Genre and Aesthetic Specificity of Modern Children's Musical

The purpose of the article is to reveal the specifics of children's musicals in the system of musical and theatre genres using the example of Ukrainian authors’ works; to establish a complete set of genre and aesthetic features of a modern children's musical. Research methodology. The method of systemic and genre-stylistic analysis was applied, thanks to which the children's musical was considered as an independent genre of musical and theatrical art, genre and stylistic features, as well as artistic and aesthetic specificity were revealed; the method of comparative analysis, which contributed to the identification of common and distinctive features of a classical musical and a children's musical. Scientific novelty. The genre and aesthetic specifics of children's musicals of the first decades of the 21st century have been studied. The phenomenon of the synthesis of arts as the aesthetic basis of a children's musical has been analysed. The aesthetic proximity of children's musicals and musicals for adults, their characteristic appeal to popular literary works, the equivalence of musical, dramaturgical, plastic, and stage means of expression have been considered. Conclusions. The development of musicals for children as a genre is a dynamic process that continues even at the present stage. Its genesis is combined with the dominant role of synthesising processes, at the level of the dramatic primary source, music-theatrical and cross-genre dialogues, symbiosis and interpenetration of various styles and stylistic elements, as well as the laws and trends of the entertainment industry. A modern musical for children is a unique complex music-theatre project, in which scenario dramaturgy and plastic-dance spectacle prevail, which are the basis of the formative regularities of its dance component. A children's musical, a unique holiday genre, unlike classical musicals, among which there are works with a very serious, lyrical, and sometimes sad content, is a musical for children at the level of content and form, namely the plot, presentation of the material, its degree, energy, dynamics, is on the wave of a festive show, which creates a joyful state of mind and an uplifted mood. 
Key words: children's musical, stylistic specificity, genre features, aesthetic features