How do we define musical theatre?

-theatrical performance that utilizes music

-unites theatre, music, dance, and visual art

Theatre in the colonies

traveling troupes (England)
“community entertainments”

first american troupe

1783 - American Company of Comedians, Old American Company
not actual job

1787 The Contrast - the “first” American play {the earliest we have
access to
1794 Philly - theatrical epicenter
1791 Chestnut Street Theatre “oldest” theatre in America

1840s - Minstrel Show

First major American Musical Theatre Form
1843 Virginia Minstrels
no plot, collection of jokes, family entertainment
created black stereotypes: Sambo, Mammy, Old Darky, Mulatto, Zip
Coon
Coon Songs
nostalgic view of slave life
Blackface
erasing truth for people in the North

Variety Shows
contemporary songs, nods to minstrelsy
1864 Tony Pastor

1860s - Vaudeville
2 part form
12+ acts
circuit, big circle hit all major cities
vaudeville for common people
people that had been in america longer, shift to operetta
The Black Crook
the first extravaganza

American Burlesque

1880s- American Operetta

Gilbert & Sullivan
copyright protections
John Philip Sousa

1900s - American Musical Comedy/Revue

Star vehicles until 1915
Little Johnny Jones
George M. Cohen

Shuffle Along
Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle
most integrated structure
both african american, all african american cast

Florenz Ziegfeld Jr
Great Impresario
commercial viable theatre
sold extravagance

Tin Pan Alley

hotel with piano in every room, Irving Berlin, Gershwin, Jerome Kern
song pluggers

1910 - Princess Musicals

intimate theatre, needed plot driven musicals
musical numbers carry plot, realistic
Jerome Kern

1920s - Democratization of Desire

credit, stuff and experiences = worth, character
jazz age, music
Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart
stock market crashes
vaudeville houses showing movies

1927 - Showboat
Operetta and musical comedy
first black and white principals together
book musical
themes
Jerome Kern
influences Hammerstein
lose progress to 1929

1935 - Folk Opera

Gershwins Porgy & Bess - bc of point it makes
telling African American story through white mouths
Cole Porter, Rodgers & Hart, Irving Berlin shows getting produced
because their family is wealthy

1943 - The Classic Musical

Oaklahoma!
1st cast recording & Late night appearance
Cookie cutter classics
Rodgers and Hammerstein

1959 - West Side Story

dance helps tell the story, not a pull out moment

Vessels of Social Discussion

integral part of musical,
Fiddler

Vessels of Social Protest

Cabaret, Man of La Mancha
step towards concept musical
places audience in club

Concept Musical
Chorus Line
musical

Megamusical
british invasion
shift of demands in performers
new producers
ticket prices are rising

hybrids
dance musical
jukebox musical
movie musical

1994-1997
disney invasion

Neoclassic Musicals
structurally sound, integrated