In this class we’ll look at songs/scenes from multiple shows from the past 70 years to learn how music uniquely serves and advances story. In virtually every successful musical, the creators’ compositional choices must demonstrate WHY they write to begin with. We’ll analyze the positioning of songs in the play, the formal design of songs, their melodic and harmonic styles and impacts, and structural/textual formats, to understand how these elements serve the stories’ goals. Examples will come from a wide variety of pieces, including the Music Man, Into the Woods, She Loves Me, 1776, Les Miserables, Fiddler…, Cabaret, Hamilton, Come from Away, My Fair Lady, and La Cage Aux Folles. The format will be a combination of videos, audio, lecture, and discussion.  Prep time will be 1-2 hours per week of reading, listening, and viewing online of materials I will provide.