Musical Theatre A Brief History – Part 1 Early Influences

Early Influences - English ballad opera The Beggar’s Opera – 1728; Flora – 1735 No historical scenery or costumes No historical scenery or costumes Spoken play with preexisting popular songs amid dialogue Spoken play with preexisting popular songs amid dialogue Musical parody - Late 18 th, early 19 th century Satire of famous story or performer – burlesques Satire of famous story or performer – burlesques Pantomime with songs and dances for entertainment and variety Pantomime with songs and dances for entertainment and variety 1828 – Hamlet 1828 – Hamlet

The Beggar’s Opera – 1728 by John Gay & John Christopher Pepusch Music Clip "Fill Every Glass"

Early Influences - Minstrel Show First major contribution to theatre by blacks in America First major contribution to theatre by blacks in America Product of black slave culture mingled with white colonial potpourri Product of black slave culture mingled with white colonial potpourri Dan Emmet, composer “Old Dan Tucker”, “Blue-Tail Fly”,1843, brought Virginia Minstrels to NY – touring show Dan Emmet, composer “Old Dan Tucker”, “Blue-Tail Fly”,1843, brought Virginia Minstrels to NY – touring show Three part show performed in “blackface” Three part show performed in “blackface” 1- Fantasia - The Walkaround (Cakewalk) singing & dancing 2 - Olio – snappy banter, jokes, solo musical (banjo, fiddle, tambourine, singing, bone castanets) (banjo, fiddle, tambourine, singing, bone castanets) 3 - Burlesque (parody) – one-act vignette; satire of plays or carefree life on the plantation

1929 audio recording that follows the classic format of a minstrel show 1929 audio recording that follows the classic format of a minstrel show “Camptown Races” by Stephen Foster - Al Jolson performing “Camptown Races” by Stephen Foster - Al Jolson performing Blackface performer The CakewalkThe Cakewalk

Early Influences - Minstrel Show Ed Christy Minstrel Show – featured Stephen Foster, composer “My Old Kentucky Home” – touring show Ed Christy Minstrel Show – featured Stephen Foster, composer “My Old Kentucky Home” – touring show Olio grew into variety or vaudeville show Olio grew into variety or vaudeville show Fantasia became Broadway Revue Fantasia became Broadway Revue Satire became used as themes for later musicals Satire became used as themes for later musicals

Christy Minstrels Part 2 – The Olio

Early Influences – New York City Shift from rural to city life created a demand for permanent theatres and pleasure gardens Shift from rural to city life created a demand for permanent theatres and pleasure gardens 1866 – The Black Crook – used theatrical effect and sensual pleasures to become a theatre extravaganza 1866 – The Black Crook – used theatrical effect and sensual pleasures to become a theatre extravaganzaThe Black Crook The Black Crook Showed producers and investors that frivolity could substitute for dramatic and musical substance (as in European opera) Showed producers and investors that frivolity could substitute for dramatic and musical substance (as in European opera) 1874 – Evangeline was first to use an original musical score – first musical comedy 1874 – Evangeline was first to use an original musical score – first musical comedy 1879 – The Brook used a common locale or event to interweave stories (like a sitcom/serial) – first desire for meaningful story 1879 – The Brook used a common locale or event to interweave stories (like a sitcom/serial) – first desire for meaningful story Mulligan Shows – 1880’s was a burlesque on the common people of NY – tales of the ordinary became important Mulligan Shows – 1880’s was a burlesque on the common people of NY – tales of the ordinary became important

The Black Crook – 1866 FirstFirst American Acting Troupe Using Women First

Early Influences - Operetta 1890’s – 1920, European Operetta was an instant success as it toured U.S. 1890’s – 1920, European Operetta was an instant success as it toured U.S. Gilbert & Sullivan’s satirical operetta was especially popular Gilbert & Sullivan’s satirical operetta was especially popular Gave way to American imitations (Sousa) Gave way to American imitations (Sousa) HMS Pinafore HMS Pinafore “Captain of the Pinafore” 9:30 HMS Pinafore

Musical Theatre A Brief History – Part 2 American Influence

American Influences – U.S. was the economic world leader U.S. was the economic world leader U.S. was victorious after WWI U.S. was victorious after WWI Optimistic society – an American not European culture was developing Optimistic society – an American not European culture was developing Development of American Writers and Performers Development of American Writers and Performers Women and Black performers allowed onstage Women and Black performers allowed onstage Revues/Follies were dominant form of entertainment Revues/Follies were dominant form of entertainment

American Songwriters Wrote for major music publishing houses in New York City (“Tin Pan Alley”) – before the phonograph, people used to purchase sheet music to sing around the piano Wrote for major music publishing houses in New York City (“Tin Pan Alley”) – before the phonograph, people used to purchase sheet music to sing around the piano The rise of Tin Pan Alley—as music and institution—depended on the mass immigration of East European Jews to New York beginning in the early 1880s The rise of Tin Pan Alley—as music and institution—depended on the mass immigration of East European Jews to New York beginning in the early 1880s Tin Pan Alley 1910

