arts

Posted on December 31, 2013 by David Fick

Something’s been bubbling under for a long time. And IT has starting to erupt. IT started brewing a long time ago, and I’m only now realising what IT is… Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Theatremaking, Theory and Practice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

TITANIC vs RAGTIME…

Posted on December 24, 2013 by David Fick

Maury Yeston and Peter Stone’s TITANIC features one of the best musical theatre scores of the 1990s – but so does Terrence McNally, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s RAGTIME. Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Theatremaking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

EVITA: the “Montage”

Posted on December 23, 2013 by David Fick

Is the “Montage” that takes us from Eva’s final collapse through to her deathbed “Lament” is really a satisfying moment dramatically. Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Theatremaking | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

TITANIC Lyrics: Some Thoughts

Posted on December 17, 2013 by David Fick

Although I’m a fan of the show, Maury Yeston and Peter Stone’s TITANIC has its critics. One of the most common criticisms I’ve heard in regard to the show has to do with its lyrics. So I thought I’d give the cast album another listen with this particular focus at an entry point. Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Theatremaking | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Musical Comedy vs. Musical Play

Posted on July 9, 2010 by David Fick

Following my 2010 redux blog on “Genres of Musical Theatre“, I received a message from Hans Anders Elgvang, a regular visitor of this site, asking: ‘What are, in your opinion, the differences between the form categories musical comedy and musical … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Musicals, Theatremaking, Theory and Practice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Genres of Musical Theatre Redux: the 2010 edition

Posted on July 1, 2010 by David Fick

In a discussion around different kinds of musical theatre, I think the first step is to define the terrain of musical theatre. Musical theatre does not include all theatre that uses music. Musical theatre excludes – for example – opera, … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Dance, Musicals, Plays, Revues, Theatremaking, Theory and Practice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Defending Theory and Practice

Posted on July 1, 2010 by David Fick

Every now and then, I’ll get a nasty little message implying that discussions around musical theatre practice, debates around musical theatre terminology and so on are petty and worthless. Let me go on record saying that I do not think … Continue reading →

Posted in Musicals, Theatremaking, Theory and Practice | Tagged , , | 6 Comments