What are the major qualities that distinguish a musical from a traditional play? What makes musical theatre unique?

What will be an ideal response?

ANSWER:Whereas
realistic theatre is representational, with the actors pretending that the audience
is not there, musicals are often presentational, with the performers fully aware of the
audience's presence.
Though a musical may contain scenes performed in a representational manner, there will
also typically be song or dance numbers that are played directly to the audience.
Musicals tend to have higher energy and a heightened level of reality and emotion.
Many musicals are perceived as more entertaining and uplifting than most traditional
plays.
Whereas most nonmusical plays consist only of dialogue, musicals are comprised of three
elements: the music, the lyrics, and the libretto.
Whereas most plays have a single author, most musicals have multiple authors.