Birth of American Songwriters Also the historical shift of America's black population from South to North where cultures interacted informally in neighborhoods, music halls and businesses created a new American sound Also the historical shift of America's black population from South to North where cultures interacted informally in neighborhoods, music halls and businesses created a new American sound Wrote swinging optimistic melodies – “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”, “In the Good Old Summertime”, “By the Light of the Silvery Moon” Wrote swinging optimistic melodies – “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”, “In the Good Old Summertime”, “By the Light of the Silvery Moon”

Songs of Tin Pan Alley 1911 Irving Berlin 1919 George Gershwin 1911 George M. Cohan

Early Composers Victor Herbert – Irish/German - continued American Operetta style – Babes in Toyland 1903 Victor Herbert – Irish/German - continued American Operetta style – Babes in Toyland 1903 George M. Cohan – Little Johnny Jones 1904 George M. Cohan – Little Johnny Jones 1904 Irving Berlin – Russian/Jewish songwriter Irving Berlin – Russian/Jewish songwriter George Gershwin – American born songwriter George Gershwin – American born songwriter Rudolf Friml – Austrian - brought European Opera style – Rose-Marie 1924, The Vagabond King 1925 Rudolf Friml – Austrian - brought European Opera style – Rose-Marie 1924, The Vagabond King 1925Rose-Marie The Vagabond King Rose-Marie The Vagabond King

American Revues – the Follies

American Musical Comedy Showed a picture of contemporary America Showed a picture of contemporary America Had a shallow insubstantial look Had a shallow insubstantial look Had happy endings Had happy endings Music and plot were not integrated - Songs were recycled and moved from one revue to another Music and plot were not integrated - Songs were recycled and moved from one revue to another In 1924, ASCAP (co-founded by Herbert, Cohan, Berlin, Kern and others) won a long battle to give American composers creative control over their stage scores. In 1924, ASCAP (co-founded by Herbert, Cohan, Berlin, Kern and others) won a long battle to give American composers creative control over their stage scores.

Vincent Youmans

Musical Theatre A Brief History – Part 3 Age of Development

The Age of Development Factors that influenced the development of musical theatre during this period were: Factors that influenced the development of musical theatre during this period were: Global economic crisis (depression) Global economic crisis (depression) Global warfare (WWII) Global warfare (WWII) Since theatre often mirrors its environment, operettas and large scale productions seemed out-of place. Since theatre often mirrors its environment, operettas and large scale productions seemed out-of place. A new kind of musical was developed using great literature as the story base A new kind of musical was developed using great literature as the story base

Jerome Kern - Showboat

George Gershwin

Cole Porter

Richard Rodgers

Kurt Weill Refugee from fascist Europe Refugee from fascist Europe His work reflected the awareness of social and political issues His work reflected the awareness of social and political issues Made serious avant-garde attempts with setless, costumeless, orchestraless, political satires Made serious avant-garde attempts with setless, costumeless, orchestraless, political satires Most famous was The ThreePenny Opera made “Mack the Knife” a hit Most famous was The ThreePenny Opera made “Mack the Knife” a hit New Broadway Version Three Penny Opera

Musical Theatre A Brief History - Part 4 The Golden Age

Golden Age of Musicals  Musicals lost their innocence by the end of WWII  Broadway activity was reduced to a trickle  In 1943 Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein formed a partnership to produce a musical on the play Green Grow the Lilacs  In 1943 Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein formed a partnership to produce a musical on the play Green Grow the Lilacs

Reign of R & H  Oklahoma! developed a new formula for a new Era. (3:30 “Oh What a Beautiful Morning”) Oklahoma!  Song and dialogue were interspersed  Used Agnes de Mille ballet as dance form (1:30:30 “Dream Ballet”) Agnes de Mille Agnes de Mille  Had a sympathetic villain  Threw out much of the rules of the previous era (unrelated song, music and dance, happy endings, small scale)

R & H Domination  R & H continued to dominate the American musical for the next 20 years  Musicals were based on great literature  Had profound, universal, humanistic theme:  Carousel (domestic violence), South Pacific (racial bias), The King & I (role of women), The Sound of Music (anti-Semitism) Carousel South Pacific The King & I Carousel South Pacific The King & I  Characters were rarely trite; plots rarely predictable; endings not always happy

Other Golden Age Composers  In 1950’s music of Broadway was popular music of western world  1950 Frank Loesser – Guys & Dolls  1956 Lerner & Lowe – My Fair Lady  1957 Leonard Bernstein – West Side Story  1957 Meredith Wilson – The Music Man  1964 Sheldon Harnick - Fiddler on the Roof

Hair – the era of “rock” James Rado and Jerome Ragni The musical broke new ground in musicals by creating the “rock musical” The musical broke new ground in musicals by creating the “rock musical”rock musicalrock musical Racially integrated cast Racially integrated cast Invited audience onstage Invited audience onstage Much controversy due to profanity, use of drugs’ irreverence for American flag and onstage nudity Much controversy due to profanity, use of drugs’ irreverence for American flag and onstage nudity