Download Musical Theatre History

Development of the Musical
Primitive Man -Medieval Europe
Caveman - explained customs through
music, song, dance, and acting
 5th Century B.C. - sang (chanted) lines,
chorus moved rhythmically to music
 Rome - pantomimes used a dancer to
relate story through movement as chorus
sang narration
 Medieval Europe - wandering performers
provided entertainment for castles (nobles)
and town festivals (everyone else)
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Renaissance - 18th Century
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Italian
 Commedia dell’arte used singing and dancing
 Intermezzo (between acts) used songs, dancers, music,
scenery
 1st opera: Dafne 1597 (chanted lines to music)
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English
 Used masques, intermezzos and background musicians
for entertainment as well as pantomime (the English
version of commedia dell’arte)
 Burlesques which featured scantily dressed women
 Ballad Operas which featured plots, dialogues songs with
new lyrics to old melodies
 Comic Opera which featured original music
19th Century - USA
Comic Operas and Pantomimes
performed
 Minstrel shows - played banjos,
tambourines, sang, danced, and made
jokes in Blackface.
 Music Halls and Vaudevilles - unrelated
acts, magic, jugglers, acrobats,
sketches, animals, singers, and
dancers.
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1st Musical
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The Black Crook - Sept 12, 1866 in New
York
 Ran 474 performances
 5 1/2 hours long
 Mixture of drama, spectacle, scenery,
transformations with ballet and scantily clad
dancers
 Lots of scenic special effects
The Black Crook Synopsis
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Evil, wealthy Count Wolfenstein seeks to marry the lovely
village girl, Amina. With the help of Amina's scheming
foster mother Barbara, the Count arranges for Amina's
fiancé, Rodolphe, an impoverished artist, to fall into the
hands of Hertzog, an ancient, crook-backed master of
black magic (the Black Crook). Hertzog has made a pact
with the Devil (Zamiel, "The Arch Fiend"): he can live
forever if he provides Zamiel with a fresh soul every New
Year's Eve. As innocent Rodolphe is led to this horrible
fate, he discovers a buried treasure and saves the life of a
dove. The dove magically transforms into human form as
Stalacta, Fairy Queen of the Golden Realm. She rewards
Rodolphe for rescuing her by bringing him to fairyland and
then reuniting him with his beloved Amina. Her army
defeats the Count and his evil forces, demons drag
Hertzog into hell, and Amina and Rodolphe live happily
ever after.
Early 20th Century - USA
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Ziegfield Follies (and other revues) were the main
source of entertainment
Composers such as Irving Berlin, Cole Porter,
Jerome Kern, Victor Herbert, Richard Rodgers,
and George Gershwin got their start in these
venues
Foreshadowed our demands for glitz, glamour,
and expense in entertainment
Preproduction expenses topped $250,000 with
$123,000 going to costumes alone (the average
American earned $19.20 per week in 1920)
1920s
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By the time the “Roaring 20s” came
around…
○ Melodramas took rise
○ Realism and naturalism were introduced
○ Lots of pressure on technical theatre to
accommodate both styles of theatre
○ In reaction to these styles, anti-realistic and
anti-traditional modes of theatre began to
arise
1920s (continued)

“New age of American Musical”
 Showboat in 1927 by Jerome Kern and
Oscar Hammerstein II
○ Events span 40 years
○ Serious theme with musical #s and plot
○ Represented the departure from standard
musicals by introducing new elements
including spectacle, details,realism, in depth
characters
○ Influenced by Opera, Blues, and current
dances (Charleston)
○ Grossed $50,000/wk for 2+ year run
○ Revived in 1966 where it grossed
$100,000/wk
Showboat Synopsis
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When it comes to music on the Mississippi
river, the Cotton Blossom show boat is the
place to go. When musical main attraction
Julie Laverne and her husband are
suddenly forced to leave the show, Cotton
Blossom owner Andy Hawks’ own
daughter, Magnolia, takes center stage.
She soon falls madly in love with roguish
gambler Gaylord Ravenal, and the two
leave the Cotton Blossom on a
honeymoon, only to enter into a tumultuous
marriage.
Ol’ Man River
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyJt
GNk9iEU
No matter what we do, or what happens to us; the river
keeps flowing.
1930s
The public became more aware that quality
theatre was more important than it being
cheap, thoughtless entertainment.
 By the time the Great Depression too hold
of NY, theatre in general began to suffer.
More than 1/3 of the 68 commercial
theatres in the Broadway district closed by
the end of the 30s.
 The only other time in American history this
many theatre companies closed at one
time was right after 9/11.
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1930s
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Technically:
 Spectacle and razzle-dazzle OR
 Realistic details

