1. Broadway Musical Revue Week 4 段馨君 Iris Hsin-chun Tuan Associate Professor Department of Humanities and Social Sciences NCTU

2. Revue The word is French. Revue: a satirical entertainment of fashionable Parisian life that features music, specialty acts, and pretty grils. In American theater, the word applies to a similar form with American character and energy, show with musical numbers, comedy, sketches, and specialty routines. The Admiral Broadway Revue starring Sid Caesar and imogene coca (1949)

3. In a revue, a single unifying force organizes the variety of elements into a cumulative sequence of ascending theatrical peaks designed to service the concept of the show. The revue brings the unity to variety where before there was only variety. It stress vital interrelationships among parts, the cumulative development of the program and the overall effect of the production. CLASSIC TELEVISION SHOWBIZ http://classicshowbiz.blogspot.com/2010/0 3/admiral-broadway-revue-starring-sid.html

4. The revue borrowed its name from the Franch, but indigenous American musical theater forms gave it life, sustenance, and personality. The American revue is the child of four parents: (1)minstrelsy (2)vaudeville (3)burlesque (4)spectacle/extravaganza The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 through 1931.

5. Intimate revue identified the alternative personality, for the shows are of modest means, yet rich in charm, satire, and performance energy like the grand street follies, the Garrick Gaieties, and pins and Needles. Both personalities thrived in the receptive theatrical climate of the early decades of the twentieth century. The grand street follies made audience laugh from 1922 to 1927

6. The spectacular revue The earliest revue relied on the spectacle, beautiful girls, and wonderful stage effects that attracted an affluent public eager for glamour and excitement. The “spectacular” tradition originated with The Passing Show(1894).

7. The show started the trend for spectacular entertainment of constant change but with just sufficient coherency that came to be called revue. By the time the Avon Comedy Four opened in The Passing Show of 1919, Kaufm and goldwin where no longer in the group.

8. Ziegfeld’s formula for the revue called for (1)glamour (2) pace (3)decency (4)spectacle. A band of girl musicians called the girl. The photographs of lovely anonymous Ziegfeld’s girls by Alfred Cheney Johnston.

9. We’ve got to give them something out of the ordinary ---something on a little higher plane than formerly, but with enough snap and go to it to prevent the suspicion of high-brow. The typical Follies--- colorful, tuneful, dazzing, alternately excruciatingly funny and satisfyingly beautiful. Ziegfeld engaged the most outstanding musical theater writers, composer, designers, and performers to execute his follies. Ziegfeld girls photos http://www.doctormacro.com/Movie%20Sta r%20Pages/Ziegfeld%20Girls/Ziegfeld%20 Girls.htm http://www.doctormacro.com/Movie%20Sta r%20Pages/Ziegfeld%20Girls/Ziegfeld%20 Girls.htm

10. “A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody”. Ziegfeld accepted only the most magnificent sets, painted often in pointillist style. Marilyn Miller, a beautiful dancer whom Ziegfeld groomed into the “most dazzling musical shoe personality of Broadway.” Marilyn Miller was one of the most popular Broadway musical stars of the 1920s and early 1930s. She was an accomplished tap dancer, singer and actress, but it was the combination of these talents that endeared her to audiences. All I Want To Do Do Do Is Dance - 1929 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaEA1 V3OTVA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaEA1 V3OTVA

11. Ziegfeld’s main interest turned to book shows like Show Boat. When Ziegfeld died in 1932, the spectacular revue as a consistent and self-generating form died with him. On this day in 1928 – “Ol’ Man River” was recorded by Paul Whiteman and his orchestra. Bing Crosby was the song’s featured vocalist. The song is from the Broadway musical, “Showboat”. Show Boat (1936) - Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5owzfuvE2k http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5owzfuvE2k

12. Theater specifically for opera comique, musical comedies, and revue. The auditorium was construct in the from of true ellipse. In the best tradition of the Ameriacan musical theater, Ziegfeld glorified America and the beauty of the American girl. Seldom in live theater entertainment have so many beautiful girls been assembled under one roof. "I Wanta Be A Ziegfeld Girl" ~ By Absolutely*Kate

13. The intimate revue Not all revues aspired to the spectacular. The Grand Street Follies(1924) succeeded Off-Broadway, it instituted a new approach to the revue that rejected glamour and splendor for simplicity, wit, satire, and sophistication.

14. In order to succeed, an intimate revue requires clever sketches of comic impersonation, lively music, bright lyrics, and refreshing performances. What people were responding to was an irresistible combination of innocence and smartness.

15. “Manhattan” become a hit song, launched the career of Rodgers and Hart, and opened another avenue for the development of the theater song. Althous.gh the spectacular revues fades alng with American affluence during the Depression, the intimate revue survived, especially as an effective forum for musical theater entertainments on serious ubjest Nellie McKay – “Manhattan Avenue” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8KFY3-TlOY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8KFY3-TlOY

16. Another revolutionary success: Oklahoma! The revue neither disappeared, adapted, or degenerated; it survives in cabaret, varsity shows, community theater, and an occasional New York production. OKLAHOMA! OK! - Hugh Jackman 1998 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrDVzbeDzRk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrDVzbeDzRk

17. Porgy and Bess Porgy and Bess is an opera, first performed in 1935, with music by George Gershwin, libretto by DuBose Heyward, and lyrics by DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin. It was based on DuBose Heyward's novel Porgy and subsequent play of the same title, which he co-wrote with his wife Dorothy Heyward. All three works deal with African-American life in the fictitious Catfish Row (based on the area of Cabbage Row[1]) in Charleston, South Carolina, in the early 1920s. The song "Summertime" is the best-known selection from Porgy and Bess. Other popular and frequently recorded songs from the opera include "It Ain't Necessarily So", "Bess, You Is My Woman Now", "I Loves You, Porgy" and "I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'". The opera is admired for Gershwin's innovative synthesis of European orchestral techniques with American jazz and folk music idioms. "I Got Plenty O' Nothing", Porgy and Bess https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giVGv_dnmdY

18. Ethel Merman – Ethel Merman (January 16, 1908 – February 15, 1984) was an American actress and singer.[1] Known primarily for her belting voice and roles in musical theatre, she has been called "the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage. Let Me Call You Sweetheart (1932)-Ethel Merman http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Let_Me_Call_Y ou_Sweetheart_(1932).webm

19. Of Thee I Sing Of Thee I Sing is a musical with a score by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin and a book by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind. The musical lampoons American politics; the story concerns John P. Wintergreen, who runs for President of the United States on the "love" platform. When he falls in love with the sensible Mary Turner instead of Diana Devereaux, the beautiful pageant winner selected for him, he gets into political hot water. Gems from "Of Thee I Sing" (1938)-Jane Froman & Sonny Schuyler & Chorus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbQE0EIFaiE ‘

20. Ethel Waters Ethel Waters (October 31, 1896 – September 1, 1977) was an African-American blues, jazz and gospel vocalist and actress. She frequently performed jazz, big band, and pop music, on the Broadway stage and in concerts, although she began her career in the 1920s singing blues. 'Birmingham Bertha' - Ethel Waters - 1929 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I1RUM3L_Tc

21. Cole Porter Cole Albert Porter (June 9, 1891 – October 15, 1964) was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre. After a slow start, he began to achieve success in the 1920s, and by the 1930s he was one of the major songwriters for the Broadway musical stage. Unlike many successful Broadway composers, Porter wrote the lyrics as well as the music for his songs. Night And Day - Cole Porter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WX_fKVWX2s