Lesson #4: Musicals Based in Egypt

"The Prince of Egypt"

November 22nd: Learning About Musical Theater

Today the students learned (if they did not know already) what a musical is! We began the lesson by making a list as a class of people and things that are needed to put on a musical (actors, a director, costumes, a stage, lighting, music, instruments/ instrumentalists, and so forth). Then we watched two clips from two different musicals--"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat" as well as "The Prince of Egypt." These musicals are similar in that they both take place in Egypt, but they are different in how accurate their portrayal of the Egyptian people and lifestyle. Each table received a paper with specific questions to answer as they watched the clips. Here were the topics that the students looked for during the movie clips:

• Costumes: which costumes were Egyptian and which weren't?
  
• Music; does the music sound Egyptian or not?
• Setting: what Egyptian buildings/scenery were present? what was unrealistic about the setting?
• Text: what Egyptian people/concepts did the people talk/sing about?

After both of the clips were over, the students had a couple minutes to talk with their group members about the questions their table was assigned. Then each group came up to the front of the classroom and gave a short presentation to the class. 

Class Presentations:

The students each presented their groups' findings. All of the students seemed to agree that the portrayal of the Egyptian people and lifestyle in "The Prince of Egypt" was much more realistic than the clips the class watched of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat."  The clip from "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat" that we watched was where Joseph is in prison and he interprets the baker's and the butler's dreams. Then the ensemble comes in and sings "Go, Go, Go Joseph" with their brightly colored costumes and big Afros from the disco days. The music did not sound Egyptian (it did not use an Egyptian scale), while "Prince of Egypt" has many Egyptian melodies and motives. The setting in "Joseph" was also unrealistic in that the bars of the prison cell were wide enough for a person to enter and exit the cell. The bars also later open (like a door) and just before the big dance number, the bars ascend and disappear completely. 

Wrap-up:

"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat"

It was fun to hear the students' comments about what they saw and did not see in both of these musicals. We concluded the lesson by talking about the purpose of a musical: a musical is an art form that is mainly a form of entertainment. Those who enjoy musicals are not usually concerned about the historical accuracy of the costumes, where the music has it's roots from, or if the musical is realistic or not. Instead, those who love musical theater

usually love it for the story lines, the beautiful music, and the entertainment it provides. 

Standards Met:

6.M.R.1

6.M.R.2

6.M.R.10