1st Pulitzer Prize for Best Play of the Year
 Of Thee I Sing
 1931
 George and Ira Gershwin, Geory Kaufman and
Morrie Ryskind
 Raised the status of what musicals should be
1930s
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1st Innovative Operatic Musical
 Porgy and Bess
 1935
 By Gershwins and Heyward
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Other 30s Hits
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The Bandwagon 1931
Anything Goes 1934
Dead End 1935
The Boys from Syracuse 1938
DuBarry Was A Lady 1939
Recent revivals
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8E
vkVVpg0A
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3b5
XRd15KM
Porgy and Bess revived twice, 2012
earned 10 nominations and 2 wins.
 Anything Goes revived twice, won Best
Revival both times.
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1940s
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As the Depression ended, so did the falling
economy.
WWII left an impression on Broadway - one of pride
and nationalism.
This was reflected in Theatre of this decade
 1st Book Musical - Oklahoma! 1943 Rogers and
Hammerstein - 2 year run
○ Reflected foundations previously set by Show Boat
○ New Element - Opening Number
○ Emphasis on character and book rather than spectacle.
○ Plot progressed through songs closely integrated w/book.
○ Full Orchestra, large cast of singers, dancers, and actors.
Opening number
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNEUtN21cuU
My Favorite Opening Number
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Gjc
CflPxeg
1940s
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Other 40 hits
 Carousel - 1945
 Annie Get Your Gun - 1946
 Kiss Me, Kate - 1948
 South Pacific - 1949
 Brigadoon - 1947
 State Fair - 1945
1950s
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War was over - economy healthy
Average ticket price for a show - $6.00-$8.00
(Average ticket price today is $100 for standard
seat)
Musicals during this decade were a strong mix
of script and music
Movie versions of live musicals start to happen
Focus - less on spectacle and more on Dance
 West Side Story - 1957
○ Specific dancing as a means to advance the plot and
reveal characters (Jerome Robbins)
○ Based on Romeo and Juliet
Cool- West Side Story
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wug
WGhItaQA
1950s
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Other 50s Hits
 Guys and Dolls - 1950
 The King and I - 1951
 My Fair Lady - 1956
 Gypsy - 1959
 The Sound of Music - 1959
1960s
Broadway money-making machine
 Went from Artistic to business-driven
 The Rock Musical is born
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 1st Rock Musical - Hair 1968
○ Minimal plot - sharp political commentary (antiVietnam war)
○ Simple scenery and props
○ Actors change costumes and roles in front of
audience
○ Informal and spontaneous
○ Full frontal nudity
○ Amplified sound
1960s
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Hits of the 60s
 Bye Bye Birdie - 1960
 Camelot - 1960
 How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
 Hello Dolly - 1964
 Funny Girl - 1964
 Fiddler on the Roof - 1964
 Man of LaMancha - 1965
 Mame - 1966
Telephone Hour- Bye, Bye, Birdie
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHep
sd7-l-I
1970s
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Undertones of the 60s carried over to the 70s
Pushing the limit technically
Large-scale musicals and spectacle sets
Emphasis on concept - idea or theme not“boy gets
girl” plots.
 Not melodic/singable tunes
 Episodes = illustrate concept
 Songs reveal character’s feelings, comment on action and
are tailored for the situation
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Workshop method
 Writers and Composers write with performers
 Potential backers go to the workshops
1970s
Cabaret - 1972 - Bob Fosse choreographer
 Stephen Sondheim and Harold Prince take
control
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 Company - 1970
 A Little Night Music - 1973
 Sweeney Todd - 1979
 Sunday in the Park With George - 1984
 Into the Woods - 1987
Fosse style dancing.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcrZ
IK3gqbU
1970s
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Other 70 Hits
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Jesus Christ Super Star - 1971
Godspell - 1971
Grease - 1972
Pippin - 1972
The Rocky Horror Show - 1974
A Chorus Line - 1975
Chicago - 1975
Annie - 1977
Evita - 1978
Pippin
Still using Fosse style dance.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI7S
ZnwRCJI
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1980s
Lots of musicals being imported from
England
 Costs continue to rise, making it more
difficult to recover investments.
 Decline was so sharp in 1987-88 only 31
new productions were mounted (compare to
the 34 new musicals and 57 plays that
opened in 2009)
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1980s
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80s Hits
 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat - 1982
 Cats - 1982 (grossed over $915 million by
April 1991)
 Phantom of the Opera 1988 ($8 million
initial investment - grossed $413 million by
1991)
1980s
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Other 80 Hits
 Les Miserables - 1980
 Little Shop of Horrors - 1982
 Sunday in the Park - 1984
 Big River - 1985
 Into the Woods - 1987
 Fame - 1988
 Miss Saigon - 1989
I’d Give My Life for YouMiss Saigon
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwB
3Zxh2gSE
1990s
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Lots of Technical Overkill
The Corporate Musical is created
Hits of the 90s
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City of Angles - 1990
Jekyll & Hyde - 1990
Kiss of the Spider Woman - 1993
The Lion King - 1997
Rent - 1996
Titantic - 1997
Ragtime - 1998
The Lion King
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgZtzDj_7o
2000s
Musicals run the gamete between technical
overkill and very simple.
 Movies are becoming sources
 “Jukebox” Musicals arrive.
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 A jukebox musical is a stage or film musical that
uses previously released popular songs as its
musical score. Usually the songs have in common
a connection with a particular popular musician or
group — because they were either written by, or
for, the artists in question, or at least covered by
them.

