Editing Musical theatre (section)

== Amateur and school productions ==
[[File:TNPKidzAct Speedtest2009.jpg|thumb|[[Naples Players]]' teen ''[[Thoroughly Modern Millie]]'', 2009]]
Musicals are often presented by [[amateur theatre|amateur]] and school groups in churches, schools and other performance spaces.<ref>Major organizations representing amateur theatre groups include [[National Operatic and Dramatic Association]] in the UK, American Association of Community Theatre in the US, and the International Amateur Theatre Association. School groups include the Educational Theater Association, which has 5,000 member school groups in the US. See Nadworny, Elissa. [https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/07/30/427138970/the-most-popular-high-school-plays-and-musicals "The Most Popular High School Plays and Musicals"], [[NPR]], November 13, 2015, accessed March 14, 2016</ref><ref>[[Peter Filichia|Filichia, Peter]]. (2004) ''Let's Put on a Musical!: How to Choose the Right Show for Your School, Community or Professional Theater'', Watson-Guptill Publications, {{ISBN|0823088170}}</ref> Although amateur theatre has existed for centuries, even in the New World,<ref name=Lynch>Lynch, Twink. [http://www.aact.org/community-theatre-history "Community Theatre History"], American Association of Community Theatre, accessed March 14, 2016</ref> [[François Cellier]] and Cunningham Bridgeman wrote, in 1914, that prior to the late 19th century, amateur actors were treated with contempt by professionals. After the formation of amateur [[Gilbert and Sullivan]] companies licensed to perform the [[Savoy opera]]s, professionals recognized that the amateur societies "support the culture of music and the drama. They are now accepted as useful training schools for the legitimate stage, and from the volunteer ranks have sprung many present-day favourites."<ref name="Cellier and Bridgeman">{{Cite book|last1=Cellier|first1=François|author-link1=François Cellier|last2=Cunningham|first2=Bridgeman|year=1914|title=Gilbert and Sullivan and Their Operas|location=London|publisher=Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons|pages=393–394}}</ref> The [[National Operatic and Dramatic Association]] was founded in the UK in 1899. It reported, in 1914, that nearly 200 amateur dramatic societies were producing Gilbert and Sullivan works in Britain that year.<ref name="Cellier and Bridgeman"/> Similarly, more than 100 amateur theatres were founded in the US in the early 20th century. This number has grown to an estimated 18,000 in the US.<ref name=Lynch/> The Educational Theater Association in the US has nearly 5,000 member schools.<ref>Nadworny, Elissa. [https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/07/30/427138970/the-most-popular-high-school-plays-and-musicals "The Most Popular High School Plays and Musicals"], NPR.org, November 13, 2015, accessed March 14, 2016</ref>