In musical theater, the "book" refers to the non-musical story elements—narrative structure, character arcs, and spoken dialogue [11]. The term libretto covers both the spoken and sung text (lyrics) [6, 8]. 2. Core Elements of a Script
The heart of the narrative, often structured around a "big idea" with emotional conflict [14, 16]. DRAMA PLAYS MUSICALS
Authentic spoken exchange between characters that reveals personality and advances the plot [14]. In musical theater, the "book" refers to the