From Backpacks to Broadway: Children'S Experiences in Musical Theatre

Musical theater is a dynamic, collaborative art form, which encompasses music, theater, dance, and the visual arts. Traditionally associated with adult performers, musicals also have roles designated specifically for children. How then does involvement in musical theater support children’s learning through the performing arts? What do children value from their musical theater experiences and how do these experiences influence children’s personal, social, and artistic lives? Based on a decade of research, this book explores these questions through children’s participation as singers, actors, and dancers, in school-based, community, and professional musical theater. By valuing children’s voices as important in understanding experience, Rajan constructs a framework of musical theater participation, and applies broader educational implications to highlight the unique characteristics of musical theater in children’s lives.

Table of Contents:
Foreword Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: Children’s Participation in Musical Theatre Chapter 2: A Framework of Musical Theatre Participation Chapter 3: School-Based Musical Theatre Chapter 4: Community Musical Theatre Chapter 5: The Professional Stage Chapter 6: Learning through Musical Theatre Epilogue: Beyond Broadway References Index About the Author

About the Author :
Rekha S. Rajan is a visiting associate professor of research at Concordia University Chicago. She is an arts education specialist and has a doctorate in music education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is also the author of Integrating the Performing Arts in Grades K-5 (SAGE) and Grant Writing: Practical Strategies for Scholars and Professionals (R&L).

Review :
This book is a welcome touchstone resource for professionals working with children in musical theatre. The primary strength of this book is its attention to children’s perspective within the phenomenon of musical theatre. Interviews over time with children enabled the author to obtain rich and useful data on their perspective. Overall, the book gives a clear picture of the experience of being in musical theatre in the twenty-first century. This book was an enjoyable read and informative demonstration of the unique impact musical theater had on children’s learning experiences. Dr. Rajan’s findings provide timely and articulate support for process and product-based, multi-arts learning in school, community and professional settings. Very useful and relevant book. This represents an untapped and often overlooked area of music education. It emphasizes the role and importance of self-expression, performing, creativity and arts integration which are important constructs that need to be addressed in the music curriculum. Many music educators employ a theatrical or dramatic component to their concerts or performances. This might be through the form of mini-skits, poetry readings or full-blown musical productions. Thus, the advice, stories and insights of Rekha Rajan’s book ”In the Spotlight” address the need of, and practical application of theatrical technics and methodologies in the music classroom. The stories and narratives here can enlighten and encourage burgeoning young artists and their teachers. It is an area that remains relatively untapped in the pre- and in-service curricula for music educators. This book is an advocacy tool for music and drama teachers who want to include or keep musical theater programs in schools, and it reminds us that musical theater is not just entertainment, but belongs in schooling for all children. This book proves that being in the arts is essential for children to help and build self-esteem, create meaningful relationships, and learn how to work in an ensemble type atmosphere. It takes a look at children’s experiences in all levels of musical theater from the classroom to the professional stage. It was fascinating taking a look at how different it was for those children who do this as a career at such a young age.