Do you refer to musicals as "plays" ?

I like it when people refer to musicals as plays, I feel it sounds more legit, and flattering to the dramatic form of the musical.

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I think a musical is a play. If you denote something as a straight play, it stands to reason there are other kinds of plays - ie, musical plays.

Are musical movies not movies nonetheless?

It is very irritating to me when people refer to musicals as plays.

I usually just say shows.

I see your point, but I think that's a technicality, a bit of theatre jargon masquerading as common language. It's all shades of the same color.

And, yes, you're a bit anal, but so what?? It's part of your charm, my dear!

It doesn't really matter to me one way or the other, but I understand where the OP is coming from. We each have our own pet peeves about such things.

For example, having grown up in a rural area where the 3 meals of the day, were "breakfast, dinner, and supper," I had to get used to "breakfast, lunch, and dinner" once I got married and started living in a more city-suburban area.

I wouldn't correct anyone if they called a musical a "play" -- or I'd do so subtly, as in "oh, yes, I've heard that musical is quite good" :) (That is, assuming I even know from the title which it is. I'm admittedly not as up on all things Broadway as most of you who post on here are.)

- Barb

I have the same opinion as Not Barker, Todd. A musical is a play with music. There's a script, but also music and lyrics. I like it when they are referred to as plays.

Sometimes it really annoys me when I hear it and I don't refer to musicals as "plays". Actually, I usually say "show", regardless of what it is.

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I also always say “show” when going to see something regardless of what it is, but I admit I kind of cringe when all my family/friends (non-theater goers mostly) call musicals “plays.” If I go see a musical, they always ask me, “How was the play?” Or a few times a conversation such as this happened:
Me (back last fall): “I’m going to see Claire Danes in the play Pygmalion.”
Family members: “Oh… she sings?”
Me: “No… it’s not a musical…”

I think that when they think of Broadway, they automatically think musical and sadly forget that they are some great straight plays out there. I still know what they’re saying though. And since they don’t really know much about Broadway, I don’t really correct them. Same thing when they say “soundtrack” instead of cast recording… oy, that’s another one.

I'm glad someone posted this!

It gets to me too. I see the points of people above, but it just doesn't sound right when a musical is referred to as a 'play'. It just connotes more straight forward acting and not singing and dancing.

Although, I hear them being referred to as 'plays' way more by American's than people here in the UK.

Glad I'm not the only one!

Seems pretty common that many experienced theater-goers prefer the play/musical distinction, yet non-theater-goers seem to refer to everything as plays. I'm surprised at the relative unanimity.

And, yes, you're a bit anal, but so what?? It's part of your charm, my dear!

Haha, I know, I just wanted to avoid the "lighten up! Don't be so anal!" posts, so I preemptively degraded myself .

Updated On: 7/7/08 at 08:18 PM

TonyVincent...I like the last comment on your post I also try to make "disclaimers" so those posters with remarks about the obvious, don't waste their time!

Anyway, agree with you, also.

BUT, I happen to think of musicals as plays with music and dance incorporated. Therefore, I consider the play as being "a part" of a musical, or a show that can stand all on its own.
Overall, the show thing is best to be "politically correct" when referring to ANYTHING in theater (maybe they could put this explanation for tourists, on Broadway pamphlets

Agreed, it gets confusing when talking to people who refer to musicals as plays...at least in my mind, that automatically means no singing present. The recommendation thing has happened to me, too, where someone asks for a play recommendation and then they'll start listing musicals.

I think the cast recording/soundtrack thing is way more irksome, though...

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