Spongebob Squarepants Musical

Preparation

Once you have your musical assigned, you will begin your research. You will need to collect a minimum of TEN credible sources. One of these can be the libretto, if you can get your hands on it. You can use ONE performance as one of your ten sources – whether it be a cast recording, a stage production you see, a filmed stage production you watch, or a film adaptation. You’re welcome to listen to/view more than one, and you should definitely include a citation for each – but only ONE will count towards your ten sources. Other sources might include:

Books Scholarly articles Newspaper/Magazine articles Production reviews Interviews – whether in writing or on audio/video Documentaries

Be sure that your ten sources are “credible” sources.  This means no Wikipedia. It also means no fan-sites. You want sources whose authority and information you can trust. If you are in doubt about a source, feel free to run it by me.

Project Components

With your sources in hand, you will produce a written document (essentially a very long paper). It should be formatted according to previous written assignment guidelines, with proper citations and Works Cited list according to the most recent MLA guidelines. In your written submission, you should clearly label sections I through VIII with the appropriate Roman Numeral and a title.

I. CREATORS (25 points, Minimum 100 word per person)

Write a biography for each person listed below who contributed to the original production. Include information about each person’s social, cultural, political, and economic background, their education, and the hallmarks of their work.

Book writer Composer Lyricist Director Choreographer

II. RELATED WORKS (25 points, Minimum 350 words total)

Write summary of other significant works by the creators. Include:

Titles Awards Subjects/themes Any other interesting/important facts

III. CREATION PROCESS (25 points, Minimum 250 words total)

Write a summary of musical’s creation process. Include information about:

The source material (From what source, if any, was the musical adapted?) The writing process Any readings/workshops/try-outs that were held

IV. LIBRETTO/SCORE ANALYSIS (35 points, Minimum 750 words total)

Write an analysis of the musical’s libretto and score. Address the following topics:

Characters (Names and descriptions; do they fit any of the “types” we’ve discussed?) Setting (Time and place) Plot (Write a BRIEF plot synoposis – only the major events – no more than 1-2 sentences per scene) Score (Style of music, what it’s known for) List of musical numbers Identify types of musical numbers Characteristics of the lyrics How does the musical demonstrate the hallmarks of the creators’ works overall?

V. INFLUENCES (25 pts, Minimum 350 words)

Write an analysis of the pieces/styles/traditions that influenced the musical. Consider these questions:

From what styles and traditions does it borrow? To what other pieces is it similar? In what ways did it break ground, if at all?

 

VI. PRODUCTIONS (25 pts., Minimum 350 words)

Write an analysis of well-known productions of the musical (Broadway, London, regional, etc.). Consider the following questions:

When and where did they happen? Who directed and choreographed them? What well-known performers have played the key roles? How does it fit into/depart form their usual work? How have various productions been alike or different? What awards have various productions won?

VII. RESPONSES (25 points, Minimum 350 words)

Write an analysis of various responses to the musical. Consider the following questions:

How long did/has the musical run and where? How did it perform financially? What do the production reviews say?

VIII. CONTEXTS (40 points, Minimum, 1000 words)

Write an analysis of how the musical reflects the society in which it premiered, and what it might tell us about that world. Consider the following questions and topics:

What was going on in the country/world when it first opened/ran? What other musicals were there from that year? The year before? The year after? How did some, if any, of these musicals, deal with similar subjects, themes, or styles? What does it say about and how does it reflect the following in its time: What’s going on in popular culture What’s going on in theatre What’s going on in film Attitudes towards gender/sexuality Attitudes towards race/ethnicity Attitudes towards class Economic climate Political climate

Above all, consider how these things help you answer this question: “Why was this musical written and produced at this time and in this place?”

Conclude this section with a brief summary of what you think the future holds for this musical.

IX. AUDIO/VISUAL MATERIALS (25 points, Minimum five audio/visual clips)

Compile five audio and/or video clips connected to the musical. These can include:

Audio recordings of the musical’s songs Video recordings of performances Interviews News stories

You may include additional clips if you would like. You may also include other images – photographs, drawings, etc. – but at least FIVE clips must be audio or visual.

X. PAPER OR SCRIPT WITH CITATIONS (25 points)

Whether you submit a formal paper, a script for a video presentation, the written version you submit MUST have in-text citations formatted according the most recent MLA Guidelines.

XI. WORKS CITED (25 points)

Whatever you submit, you must include a Works Cited list formatted according to the most recent MLA Guidelines. Include this in your post AND in the materials you email to me.