Author Identifier
Adrian Kelly: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3159-3844
Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Thesis
Publisher
Edith Cowan University
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
School
Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts
First Supervisor
Matt Styles
Second Supervisor
Jonathan McIntosh
Third Supervisor
Craig Dalton
Fourth Supervisor
Lindsay Vickery
Abstract
This thesis explores the adaptation of Richard Boleslavsky’s acting method for trumpet performance in musical theatre, with the aim of maximising both the utility and aesthetics of trumpet playing, and fostering deeper integration between pit musicians and stage actors. Employing a practice-as-research (PaR) methodology, the study synthesises surveys from professional trumpet players, interviews with musical directors, and the author’s reflective practice and performance experiences. Central to the research is the reframing of Boleslavsky’s Acting: The First Six Lessons— concentration (utility), memory of emotion, dramatic action, characterisation, observation, and rhythm (praxis)—for application to trumpet performance. This multidisciplinary approach merges acting techniques with musical training, enhancing the trumpet player’s capacity to convey emotion and character through music. Creative outputs include the composition of eight theatrical studies targeting technical challenges specific to musical theatre trumpet playing, a cabaret-style concert, and participation in a professional production of West Side Story. These outputs validate the framework through targeted application, with West Side Story serving as the primary exemplar due to its canonical status, idiomatic trumpet writing, and accessibility (factors corroborated by global survey data), and serve as practical demonstrations of the adapted Boleslavsky method’s effectiveness. The research contributes a novel framework for trumpet players in musical theatre, enabling the development of both technical proficiency and artistic expression. It also provides insights into the intersection of acting and music performance, suggesting that interdisciplinary approaches can result in more nuanced and emotionally resonant performances. The findings highlight the significance of interdisciplinary praxis in musical theatre, positioning the trumpet player not merely as an accompanist but as an active dramatic collaborator. By integrating acting methodologies into trumpet pedagogy and performance, the study offers practical tools for musicians and educators, potentially enriching the broader field of musical theatre and advancing the synergy between orchestral and theatrical disciplines.
Access Note
Access to this thesis is embargoed until 11th October 2028
DOI
10.25958/88he-qn67
Recommended Citation
Kelly, A. (2025). Reframing Boleslavsky: A method for the maximisation of the utility and aesthetics of trumpet performance in musical theatre. Edith Cowan University. https://doi.org/10.25958/88he-qn67