The History of the Broadway Musical

Some background on Broadway… Broadway theatre district 40 professional theatres 500+ seats in midtown Manhattan (Lincoln Center not pictured on this map)

Some background on Broadway… Theatres that are considered “Off-Broadway” don’t meet those requirements (100-499 seats) Most new shows have try-out run off-Broadway or in other cities first Majority of shows are musicals, which usually have longer run

Some background on Broadway… Usually 8 performances a week; Monday is typically “dark” Most shows are intended to make a profit for producers and investors (“backers” or “angels”) Average cost to produce a Broadway musical = $10 million; $2.5 million for a play Annual awards program = the Tony Awards Equivalent of Broadway theatre in England is London’s West End

Some Musical Terminology… A book musical = a musical play in which songs and dances are fully integrated into a well-made story Book – story; script Lyrics – the words in the songs; written by a lyricist Composer – writes the music The Score = music + lyrics Libretto – book + lyrics; written by a librettist

Early “Musicals” Burlesque – comic shows performed by all women; dance, singing, comedy sketches Minstrel – comic shows performed in black-face Vaudeville – variety show: musicians, jugglers, acrobats, comedians, animal acts, etc. Revue – combines music, dance, and sketches; not much of a plot Operetta – light opera with acting Some people consider The Black Crook to be the first musical (1866)

Gilbert and Sullivan British songwriters Wrote 14 comic operas in the late 1800s H.M.S. Pinafore The Pirates of Penzance The Mikado http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=i+am+the+very+model+of+a+modern+major-general&view=detail&mid=80EEF91085A50AD56D2780EEF91085A50AD56D27&FORM=VIRE

Florenz Ziegfeld A producer The Ziegfeld Follies (1907-1931)

Some famous Ziegfeld performers… George M. Cohan (“Yankee Doodle Boy”) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeDDqYrfvt8

Some famous Ziegfeld performers… Bert Williams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDIhPpGa6_A

Some famous Ziegfeld performers… Fanny Brice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bsPXnkrqRA

Show Boat 1927 First “real” Broadway musical Produced by Ziegfeld Written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein “Old Man River” No curtain call

The 1920s… Jazz affected music and dance Cinderella stories very popular Walter Winchell (“The Big Apple”)

Shuffle Along 1921 First major successful African-American musical on Broadway Written by Miller & Lyles and Sissle & Blake

Al Jolson Started in minstrel shows Famous for his “Mammy” songs Starred in first “talking picture” – The Jazz Singer (1927)

1930s -1940s Influences on Broadway The Depression Many Broadway actors and musicians moved to Hollywood to work Federal Theatre Project World War II

Famous performers and musicians of this time… Ethel Merman Singer and actress; known for loud, brassy voice (“iron-lungs”) Anything Goes Annie Get Your Gun Gypsy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCfqIXiLxSE

Cole Porter Composer and lyricist Rich and sophisticated Anything Goes Kiss Me, Kate http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=cole+porter+fred+astaire&view=detail&mid=9FBF2FB03F60EBA051829FBF2FB03F60EBA05182&FORM=VIRE

Irving Berlin composer and lyricist “the greatest songwriter that has ever lived” “White Christmas” “God Bless America” “Puttin’ on the Ritz” This Is the Army Annie Get Your Gun

George and Ira Gershwin George = composer Ira = lyricist Girl Crazy Porgy and Bess

Some names and shows from 1940s-1960s Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein Rodgers = composer Hammerstein = lyricist “Golden Age” of musical theatre

Rodgers and Hammerstein Oklahoma! Carousel The King and I South Pacific Cinderella The Sound of Music

Alan Lerner and Frederick Loewe Lerner = lyricist and librettist Loewe = composer My Fair Lady Julie Andrews’ first big show Brigadoon Camelot

Big Shows and Big Names 1950s- West Side Story 1957 Updated version of Romeo and Juliet very controversial Director/Choreographer = Jerome Robbins Composer = Leonard Bernstein Lyricist = Stephen Sondheim

Fiddler on the Roof Biggest hit of 1964 Director/choreographer = Jerome Robbins Composer/lyricist team = Bock and Harnick Signified the end of the “traditional” Broadway musical

John Kander and Fred Ebb Kander = composer Ebb = lyricist Cabaret Chicago Fosse Kiss of the Spider Woman

Bob Fosse Choreographer and director Worked on Chicago and Cabaret with Kander and Ebb https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlAaePjm4s8

Hair 1967 Rock musical Drugs, nudity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADNbtAID5wM

A Chorus Line Director/choreographer = Michael Bennett Composer = Marvin Hamlisch Called “The Dancers’ Project” = developed from interviews with working dancers

Jerry Herman Composer and lyricist Hello, Dolly! Mame La Cage aux Folles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onzSu80sALk

Stephen Sondheim Composer and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein was his mentor and father-figure Writes complex musicals about unlikely topics Collaborated on many shows with Hal Prince and James Lapine

Stephen Sondheim A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Company Sweeney Todd Follies A Little Night Music Anyone Can Whistle Assassins Sunday in the Park with George Pacific Overtures Into the Woods Bounce

Andrew Lloyd Webber English composer Phantom of the Opera Jesus Christ Superstar Cats Evita Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Sunset Boulevard The Woman in White

Cameron Mackintosh English producer Premiered musicals in West End, then moved to Broadway Les Miserables Phantom of the Opera Cats Miss Saigon Mary Poppins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2EfJmFjPsg

Cameron Mackintosh New style of publicity

Disney on Broadway https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z941bdMLi6Y Mary Poppins High School Musical High School Musical 2 Beauty and the Beast Camp Rock The Lion King Newsies The Hunchback of Notre Dame Tarzan Future productions??? The Little Mermaid Aladdin Frozen The Jungle Book The Princess Bride

Rent 1996 Jonathan Larson – composer and lyricist Rock music, sex, drugs, HIV/AIDS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MS5GyGlovE

The Producers 2001 Based on Mel Brooks’ 1967 movie Music and lyrics by Mel Brooks Record-breaking 12 Tony wins Starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick

Wicked 2003 Music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell and Pippin) Based on the book by Gregory Maguire Produced by Universal Studios Broke box office records

Winners of the Tony for Best Musical since 2000… Contact (2000) The Book of Mormon (2011) The Producers (2001) Once (2012) Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002) Kinky Boots (2013) Hairspray (2003) A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (2014) Avenue Q (2004) Fun Home (2015) Spamalot (2005) Hamilton (2016) Jersey Boys (2006) Spring Awakening (2007) Starting in 1994, also gave Tony award for Best Revival of a Musical In the Heights (2008) Billy Elliott (2009) Memphis (2010)

Hamilton 2015 Music, lyrics, and book by Lin-Manuel Miranda (In the Heights) Inspired by Ron Chernow’s bio of Hamilton Record-breaking 16 Tony nominations; 11 wins Hip-hop, rap http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hamilton-cast-join-2016-grammys-via-satellite-20160215