Music Theatre is relatively new although Opera, Oratorio and Ballet has always been popular and fits in to the same groupings as instrumental music.
Opera tells a story exclusively through song. There will not be spoken dialogue. This means that sometimes the singing does not sound like an actual song.
Oratorio often uses words from the Bible or Prayer Book and does not usually involve acting but is otherwise similar to Opera
Ballet tells a story exclusively through body movements.
Musicals tell a story using songs and dialogue. Choreography is an important part of it too.
Opera tells a story exclusively through song. There will not be spoken dialogue. This means that sometimes the singing does not sound like an actual song.
Oratorio often uses words from the Bible or Prayer Book and does not usually involve acting but is otherwise similar to Opera
Ballet tells a story exclusively through body movements.
Musicals tell a story using songs and dialogue. Choreography is an important part of it too.
Names to note in Music Theatre
Leonard Bernstein
George Gershwin
Lerner and Loewe
Rogers and Hammerstein
Claude Michel Schoenberg
Elton John and Tim Rice
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Stephen Sondheim
Irving Berlin
Ivor Novello
Lionel Bart
Alan Menken
Cole Porter
Leonard Bernstein
George Gershwin
Lerner and Loewe
Rogers and Hammerstein
Claude Michel Schoenberg
Elton John and Tim Rice
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Stephen Sondheim
Irving Berlin
Ivor Novello
Lionel Bart
Alan Menken
Cole Porter