Introduction to Musical Theater

Three main forms of art Music Music Dance Dance Spoken dialogue Spoken dialogue

Three components of the musical Book Book The dialogue The dialogue Written by the librettist Written by the librettist Music Music Written by the composer Written by the composer Lyricist Lyricist

The very beginning… Opera Opera Recitative and Aria Recitative and Aria What is the difference between opera and musical theater? What is the difference between opera and musical theater?

18 th Century (1700’s) Opera developed into comic opera. Opera developed into comic opera. Original scores Original scores Parody of opera Parody of opera Ballad operas Ballad operas Used popular music of the time and incorporated it into a storyline. Used popular music of the time and incorporated it into a storyline.

19 th Century (1800’s) Vaudeville Vaudeville Small vignettes of singing, dancing and acting Small vignettes of singing, dancing and acting Separate unrelated acts Separate unrelated acts Comedians, singers, acrobats Comedians, singers, acrobats Burlesques Burlesques Rhyming couplet dialogue Rhyming couplet dialogue Popular music with changed lyrics Popular music with changed lyrics Audience would recognize the music. Audience would recognize the music.

The Black Crook Charles M. Barras, playwright Charles M. Barras, playwright Guiseppi Operti and George Bickwell, music Guiseppi Operti and George Bickwell, music Premiered in 1866 Premiered in 1866 Considered the first show to conform to what we consider the modern musical Considered the first show to conform to what we consider the modern musical Song and dance helped to convey the story. Song and dance helped to convey the story.

W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan Gilbert – librettist Gilbert – librettist Sullivan – composer Sullivan – composer VERY famous duo in musical theater VERY famous duo in musical theater Wrote several comic operas: Wrote several comic operas: H.M.S. Pinafore, The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance H.M.S. Pinafore, The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance

1920’s Theater began to have competition with motion picture Theater began to have competition with motion picture Silent movies and movies with sound Silent movies and movies with sound Musicals began to pull in big stars of the time to compete with the big screen Musicals began to pull in big stars of the time to compete with the big screen Less attention to plot Less attention to plot

1920’s cont. Show Boat Show Boat Solidifies musical genre with all aspects Solidifies musical genre with all aspects Lady Be Good!; No, No Nanette; Oh! Kay Lady Be Good!; No, No Nanette; Oh! Kay George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Richard Rogers, Lorenz Hart, Fred and Adele Astaire George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Richard Rogers, Lorenz Hart, Fred and Adele Astaire

1930’s Great Depression and chap “talkies” presented new challenges Great Depression and chap “talkies” presented new challenges Of Thee I Sing! Of Thee I Sing! George and Ira Gershwin George and Ira Gershwin Won Pulitzer Prize Won Pulitzer Prize

1930’s (cont) Anything Goes! Anything Goes! Starred Ethel Merman – Starred Ethel Merman – first woman of musical theater first woman of musical theater Cole Porter Cole Porter On Your Toes!; Can-Can; The Boys from Syracuse On Your Toes!; Can-Can; The Boys from Syracuse

1940’s Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein team up for Oklahoma! Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein team up for Oklahoma! Follows in the steps of Show Boat by integrating all aspects of musical theater. Follows in the steps of Show Boat by integrating all aspects of musical theater. Hypothetical Love Song – People Will Say We’re In Love Hypothetical Love Song – People Will Say We’re In Love

1940’s (cont) Carousel Carousel One of the first to incorporate a tragic plot. One of the first to incorporate a tragic plot. Hypothetical Love Song – “If I Loved You” Hypothetical Love Song – “If I Loved You” South Pacific – Rogers and Hammerstein South Pacific – Rogers and Hammerstein Annie Get Your Gun Annie Get Your Gun Kiss Me Kate Kiss Me Kate

1950’s Rogers and Hammerstein – ended their reign Rogers and Hammerstein – ended their reign The King and I, Sound of Music The King and I, Sound of Music Leonard Bernsetin Leonard Bernsetin West Side Story West Side Story

1960’s Steven Sondheim Steven Sondheim Began to emerge in this decade Began to emerge in this decade A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Anyone Can Whistle Anyone Can Whistle The Fantasticks; Fiddler on the Roof; Man of La Mancha; Hello, Dolly!; Cabaret; Mame The Fantasticks; Fiddler on the Roof; Man of La Mancha; Hello, Dolly!; Cabaret; Mame

1970’s Rock Musicals Rock Musicals Jesus Christ Superstar; Godspell; Rocky Horror Show Jesus Christ Superstar; Godspell; Rocky Horror Show African-American influence African-American influence Dream Girls; The Wiz Dream Girls; The Wiz Sondheim continued Sondheim continued Sunday in the Park with George; Into the Woods; Sweeney Todd; Company Sunday in the Park with George; Into the Woods; Sweeney Todd; Company

1980’s and 1990’s More pop=influenced music More pop=influenced music Extravigant sets, casts, effects Extravigant sets, casts, effects Phantom of the Opera; Evita, Miss Saigon; Les Miserables Phantom of the Opera; Evita, Miss Saigon; Les Miserables Beauty and the Beast; Lion King; Little Mermaid Beauty and the Beast; Lion King; Little Mermaid Rent – rock opera based on La Boheme Rent – rock opera based on La Boheme

2000’s More extreme approaches More extreme approaches Urinetown; Avenue Q; The 25 th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Urinetown; Avenue Q; The 25 th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Literature adaptations Literature adaptations Wicked; Little Women; Dracula Wicked; Little Women; Dracula Film Adaptations Film Adaptations The Producers; Hairspray; Legally Blonde; Spamalot, Dream Girls The Producers; Hairspray; Legally Blonde; Spamalot, Dream Girls

The End!