Students

MMCC3005 – Musical Theatre

2026 – Session 2, Online-scheduled-weekday

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor and Lecturer
Nadine Manion
nadine.manion@mq.edu.au
Contact via nadine.manion@mq.edu.au
Hub 191, 10 Hadenfeld Ave
Consultation by appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Pre-requisite 130cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit explores the vast and complex world of musical theatre, a constantly evolving multidisciplinary genre in the music, performing arts and entertainment industries. The unit mixes theory and practice that investigate theatre and performance that integrates voice, music and movement. Students explore methods of musical theatre creation, appreciation and performance through industry case studies and the production of collaborative group projects in which students assume defined roles. No prior discipline-specific knowledge is required.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: identify and analyse a broad range of musical theatre productions and genres.
  • ULO2: create independent and collaborative discipline-specific work.
  • ULO3: evaluate multidisciplinary skills and knowledge to produce, direct and/or realise a musical theatre performance.
  • ULO4: communicate musical theatre conventions and production.
  • ULO5: apply academic and reflective writing skills that demonstrate disciplinary knowledge.

General Assessment Information

Assessment

  • Rubrics are used for all assessments and will be available on iLearn.
  • Assessment standards in this unit align with the University's grade descriptors.
  • A computer and Internet access are required. Music playback facility is also required.

Written and Performed Submissions

No songs or musical works that have been performed or analysed for assessments in other units may be used for assessment tasks in this unit.

Written assessment tasks must be submitted through Turnitin by the due date/time shown. 

Assessment tasks

  • Group times for the final assessment will be scheduled in Week 13.
  • Due to copyright, no practical assessments may be recorded or posted to social media or any online platform.
  • Performances are to be from memory. That is, no reading of scripts, lyrics or music.
  • Singing in a language other than English is permitted. Please email a translation of the lyrics to the unit convenor prior to the assessment date. 

Referencing Style

For all written work, students are required to use the APA 7th referencing style for all in-text referencing, reference lists and spoken song analyses. This also includes references for recorded material where appropriate.

Please use the Library databases for your own research purposes and do not use Wikipedia as a reference.

iLearn Forums

Students are required to participate in iLearn Forums for all group discussions. Please do not use social media, e.g., do not use Facebook. Due to copyright issues, the posting of lyrics, sheet music and/or videos on iLearn is not permitted. If appropriate, please post only links to resources such as websites/YouTube. Please ensure that these are legitimate sites (e.g., artist's websites).

Return of marked work

Work will be marked and returned with feedback in order for students to incorporate feedback in subsequent assessments.

Late Assessment Submission Penalty  

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.
   
This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic.
 
Link to the Special Consideration application can be found here:

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Research Essay 50% No 20/09/2026 Individual Yes Open
Performance Project 30% No Week 13 - times TBA Individual and Group No Observed
Reflective task 20% No 16/10/2026 Individual Yes Open

Research Essay

Assessment Type 1: Professional task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: 20/09/2026
Weighting: 50%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

Students will prepare an essay responding to guidelines available in iLearn. Students will use academic sources and examples from their own research to support the identification and evaluation of the components of musical theatre production/s. Refer to iLearn for further information.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • identify and analyse a broad range of musical theatre productions and genres.
  • communicate musical theatre conventions and production.
  • apply academic and reflective writing skills that demonstrate disciplinary knowledge.

Performance Project

Assessment Type 1: Creative task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: Week 13 - times TBA
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual and Group
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

Students participate in a collaborative creative process that culminates in a multidisciplinary music theatre performance. Projects will focus on the creation of an individual component and then the subsequent integration of musical theatre components. Class presentations relating to the performance project will include tutorial discussions of works in progress. An individual reflection statement will be uploaded as the final part of this performance project. Refer to iLearn for further information.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • identify and analyse a broad range of musical theatre productions and genres.
  • create independent and collaborative discipline-specific work.
  • evaluate multidisciplinary skills and knowledge to produce, direct and/or realise a musical theatre performance.
  • communicate musical theatre conventions and production.

Reflective task

Assessment Type 1: Reflection task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 16/10/2026
Weighting: 20%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

An individual reflection statement reflecing on the performance project. Refer to iLearn for further information.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • identify and analyse a broad range of musical theatre productions and genres.
  • communicate musical theatre conventions and production.
  • apply academic and reflective writing skills that demonstrate disciplinary knowledge.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • Academic Success for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

Lectures commence in Week 1 and tutorials will commence in Week 2.

Online students can access the lectures via Echo360 (link on ilearn) and tutorials via Zoom (link on ilearn).

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit https://students.mq.edu.au/support/technology/service-desk. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2026.02 of the Handbook