2024 Syllabus - Music Theatre

For the first time, the 2023 Festival is offering both live and virtual classes. Prior to the pandemic, only live accompaniment was allowed for live classes. During the pandemic, singing to prerecorded tracks became acceptable while public health didn't condone in-person meetings. To allow maximum flexibility for classes requiring accompaniment, in this transition year, we are RECOMMENDING that live accompaniment be used for all live classes but will allow the use of backtracks in alignment with the OMFA's 2023 rules:

Accepted accompaniment can include live accompaniment by piano, guitar, ukulele, or backtracks without background vocals. Tracks can be purchased from www.karaoke-version.com

Before 1970 - Ballad

Perform a Ballad written for and performed in a professional musical theatre stage production that premiered before 1970. Please research your selection carefully to determine the date of the original production (not the date of the movie release or stage revival). Songs should be age appropriate. In classes separated into male and female, entrants are welcome to enter where they feel comfortable as we want to respect the individual's right to sing in any voiced category based on their identity. Costumes and props are permitted (Note: only two handheld props are permitted at Provincials). Please use live, not recorded, accompaniment in live classes.

**Note - songs originally from movies (including movie musicals, animated films, or stage musicals based on animated films) are now listed under "Songs from the Screen and More" **

Before 1970 - Up Tempo

Perform an Up Tempo selection written for and performed in a professional musical theatre stage production that premiered before 1970. Please research your selection carefully to determine the date of the original production (not the date of the movie release or stage revival). Songs should be age appropriate. In classes separated into male and female, entrants are welcome to enter where they feel comfortable as we want to respect the individual's right to sing in any voiced category based on their identity. Costumes and props are permitted (Note: only two handheld props are permitted at Provincials). Please use live, not recorded, accompaniment in live classes.

**Note - songs originally from movies (including movie musicals, animated films, or stage musicals based on animated films) are now listed under "Songs from the Screen and More" **

1970 and Beyond - Ballad

Perform a Ballad written for and performed in a professional musical theatre stage production that premiered in 1970 or later. Please research your selection carefully to determine the date of the original production (not the date of the movie release or stage revival). Songs should be age appropriate. In classes separated into male and female, entrants are welcome to enter where they feel comfortable as we want to respect the individual's right to sing in any voiced category based on their identity. Costumes and props are permitted (Note: only two handheld props are permitted at Provincials). Please use live, not recorded, accompaniment in live classes.

**Note - songs originally from movies (including movie musicals, animated films, or stage musicals based on animated films) are now listed under "Songs from the Screen and More" **

1970 and Beyond - Up Tempo

Perform an Up Tempo selection written for and performed in a professional musical theatre stage production that premiered in 1970 or later. Please research your selection carefully to determine the date of the original production (not the date of the movie release or stage revival). Songs should be age appropriate. In classes separated into male and female, entrants are welcome to enter where they feel comfortable as we want to respect the individual's right to sing in any voiced category based on their identity. Costumes and props are permitted (Note: only two handheld props are permitted at Provincials). Please use live, not recorded, accompaniment in live classes.

**Note - songs originally from movies (including movie musicals, animated films, or stage musicals based on animated films) are now listed under "Songs from the Screen and More" **

Duet or Trio

Perform a duet or trio written for and performed in a professional musical theatre stage production. Costumes and props are permitted. Please use live, not recorded, accompaniment for live classes.

Provincial Qualifying

Perform two (2) contrasting selections from professional Musical Theatre fully staged productions. Musicals that have only been workshopped, songs from Reviews, Cabarets or songs that are written as stand-alone songs in musical theatre style are NOT permitted. These are now entered in "Songs from the Screen and More"

Competitors will be judged on the whole performance package, including selection choices, interpretation, and program arrangement as well as contrasting tempi, style, age appropriateness and suitability.

a) It is recommended that both selections be from different musicals and different composers.
b) It is recommended that one selection be a ballad and one selection be up-tempo.
c) For Intermediate, Senior and Advanced levels,a selection from the "Golden Age" (1943-1974).i.e. composers such as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe, Bock and Harnick, (early) Sondheim, etc. is highly recommended.
d) Selections from animated films and movie musicals are permitted at the Beginner, Primary, Elementary, Junior and Intermediate levels only.
e) Selections from STAGED Disney productions are permitted at all levels. Please note: Competitors must use the versions of songs as shown in the production book/score and not arrangements.
f) Performances must be from memory.
g) There is no minimum performance time. The absolute maximum performance times are as follows:

Beginner: Ages 6-8: Ten (10) Minutes
Primary: Ages 9-10: Ten (10) minutes
Elementary: Ages 11-12: Ten (10) minutes
Junior: Ages 13-14: Ten (10) minutes
Intermediate: Ages 15-16: Fifteen (15) minutes
Senior: Ages 17-18: Fifteen (15) minutes
Advanced: Ages 19-28: Fifteen (15) minutes
Adult: Ages 29+: Fifteen (15) minutes

Triple Threat

Perform a selection written for and performed in a professional musical theatre stage production. A triple threat performer shows aptitude in singing, dancing and acting. Performers in this category should combine these three elements into a performance. Performances should be age appropriate and gender specific. Only two handheld props will be allowed at the Provincials.

Featured Musical - "Anne of Green Gables"

**New for 2024**. We have chosen a musical to feature for both our annual benefit concert and to include selections as test pieces in the Musical Theatre category of the festival. The musical for 2024 is "Anne of Green Gables - The Musical" Test pieces have been sorted into three categories:
Duet or Trio - sing one of "We Clearly Requested a Boy", "Humble Pie", "Kindred Spirits", or "I'll Show Him" in any voice configuration you choose (ie. songs are written to be sung by two or three people but it's your choice as to how this is shared)
Solo - sing one of "The Apology", "Wond'rin", "The Words", or "Anne of Green Gables"
Ensemble - sing one of "Where'd Marilla Come From", "Ice Cream", "Open the Window", "If It Hadn't Been For Me" (ensembles may be of any size, and may sing in unison or with solo lines as indicated in the published music)