Owen Groth, “Movement inside Musicals: A Critical Component of Effective Storytelling and Characterization”
Mentor: Sheri Williams Pannell, Theatre
Performing Arts 9:45am Union Cinema

Dance is often considered a universal language in its articulation of emotion; however, it can also serve to communicate settings, conflicts, connections, and other necessary information, depending on the choreographer’s intention. This intention is realized through thorough research of the show (dramaturgy) and other preparatory work with the production team and actors to clarify character through lines and overarching themes. Once the dramaturgy and preparatory work are completed, the choreographer can begin creating movement that further develops the characters and show. The primary research methods utilized throughout the choreographic process are descriptive and exploratory: the former to spark inspiration in building the movement vocabulary of the show, and the latter to address character motives, themes, etc. that may be specific to that production. The choreographer is then tasked with interpreting the gathered information and translating it into movement and formations that propel the narrative forward. Given that the show, “Once Upon a Mattress,” is set in the 1400s but features modern music, the choreography must bridge the gap by drawing from both the past and present. The past roots the choreography in the period’s authenticity, while the present connects and engages the audience, creating a balance of world-building and entertainment. Furthermore, the content of the show requires the juxtaposition of Winnifred’s (the story’s outsider) movement with that of the rest of the Court, as well as the assimilation of Winnifred’s idiosyncrasies by the other characters as they interact and learn from her. Nevertheless, the process of staging a show is anything but static; the movement must breathe and adapt to serve the storytelling above all else. If any part of the movement fails to do so, it must be altered until it serves the story.