History Of

Musical Theatre


Key Points

Truly American Art Form-Combining the

best of the past

Musical Theatre Entertains & Informs

Combines many ifferent forms of Art

It is a place for music to change

All musical theatre can be classifie into !

categories-"efore & After Showboat


"ac#groun Information

Music "y $ The Person %ho %rote The

Instrumental Music

&yrics "y $ The Person %ho %rote the

%ors To The 'ongs

"oo# "y $ The Person %ho %rote The

'cript( )ialogue For The 'ho*


+perettas of ,ilbert & 'ulli-an

T*o "ritish men *ho *ere friens

They *rote formal .Mini/ operas

All Follo*ing a similar theme

Format of ,&' +perettas

0oung &o-ers Meet & are forbien to

marry

'omeone complicates their relationship

'e-eral Comic Characters

Must ha-e a .Patter/ 'ong

Most Famous , & ' +perettas

The Pirates of Penzance

The Mikado

HMS Pinafore


Early American Influences

The Mulligan 'ho*s

1
The Mulligan Guard Ball

Irish Immigrants struggle to come together

Al*ays ha-ing Fun2 although life *as poor

Al*ays a rin#ing song2 to toast friens &

family


3ictor 4erbert

American *ho combine the opera style

*ith the .fun/ of the Mulligan sho*s

Most famous sho*s

1
Babes in Toyland
1
The Streets of New York
1
Naughty Marietta

4e as .star/ po*er to sho*s

Performe *ith his family

Most popular person of the early part of the

century

A&%A0' ene *ith2 .My father than#s

you2 my mother than#s you2 my sister
than#s you2 an I-than# you5/
,eorge M5 Cohan


6789 6st :iegfel Follies

This is a -ariety sho* *ith se-eral ifferent

acts5

;e* sho*s perioically2 then annually5

676<-"iggest sho* e-er & fully establishe

his theatrical status5

4is sho*s mae people forget about the

horrors of %orl %ar I5


The Merry Widow

"iggest sho* to ate5

Popular

An +peretta2 *hich ae an important

.romantic/ ance5

The song2 The Merry Widow Waltz2 *as

playe by e-eryone5 Most popular song for
the early part of the century5


The Girl ro! "tah

=erome Kern>s first musical

4e is -ery important to the history &

e-elopment of theatre5

4e challenges people to try ne* forms of

theatre5


The Princess Theater 'ho*s

=erome Kern>s ne?t sho*s *ere in the

Princess Theater5

These *ere -ery fun2 young2 an en@oyable5

Principle characters *ere in their late teens

& early !8s2 set aroun a college5

Pay tribute to the commeia ell>arte

1
! young couples *ith a fontesca

#ery Good $ddie

%h& Boy'

(ea)e *t To +ane

%h (ady& (ady',*hich inclue the song

Bill *hich *as use in Showboat
Princess Theater 'ho*s

Inclue the song - Pretty Girl is (ike -

Melody2 a stanar an popular song5

'tarte to use "ig ;ame 'tarsAAAA

Marilyn Miller

Fanny "ryce

%ill Bogers-*ho became a leaer aroun

the country *ith his humor & information5
.iegfeld ollies of /0/0,12s


+scar 4ammerstein II

'tarte as a piano player in the ollies

67!C2 his 6st sho* calle 3ose,Marie

1
an operetta set in Canaa
1
3ery rugge & honest

%ants to bring .reality/ to the theatre

67!C2 (ady Be Good2 !n sho* *ith Ira

,ersh*in5 D.Fascinating Bhythm/-"ig 4itE


Kern & 4ammerstein

"oth *ant to bring more reality to the theatre

67!<-*or# together on Sunny

BealiFe they coul *or# together & be

friens5

67!G2 both *or# *ith others that o not

unerstan their -ision

67!9-come together & o Showboat

SHOWBOAT

Showboat premiere on )ecember !92

67!95

+ne of a oFen sho*s to premiere that

night5

+ne of T%+ to remain running the

follo*ing e-ening5

SHOWBOATS IMPORTANCE

Music "y =erome Kern

"oo# & &yrics by +scar 4ammerstein II

Prouce by FlorenF :iegfel

"ase on the no-el by Ena Ferber

SH%WB%-T>s Firsts

First musical *here the music mo-e the plot of

the play for*ar5

First musical to ha-e epth to the boo#H

1
'ocially Bele-antH
1
Aresses the issue of racism in the plotH
*hich *as not allo*e before that timeH
1
Inter-Bacial Couple in a primary roleH
1
African-Americans in ma@or roles5

SH%WB%-T>s Firsts !

