Regards to Broadway!: 3-Part Mixed Teacher's Handbook

This revue works as both a standalone concert event and a springboard for deeper musical study. The dozen carefully selected songs span genuine blockbusters across a century of Broadway, giving students exposure to a wide stylistic range while the optional narration (written for up to 50 speakers) transforms what could be a disconnected medley into a coherent theatrical narrative. The 100% reproducible score and extracted singer pages eliminate the logistical headaches of managing multiple editions, and the choreography notes throughout mean you're not starting from scratch if you want to add staged movement.

A vibrant tapestry of Broadway glamour and storytelling unfolds across 35 minutes. You move from the golden age of American musical theater through contemporary hits, each song maintaining its own personality and energy while the narration reminds audiences why these stories matter. There's genuine fun here: upbeat jazz rhythms, soaring melodies, and moments of real theatrical emotion that land because the material is recognizable and beloved.

This handbook is designed for elementary and middle school choral directors working with grades 4 and up, though upper elementary singers will need support with some of the rhythmic and harmonic complexity. Singers at this level gain invaluable exposure to iconic American musical theater repertoire while learning how entertainment, history, and music interweave.

• Use the narration strategically to break up song sequences and refresh audience attention; it also gives singers backstage time for quick costume changes or mental resets between numbers.
• Build your speaker ensemble from across grade levels and ability ranges. Even shy students thrive when reading scripted lines, and the narration creates natural ensemble ownership of the entire show.
• Familiarize yourself with the recorded accompaniment before first rehearsal. The live-orchestra enhancement means the singers hear a fuller sound in rehearsal than in a piano-only setting, which helps them lock into the proper energy and style of each Broadway era.
• Start choreography work after singers are secure with melody and rhythms. Albrecht's notes are practical starting points, not rigid choreography; adapt them to your stage, your singers' comfort level, and your available rehearsal time.

Build your spring concert around this single revue as the anchor event, using the narration to create a complete evening with minimal additional repertoire. Alternatively, excerpt individual songs (carefully selecting 2-3 that fit your singers' level) to program alongside your regular choral mix, giving audiences a taste of the full show. The historical narrative also works beautifully as a culminating project late in the year, when singers have built the stamina and musicianship to handle both the vocal demands and the theatrical presentation.

• Sight-reading in 2-part and 3-part mixed voicing across varied song styles and era-specific musical idioms
• Theatrical storytelling and interpretation within a choral context
• Jazz and contemporary singing inflection (swing rhythms, bluesy phrasing, contemporary vibrato)
• Coordination of singing, movement, and ensemble focus during choreographed passages
• Ensemble blend and balance in shorter, faster-moving song sections that require rhythmic precision
• Understanding how American musical theater evolved and how each era's musical language reflects its cultural moment