For more than a century, musical theatre artists have drawn inspiration from plays, novels, poems, and folklore to create many of Broadway's greatest works. In recent decades, however, the movie screen has become one of Broadway's most fertile sources. From Beauty and the Beast and Legally Blonde to Waitress, film-to-stage adaptations have reshaped the Broadway landscape, producing some of the most popular musicals of the last twenty years. This course examines the history and evolution of these adaptations, analyzing how stories move from screen to stage and how creative teams translate cinematic narratives into theatrical form. By examining their artistic strategies and cultural contexts, we will consider how film-based musicals have become a vital part of Broadway's identity and cultural fabric. Significant attention will be given to the craft and purpose of writing. Students will write in multiple modes while developing skills in audience awareness, revision, and adaptation. Through weekly readings, film viewings, and writing assignments, we will study how stories and arguments are reshaped across mediums and practice how to write with a specific objective for a particular audience.
MUTH 100 - Introduction to Music Theatre (4 Credit Hours)