First musical to be a )BAMAH up until that

time they *ere musical-comeies5

First EPIC musicalH it is multi-generational

*ith three generations of one family ealing
*ith lo-e5

First musical to inspire more than 6 mo-ie5

First musical to be performe by opera

companies5

%l4 Man 3i)er

Bill

5an4t Hel6 (o)ing That78at Man

-fter The Ball-*hich *as a contemporary

song that *as inclue into the sho* to
gi-e the prouction a moern feel5
'ongs from SH%WB%-T

A "it of "ac#trac#ing
1
Tal#ing Pictures
1
)epression
1
,litF

4olly*oo Musicals
1
91
nd
Street
The I8s Dlate !8sE

,eorge & Ira ,ersh*in

"rothers eicate to musical theatre

Kno*n for their .American/ Feel

1
3ery Patriotic
1
Be-i-e constantly

(ady Be Good

%h& :ay'

-!ericana

%f Thee * Sing
1
G$%3G$ WH*T$4S S5-N8-(S

Porgy ; Bess

67I<-All African-American +pera(Musical

Theatre

Music by ,eorge ,ersh*in

&yrics by Ira ,ersh*in & )u"ose 4ey*ar

"oo# by )u"ose 4ey*ar base on his no-el2

Porgy5

Increibly important in brea#ing o*n

stereotypes5

Porgy ; Bess

Famous 'ongsJ
1
.I &o-e 0ou Porgy/
1
.I>-e ,ot Plenty of ;uttin>/
1
.'ummertime/

% P A & Feeral Theater

Fame for #eeping people employe

The 5radle Will 3ock

1
Too Progressi-e
1
Mo-e the sho* an set the stanar of
creati-e e?pression
1
T4E; %orl %ar II

&eaing to the a great changeAAAA

%:(-H%M-'

67CI-First musical to use )A;CE to mo-e

the plot for*ar5
1
.)ream/ "allet mo-es the sho* for*ar5

"ase on the no-el ,reen ,ro*s the &ilacs2

about the founing of +#lahoma5

Music by Bichar Bogers

&yrics & "oo# by +scar 4ammerstein

Bogers & 4ammerstein
Musicals

67C< 5arousel

67CG State air <M%#*$=

67C7 South Pacific-)eals *ith %orl

%ar II & Bacism

67<6 The :ing ; *

67<K lower 8ru! Song

67<7 The Sound of Music

&in#s For B & 4

'olioLuy

'ome Enchante E-ening

'hall %e )ance

Brigadoon'

67C92 Music by Alan =5 &erner & &yrics &

"oo# by Freeric# &oe*e

3ery Profoun an belo-e artists5

67<6-Paint Your Wagon

1
Clint East*oo sings in the mo-ie 4AA

&erner & &oe*e>s My air (ady

67<G-3ery Important the *ors are

meant to be 'P+KE;2 not sung

Be? 4arrison coul not sing

This le later to Bap Music2 early rap

artists recount hearing this album
*hen they *ere #is5

=ulie Anre*s> First 'ho*A

W$ST S*8$ ST%3Y

Music by &eonar "ernstein

Concept by =erome Bobbins

"oo# by Arthur &aurents

&yrics by 'tephen 'onheim

A moern ay 3o!eo ; +uliet

8irected ; 5horeogra6hed by +ero!e 3obbins

Importance of West Side Story

'ocially rele-ant-ealing *ith real issues of

racism2 immigration2 teenagers2 gangs

3ery aring for theatre

Parents calle for the closing of the sho*

an the theaters

;o* +thers can ta#e ris#s of the sho*

First sho* *ith 'tephen 'onheim

'tephen 'onheim 'ho*s

67<7- Gy6sy'> music by =ule 'tyne2 boo#

by Arthur &aurents2 lyrics by 'onheim

67GI- - unny Thing Ha66ened %n The

Way To The oru!-music & lyrics

6798- 5o!6any

6796- ollies

679I- - (ittle Night Music

'onheim 'ho*s D!E

679<- Pacific %)ertures

6797- Sweeney Todd

67KC- Sunday *n The Park With George

67K9- *nto The Woods

6778- -ssassins

677C- Passion

677G- Getting -way With Murder DplayE

!886- Bounce

Three 'ho*s of Importance
G8s & 98s

Hair- 67GKH first in a series of -ery cultural & social

musicalsJ .pop/

The %ho>s To!!y,67G7H @ust an albumJ"ecomes a

"roa*ay sho* in 6776J4+%E3EB- it is the 6
st
Boc#
+pera

- 5horus (ine- 679<

1
Music by Mar-in 4ammlisch
1
&yrics by E*ar Kleban

I
r
&ongest Bunning 'ho* in "roa*ay history

6796

+esus 5hrist Su6erstar

1
Music by Anre* &loy %ebber
1
&yrics by Tim Bice

'tarte as a concept album & gre* into a

ma@or performance an cultural aspect

3ery a-ant-gare & minimilistic

.Boc#/ +pera- all sung

6797- $)ita'

