Can musical theatre be taught online?

In the last two months, I have been taking musical theatre classes online at really ungodly hours of the day. Taking notes from watching other performers get live feedback from actual actors and showrunners was a novel experience and even though I didn't get to sing - in my defense, it was 3AM here! - I learned so much from those short and information-packed sessions. Being able to ask questions about the industry and getting valuable insights straight from the biggest players on Broadway was amazing. However, for an art form as physical and vocal as musical theatre, are online classes really an effective replacement for live classes? Let's break things down and find out.

The most unique selling point about acting classes today has to be its unprecedented accessibility. The Zoom medium levels the playing field - you don't have to be in New York City to hear from the people who have mastered their craft. From my bedroom in Singapore, I had access to Laura Bell Bundy's masterclass on acting the song and Rachel Bertone's seminar for scoring points in the audition room. That in itself is a huge gift. For the first time in history, everything has shifted online, and that is the single largest plus point of starting an acting career during the pandemic.

Furthermore, the price of receiving an education in the arts has also drastically reduced. The quality of learning off a screen is definitely something we'll discuss in detail later, but you simply cannot deny that for many people, being able to spend US$20 or so for two or three online masterclasses a month is so much more realistic than throwing five thousand bucks into a three week long summer intensive.

However, when all of that is said and done, can musical theatre really be taught online?

For students who just need a quick fix, and for people who need a way to get in touch with theatre during a pandemic with no end in sight, musical theatre classes can be a lifesaver. Instructors can visually spot and direct their students while addressing their vocal techniques. For most soloist songs, the online class medium should work just fine.

While we wait for theatres to reopen at full capacity...

On the other hand, duets and ensemble numbers are where things get tricky. One person's slightly slower internet connection may cause the entire performance to fall out of place. Intimate scenes don't feel right - how do you caress someone from halfway across the world? Thankfully, art always finds a way. Watching those performances and snapping up whatever tips and tricks I could grasp, the online masterclasses were still a valuable learning experience. Despite their limitations in space and technological flaws, it was the knowledge that counts, and thankfully I was able to integrate as much of that as I can.

From my musical theatre classes, for a fraction of the cost, I got a solid introduction to the art and science of vocal production. I managed to learn hacks like chest isolation, vowel modifications and head placement. Given that private voice lessons would've cost so much more, I'm happy that I'm getting as much training in as I can even if it's not as rigorous as an in-person class would be. Moreover, I also got to sit through detailed lectures on realistic acting within the musical theatre genre as well as extremely specific and helpful tips from the most qualified professionals on Broadway.

My verdict? Online musical theatre classes are absolutely amazing gifts in this era. While they may not entirely replace in-person conservatory training, they have their own merits and they function as an alternative for those who simply do not have access to in-person training at this time.

I'm taking another class tomorrow - Creating the Character by Sing'Theatre's Mina Kaye, and the theatre kid in me is absolutely excited for it. There's a pandemic raging through the world, but the show must go on.