ParkTalk Podcast: Influence of Music and Dance

Thursday, December 4, 2025

Episode Description:

Ahead of Magical Starlight Theatre's January 2026 production of "Shrek: The Musical", the show's Music Director John Apple and Choreographer Jeanne O'Connell discuss the impact music and dance have on musicals independently and together.

Quotes from the Episode:

How can dance convey a musical’s story?

You want the dance steps to represent the show, the characters, and coincide with the music. Depending on the music and what we’re trying to convey, the steps need to tell that story. – Jeanne O’Connell

How does music influence the overall emotional tone?

It doesn’t matter if it’s an underscore, a major production, a flashy dance number, a tender ballad or a duet – there’s not one musical moment that is not intrinsic to telling that story. They’re all so important. The story gets told almost like a rollercoaster ride. There’s the anticipation for what’s going to happen, there’s the immediate situation that comes about, and the music is helping weave all that emotionally through it. – John Apple

What are you most excited to share with audiences for Shrek: The Musical?

There’s a big tap dance number in the show, and I don’t think we’ve had a tap number at Magical Starlight Theatre for the last 10 years! So, it’s fun to bring that to the stage, and the people who are in that tap number have been working very hard to polish their tap skills. – Jeanne O’Connell

I really enjoy the aspect of when all of the elements come together. Even though tech week is a grueling and incredibly physical week, seeing the components of lights and set and all the design elements come together is a magical moment. – John Apple