The 'pectacle 'ho*s

"I,J5"I,J"I,AAAAA

3ery Technical

3ery E?pensi-e 'ets & &ighting

&arge Casts

'pecial Effects 4ea-y

Inspire from the "ritish

5ats in 67K! is the !n-longest running

sho*

+ther 'ho*s by
Anre* &loy %ebber

67K9- Starlight $?6ress

67KK- The Phanto! of the %6era <(ongest running show

on Broadway=

6778- -s6ects of (o)e

677!- +ose6h ; the -!azing Technicolor 8rea!coat

Dre-i-ialE

677C- Sunset Boule)ard

677K- Whistle 8own The Wind

!88<- The Wo!an *n White

+ther 'pectacle 'ho*s

(es Miserables- 67K9

1
British *n)asion Solidified
1
$6ic@ Based on the classic no)el

Miss Saigon, 6778

1
3ietnam story

"ig sho*s still in effect2 but rop in sales

Be-i-als rule the 78s2 until 677GJ

3$NT

Moern )ay +pera base on (a Bohe!e

"rought bac# cutting ege realism into the

theater

3ery Minimalistic- lo* #ey

The story & characters mo-e the sho*2 not

the special effects

Allo*e others to TAKE BI'K'A

677G-7K

677G-Bring *n 8a4 Noise& Bring *n 8a4

unk- brought tap bac# to its roots

677G(9- 5hicago Dre-i-alE- small &

minimalistic

6779, Titanic-big & gran2 but *ith small

elements

677K

677K- 3agti!e ; The (ion :ing,po*erful

an cutting-ege

677K- 5abaret' Dre-isalE- Change in the

classic sho*H the futureM

6777

The Focus of 6777 Is A Combination +f

Npating The PastJA form of BE3I'A&
1
Youre A Good Man Charlie Brown
1
Fosse (Tony Award Winner)
1
Kiss Me Kate
1
Annie Get Your Gun
1
The Music Man

The ;E% Century

The Musicals +f !888 Are Fining ;e*

&ife In Putting Together Past & Present

5ontact- ance sho*JT+;0

The Wild Party,! -ersions

The Suessical DflopE

&ast 0ear

The Musicals +f !888 Are Fining ;e*

&ife In Putting Together Past & Present

5ontact

The Wild Party

The Suessical


!886-!88!

Mo-ies & Boc# BN&E

-Thoroughly Modern Millie DT+;0E
-H-*3SP3-YJ)estine to be a
classicDT+;0E
B+CK- -M-MM- M*- DA""AE
-M%#*N4 %"TD"illy =oelE


P+'T 7(66-T+)A0

Comeies
- -#$N"$ A& P"TN-M 5%"NTY& TH$
83%WSY 5H-P$3%N$

.P+P-'icals/
1
*M-G*N$
1
+$3S$Y B%YS


P+'T 7(66- T+)A0

Mo-ies
1
SP-M,-,(%T
1
H*GH *8$(*TY

Be-i-als
-(*TT($ SH%P % H%33%3S
-TH$ P-+-M- G-M$
BE3I'A&'- SW$$N$Y T%88 & 5%MP-NY
ChangesO Grey Gardens ; S6ring -wakening


Performance TechniLues


Performance TechniLue !

Be-ie* Puestions
%ho is famous for .operettas/M
A5 Bogers & 4ammerstein
"5 'tephen 'onheim
C5 Anre* &loy %ebber
)5 ,ilbert & 'ulli-an

Be-ie* Puestions
The First Fully Integrate MusicalM
-B Show Boat
BB %klaho!a'
5B West Side Story
8B 3ent

BE3IE% PNE'TI+;
The First Boc# +pera Is 5
The Who4s
T%MMY

Be-ie* Puestion
All Musical Theatre can be classifie into
t*o categories "efore
an After 5
Show
Boat Show
Boat

BE3IE% PNE'TI+;
Anre* &loy %ebber *roteO
-B West Side Story
BB 5ats'
5B The Phanto! of The %6era
)5 A & C
E5 " & C

BE3IE% PNE'TI+;
'tephen 'onheim>s first ma@or musical *as
*riting the lyrics for
-B %klaho!a'
BB *nto The Woods
5B West Side Story
8B Passion'

BE3IE% PNE'TI+;
FlorenF :iegfiel is #no*n for small
minimalistic sho*sM
A5 TBNE
"5 FA&'E

BE3IE% PNE'TI+;
The song .'easons of &o-e/ is from
-B S6ring -wakening
BB The (ion :ing
5B 3ent'
8B The Phanto! of the %6era

BE3IE% PNE'TI+;
%hich of the follo*ing is ;+T a .=u#e "o?/
or .Pop/ MusicalM
-B Hairs6ray
BB +ersey Boys
5B Ma!a Mia
8B We Will 3ock You

BE3IE% PNE'TI+;
%hich of the follo*ing is ;+T base on a
mo-ieM
-B Hairs6ray
BB Thoroughly Modern Millie
5B Titanic
8B S6a!,-,(ot