Julia Hrenchuk

Topic:
Florenz Ziegfeld created the Ziegfeld Follies which is an extravagant staged show with
beautiful women and fabulous costumes/sets. Ziegfeld started the staged show fad and
Broadway continued with staged shows such as cabarets, burlesques, and vaudeville. These
staged shows are the building blocks of the staged shows we know today, including the film
industry. Burlesque, cabaret, and variety shows are still in existence today, but in a modern way.
Thesis:
The Ziegfeld Follies, cabaret, burlesque, and vaudeville all influenced the modern idea of live
musicals, show girls, and other staged shows in America.

Bibliography
Appignanesi, Lisa. The Cabaret. New York: Universe Books, 1976.
Farnsworth, Marjorie. The Ziegfeld Follies. New York: Bonanza Books, 1956.
Kenrick, John. "History of Burlesque Part II." History of Burlesque Part II. 2004.
Accessed February 19, 2015. http://www.musicals101.com/burlesque2.htm.
Kenrick, John. "History of the Musical: The Future?" History of the Musical: The
Future? 2006. Accessed February 19, 2015.
http://www.musicals101.com/future.htm.
Maslon, Laurence, and Michael Kantor. Broadway: The American Musical. New York:
Bulfinch Press, 2004.
Mordden, Ethan. Ziegfeld: The Man Who Invented Show Business. New York: St.
Martin's Press, 2008.

Novak, Elaine Adams. Performing in Musicals. New York: Schirmer Books, 1988.
OPB. "About Vaudeville." PBS. October 8, 1999. Accessed February 11, 2015.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/vaudeville/aboutvaudeville/721/.
Richardson, Neal. "Song Types and Structure in Modern Cabaret." Song Types and
Structure in Modern Cabaret. 2012. Accessed February 19, 2015.
http://excavatingthesong.org/For_Education_Purposes_Only/Cabaret_SongTypes_and_Structure.html.
Senelick, Laurence, ed. The American Stage: Writing on Theater from Washington
Irving to Tony Kushner. New York: Library of America, 2010.
Slide, Anthony. The Vaudevillians: A Dictionary of Vaudeville Performers. Westport,
CT: Arlington House, 1981.
Smith, Cecil, and Glenn Litton. Musical Comedy in America. New York: Theatre Arts
Books, 1950.
Stein, Charles W., ed. American Vaudeville as Seen by Its Contemporaries. Compiled by
Alfred A. Knopf. New York: Borzoi Book, 1984.
Stempel, Larry. Showtime: A History of the Broadway Musical Theater. New York, NY:
W.W. Norton &, 2010.
Steyn, Mark. Broadway Babies Say Goodnight: Musicals Then and Now. New York:
Routledge, 1999.

Outline:
I.

II.

II.

II.

Introduction
A. Include thesis and give a brief overview of the subjects being presented in the
paper
1. Ziegfeld Follies-briefly examine who Ziegfeld is and what the follies
were. Briefly explain the extravagaza, showgirls, and other important
aspects of Follies. Consider production aspects.
2. Cabarets-briefly define cabaret and explain the staged show setup.
Explain the difference between a cabaret in the 20s and cabaret today.
3. Burlesques-briefly define a burlesque and tie it back to the Follies.
Explain what a burlesque show consisted of. Explain the difference
between a burlesque show in the 20s and burlesque shows today.
4. Vaudeville-briefly define vaudeville and provide examples of the
different types of variety. Briefly explain that Vaudeville no longer
exists how it did at the beginning of Broadway, but how it still lives on
in other aspects.
Body: Ziegfeld Follies
A. Include background information on the originations of Broadway and the
importance of Ziegfeld
1. Background-give a general background on the start of broadway and
segway into the first extravagant show by Ziegfeld
2. Ziegfeld-provide background information on Ziegfeld and what led up
to him creating the Follies
3. Follies-define what the Ziegfeld follies were and how important they
were to Broadway and the development to staged shows in general.
4. Modern-explain how Ziegfeld developed show girls, beautiful
extravagant shows, and the idea of a staged show. Relate this back to
what we have today in terms of staged shows and beautiful women.
Body: Cabaret
A. Include background information on the originations of the Cabaret and the
importance to staged shows
1. Background-debunk popular notions about cabaret and explain the
purpose in the first place.
2. Girls-explain the women in the cabarets and their purpose. Define what
it meant to work in a cabaret.
3. Compare/contrast-compare and contrast the cabaret to the follies and
describe their relationship.
4. Modern-explain and define the modern notion of a cabaret and provide
examples. Relate this back to the origins of cabaret as a staged show
and how it influenced the modern cabaret.
Body: Burlesque
A. Include background information on the originations of burlesque and its
importance to staged shows
1. Background-debunk popular notions about burlesque and explain the
creation in the first place
2. Girls-relate this back to the follies and the importance of beautiful
women on stage. Talk about sex appeal in relation to comedy.

II.

II.

3. Compare/contrast-compare and contrast burlesque to cabaret and the

follies. Describe their relationship and the differences.
4. Modern-describe the modern idea of burlesque and how old burlesque
ultimately influenced burlesque of today. Explain the change in women
and aesthetic change.
Body: Vaudeville
A. Include background information on the originations of vaudeville and its
importance to staged shows
1. Background-define vaudeville and briefly explain all the aspects of a
variety show. Define variety show in terms of staged shows.
2. Follies-relate vaudeville to the follies and Ziegfeld and the
transformation of actors in vaudeville to bigger shows.
3. Compare/contrast- compare and contrast vaudeville to bigger staged
shows and explain the relationship to the follies.
4. Modern-describe how vaudeville is dead but lives on in other aspects
of staged shows. Explain how vaudeville influenced the modern idea of
staged shows.
Conclusion
A. Reinstate the thesis and provide conclusive material from the topics stated
above.
1. Draw conclusions on how the above shows influenced what we know as
staged shows today
2. Include analysis on the time line and evolution of staged shows.
3. Conclude clearly on the thesis