Creator: Jayne Karsten | visit site
Grade Range: 8 - 11
Are you looking for a site that will incorporate history with cultural change and literature? This site helps students explore reasons for cultural change in the late 19th century and the last four decades of the 20th century, examine the impact of cultural change on themes and forms of fine and performing arts, consider specific ways the two musicals under examination address the "social ills" of the late 19th century and contemporary life, explore the connection between the cultural climate of modern life and the "fractured" form in the fine and performing arts as well as theories about archetypal patterns embedded in fairy tales.In five 45-minute classes, these lessons explicate various components of two Sondheim musicals, giving attention to specific ways songs, music scores, narrative and theme interrelate.The two musicals considered are <i>Sweeney Todd</i> and <i>Into the Woods</i>, both musicals that use literature as their base.
In the Classroom
Especially interesting for Humanities students and teachers, students can initiate design and performance activities related to musical theater, strengthen process skills of reading, writing, and analysis, and exercise oral and collaborative skills through assignments of formal essays, oral presentations, and special project topics. If your students have access to tools to create videos, this set of lessons could lead to a terrific script-writing and video production activity.rnrn
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