You Can't Stop the Beat Digital Study Guide

ABOUT THE CABARET

You Can't Stop the Beat
The Enduring Power of Musical Theatre
Curated and Directed by Thom Allison

You Can't Stop the Beat House Program
Selections from You Can't Stop the Beat Song List

Grade and Curriculum Connections

• Grade 5+
• Global Competencies: Critical Thinking, Innovation, Creativity, Self-Directed Learning, Collaboration, Communication and Citizenship
• The Arts
• English
• Language
• Canadian and World Studies
• Social Sciences and Humanities

Synopsis

What is it about musical theatre that captures the hearts of millions of fans? Through wars, disasters, heartbreaks and triumphs, musicals have been there to give us a way to understand the human experience and flourish. Has there ever been a better way to represent our inner lives than in glorious Technicolor and song? We invite you on this tune-filled ride to celebrate why musicals have always been the ultimate tonic for the soul in good or troubled times.

Themes and Motifs

• The Unique Power of Musical Theatre
• The History and Purpose of Musical Theatre
• Joy, Celebration and Hope
• Expressing Emotion Through Music

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• What's the role of music in your life?
• What are your earliest musical memories?
• Why do people turn to music in difficult times?
• Why do you think music can sometimes express emotions in a way that words cannot?
• How does music play a role in resistance and social justice?
• In what ways are music and musicals connected to our understanding of human history?
• Which song resonated with you most? Why do you think this is the case?

MINDS ON

Objective: This exercise invites students to analyze music and critically engage with how music can change their mood or state of being.

Materials: Internet/computer access, list of contrasting musical theatre pieces, headphones, paper and writing utensils

Directions:

• Invite students to choose two contrasting musical theatre pieces from the list provided.
• Give students time to independently listen to the songs they have chosen, one at a time.
• With each song, ask students to write down everything that came to mind while listening (e.g. emotions, memories, other songs, words, themes, ideas, images, etc).
• Have students then compare and contrast what came up for them while listening. They may choose to have these discussions in small groups, as a whole class and/or as a written reflection.

Debriefing Questions:

• Have you ever considered the effect music has on you before?
• Did anything surprise you while listening and reflecting?
• Were there any recurring themes or ideas that came up while listening?

CONNECTION TO THE ARCHIVES

The first musical produced by the Stratford Festival was in 1960. Since then, countless musicals have been included and make up an important part of the artistic programming. These images offer a glimpse into some of the musicals produced in our more recent history.

Members of the company in Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel, 2015. Directed by Susan H. Schulman. Set design by Douglas Paraschuk. Costume design by Dana Osborne. Lighting design by Kevin Fraser. Photography by David Hou.

Members of the company in A Chorus Line, 2016. Conceived and Originally Directed and Choreographed by Michael
Bennett. Book by James Kirkwood & Nicholas Dante. Music by Marvin Hamlisch. Lyrics by Edward Kleban. Co-Choreographed
by Bob Avian. Directed by Donna Feore. Design by Michael Gianfrancesco. Lighting design by Paul Miller. Photography by
David Hou.

 
Jennifer Rider-Shaw as Peggy Sawyer with members of the company in 42nd Street, 2012. Music by Harry Warren.
Lyrics by Al Dubin. Book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble. Based on the novel by Bradford Ropes. Directed by Gary
Griffin. Design by Debra Hanson. Lighting design by Michael Walton. Photography by David Hou.

The Stratford Festival's Archives maintains, conserves and protects recent and historical records about the Festival and makes those materials available to people around the world. Our multi-media archival holdings date from 1952 and extend through to contemporary materials. We house correspondence, production records, Board minutes, photography, design artwork, scores, audio-visual records, costumes, props and set decoration, press releases and other promotional materials: these document the processes that bring a production to the stage and reflect all aspects of mounting a play from the administrative to the creative and beyond.  

In addition to visiting the Archives in person, you can explore our online catalogue.

RESOURCES

Perfect Pairings: The Top 5 Contrasting Combinations for Your College Audition
You Can't Stop the Beat  song list
You Can't Stop the Beat Showstarters
Study Guide PDF You Can't Stop the Beat

List of Contrasting Musical Theatre Pieces for Classroom Use:

• "Gorgeous" from The Apple Tree (begin at 4 minutes) and "In a Very Unusual Way" from Nine
• "Off With Their Heads" from Wonderland and "Raining" from Rocky
• "When He Sees Me" from Waitress and "Love, Look Away" from Flower Drum Song
• "Why Can't You Behave" from Kiss Me, Kate (begin at 1:58) and "Will You" from Grey Gardens 
• "Inside Out" from A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder and "Someone to Watch Over Me" from Nice Work If You Can Get It

From the Cabaret

• "I, Don Quixote" from Man of La Mancha and "Twin Soliloquies" from South Pacific
• "A Wonderful Guy" from South Pacific and "If I Loved You" from Carousel
• "I Have Dreamed" from The King and I and "Anything Goes" from Anything Goes
• "All at Once You Love Her" from Pipe Dream and "People Will Say We're in Love" from Oklahoma!
• "Mister Snow" from Carousel and "Blow, Gabriel, Blow" from Anything Goes
• "Suppertime" from As Thousands Cheer and "Honey in the Honeycomb" from Cabin in the Sky
• "Luck Be a Lady" from Guys and Dolls and "Don't Rain on My Parade" from Funny Girl
• "Before the Parade Passes By" from Hello, Dolly! and "A Little Priest" from Sweeney Todd
• "You Will Be Found" from Dear Evan Hansen and "You Can't Stop the Beat" from Hairspray 

Or use your own contrasting selections!

Contact us to book a streamed viewing of this production for your class: groups@stratfordfestival.ca

EDUCATION SUPPORT PARTNER

TOOLS FOR TEACHERS SPONSORED BY

 PROUD SEASON PARTNERS 

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PRODUCTION SUPPORT IS GENEROSULY PROVIDED BY NONA MACDONALD HEASLIP.

SUPPORT FOR THE FILMING OF PRODUCTIONS IN THE 2021 SEASON IS GENEROUSLY PROVIDED BY RICHARD & MONA ALONZO, THE JOHN AND MYRNA DANIELS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, THE HENRY WHITE KINNEAR FOUNDATION, MARTIE & BOB SACHS, ROBERT & JACQUELINE SPERANDIO, ALICE & TIM THORNTON AND BY AN ANONYMOUS DONOR.