Chapter 15

 Opera buffa became popular with audience members. These “light operas” or operettas were stage plays with songs and dance interspersed with spoken lines.  Toward the end of the 1800s, the operetta crossed the Atlantic and was transformed.  Broadway musical – a dramatic stage form that combines the arts of acting and singing.

 Forerunners of the musical include operettas, minstrel shows and vaudeville.  Vaudeville – an early staged variety show that included songs, dances, and comedy skits  The first time “Broadway” became synonomus with musicals was in 1904 with “Give My Regards to Broadway” from the musical “Little Johnny Jones”.  HM HM

 In 1920s, storylines of musicals became more important with richer plotlines.  Dialogue – the spoken lines of a play or musical show  Prior to WWII, musicals reflected optimism.  After WWII, many musical standards were released including:  “The Sound of Music”  “West Side Story.”  Repertoire – an inventory of compositions mastered and performed by a musician

 During the latter part of the 20 th century, musicals began addressing darker, more serious themes in their storylines.  “Chicago”  “Cabaret”

 West Side Story (1961) – 10 Oscars (Best Picture)  My Fair Lady (1964) – 8 Oscars (Best Picture)  The Sound of Music (1965) – 5 Oscars (Best Picture)  Cabaret (1972) – 8 Oscars  Chicago (2002) – 6 Oscars (Best Picture)  Les Miserables (2012) – 3 Oscars

 In the early 1970s, British and French writing teams were making major contributions to musicals.  Andrew Lloyd Webber – “Cats,” “Evita,” and “Phantom of the Opera”  Elton John and Tim Rice – “The Lion King” and “Aida”  Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil – “Les Miserables” and “Miss Saigon”

 Javert – parole officer  Jean Valjean – (24601) main male character  Fantine – female, works in a factory (“I Dreamed a Dream”), mother of Cosette  Cosette – Fantine’s daughter, being raised by an innkeeper and his wife  Eponine – daughter of the innkeeper and his wife, same age as Cosette  Marius – young revolutionary, falls in love with Cosette, love interest of Eponine

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