“Disneyfication of Broadway”
Jukebox Musical Examples
All Shook Up
 Jersey Boys
 Rock of Ages
 American Idiot
 Beautiful- The Carole King Musical
 On Your Feet
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American Idiot
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wY
boPRGx3U
2000s
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Hits from this era include:
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Aida - 2000
The Full Monty - 2000
The Producers - 2001
Urinetown - 2001
Mama Mia - 2001
Hairspray - 2002
Thoroughly Modern Millie - 2002
Wicked - 2003
Avenue Q - 2003
25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee 2004
 Mary Poppins - 2004
2000s Continued
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Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - 2004
Billy Elliot - 2005
Spamalot - 2005
Jersey Boys - 2005
The Drowsy Chaperone -2006
Spring Awakening - 2006
The Wedding Singer - 2006
Legally Blonde - 2007
Next to Normal - 2008
10’s on Broadway
The teens of 2000 had their up’s and
downs on Broadway.
 Tickets became too expensive.
 People would rather go to movies or
watch television.
 Many shows opened, and didn’t last
very long.

2015/2016 and Hamilton
An unreal amount of shows open on
Broadway.
 Making Live Theatre important again.
 Hamilton is nominated for a record
breaking 16 Tony Awards, and wins 11.
 Ticket prices $849.
 Sold out.
 Saves Alexander Hamilton in currency
change.

Wait For It- Hamilton
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReT
P6x_sDiM
This upcoming season…
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
 Spongebob Squarepants the Musical
 Miss Saigon- Transfer from West End
 Dear Evan Hansen
 Singin’ In the Rain- Revival
 AND…....
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Most Importantly
Hello, Dolly!- Starring Bette Midler
 Anastasia- Starring Derek Klena
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More from Derek Klena
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3mi
cDQRmco
Tony Award

The award was founded in 1947 by a
committee of the American Theatre
Wing, headed by Brock Pemberton. The
award is named after Antoinette Perry,
nicknamed Tony. She was an actress,
director, producer, and co-founder of the
American Theatre Wing. She died in
1946.
Tony Awards cont.
First ceremony, 1947.
 Lots of rules that categorize “Broadway
Play.” Such as seat numbers, production
opening, new vs. revival, etc.
 Usually at Radio City Music Hall or
Beacon Theatre.
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Categories
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Performance categories
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Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a
Musical
Categories
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Show and technical categories
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Best Musical
Best Revival of a Musical
Best Direction of a Musical
Best Book of a Musical
Best Original Score
Best Orchestrations
Best Choreography
Best Scenic Design in a Musical
Best Costume Design in a Musical
Best Lighting Design in a Musical
Best Play
Best Revival of a Play
Best Direction of a Play
Best Scenic Design in a Play
Best Costume Design in a Play
Best Lighting Design in a Play
Fun Facts

Play productions with the most Tony nominations:
 Tom Stoppard's The Coast of Utopia (2007) and August Wilson's
Fences (2010 revival) - 10
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Play production that has won the most Tony Awards:
 Tom Stoppard's The Coast of Utopia (2007) - 7
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Musical productions with the most Tony nominations:
 Hamilton (2016) - 16
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Musical production that has won the most Tonys:
 The Producers, the new Mel Brooks musical (2001) - 12
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Musical revival with most Tony Awards:
 South Pacific (2008) - 7
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Musical revival with most Tony nominations:
 Kiss Me, Kate (2000) - 12
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Performer with most Tony nominations:
 Chita Rivera - 10
Fun Facts
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Performers with the most Tony Awards:
 Audra McDonald – 6; Julie Harris – 6 including one Special Tony Award
Individual who has received most Tony Awards:
 Harold Prince - 21
Composer with most Tony Awards:
 Stephen Sondheim - 8
Choreographer with most Tony Awards:
 Bob Fosse - 8 (plus one for direction)
Host of most Tony Awards telecasts:
 Angela Lansbury - 5
Longest-running Best Musical:
 The Phantom of the Opera (1988 - )
Theatre that housed the most Tony-winning Best Plays and Best Musicals:
 Richard Rodgers Theatre - 11
Number of ties in Tony history:
 10
Best performance EVER.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ww
zXdwM1C0