Musical Theatre

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Musical Theatre
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Music Dance

• Music expresses that which cannot be said and on
  which it is impossible to be silent. --Victor
  Hugo
• Music is the international language of mankind.
  --Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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Origins of Musical Theatre

• Factors leading to the birth of Musical Theatre
• The large amounts of immigrants making up the
  U.S. in late 19th early 20th centuries and
  their respective music dance traditions.
• The Minstrel shows, musical revues, and
  vaudeville paved the way.

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Birth of Musical Theatre

• Producer Florenz Ziegfelds SHOWBOAT (1927)
  establishes the American Musical Theatre.
• A book musical based on Edna Ferbers novel and
  told with text, music dance.
• Focused in New York City.

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The Broadway Theatre

• The heart of musical theatre production.
• Close to Broadway Times Square, between 41st
  50th Streets.

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Oklahoma (1943)
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Oklahoma (1943)

• Musical about farmers and cowboys reinforcing
  traditional American values.
• Created by Richard Rodgers (music) Oscar
  Hammerstein II (book lyrics) during WWII.
• Dance used to develop character in Lauries
  Dream Ballet with Choreography by Agnes de Mille

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Oklahoma (1999 revival)
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West Side Story (1957)
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West Side Story (1957)

• Based on the feuding families that doomed the
  lovers Romeo Juliet, but set in urban NYC
  dramaticizing gang conflict.
• Creators are Leonard Bernstein (music), Jerome
  Robbins (director/choreographer), Stephen
  Sondheim (lyrics), Arthur Laurents (book).
• Entire story told through songs dances, very
  little dialogue.

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West Side Story (2007 revival)
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My Fair Lady (1956)
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My Fair Lady (1956)

• Brilliant language to the musical stage provided
  by the work of George Bernard Shaws play,
  Pygmallion.
• Created by Alan Lerner (music) Frederick Loewe
  (lyrics), directed by Moss Hart.
• Casting of Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins Julie
  Andrews as Eliza Doolittle.

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Other Influential Musicals

• Cabaret (1966) by Kander Ebb
• A Chorus Line (1975) by Bennett, Hamlisch
  Kleban
• Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk (1995) by
  Savion Glover
• Rent (1995) by Jonathan Larson
• The Lion King (1997) conceived, designed
  directed by Julie Taymor

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Contact (1999)
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Contact (1999)

• A dance play using recorded music rather than
  live.
• No singing.
• Very little dialogue.
• Each vignette loosely based on the need for
  emotional physical connection.
• Choreographed by Susan Stroman

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Spring Awakening (2007)
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Spring Awakening (2007)

• Based on the controversial 1891 German play by
  Frank Wedekind.
• Reimagines the musical genre between book
  music/dance.
• Text is lifted directly from source, songs
  reflect inner conflict and modern access to the
  young peoples sexual awakenings.
• Created by Duncan Sheik Steven Sater, directed
  by Michael Mayer, choreographed by Bill T. Jones.

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Stephen Sondheim
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Stephen Sondheim

• Most influential presence on musical theatre of
  late 20th century.
• The musical of untidy endings.
• Earliest collaborations are West Side Story,
  Gypsy.
• A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,
  Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Pacific
  Overtures, Into the Woods, Assasins.

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