Post on 06-Mar-2018
transcript
History Of Musical Theatre
Terms
Book Musical – is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The story traces the fortunes of the main characters through a series of adventures with a beginning, middle and end
Libretto – the text or words of an opera or similar extended musical composition.
Librettist – the writer of the Libretto
Lyricist – The Person Who Wrote the Words To The Songs
Composer – The Person Who Wrote The Instrumental Music
Score - orchestrated music for (a movie, play, television show)
Book - The Person Who Wrote The Script/ Dialogue For The Show
Terms
Opera – a drama set entirely to music and all text is sung
Operetta - contains scenes with spoken dialogue that alternate with songs telling a romantic story. It features solos, duets, trios and choral numbers.
Musical Comedy – a form of musical entertainment from the 1920s that features a light comic story interspersed with popular music with a silly or far fetched story.
Revue – musical entertainment in which sketches and vignettes alternate with musical numbers. Scene and songs are stand alone and do not have a single story line.
The American “Book” Musical - musical numbers alternate with spoken scenes; solos, duets alternate with choral numbers; singing alternates with dance numbers; comic songs and scenes alternate with serious songs and scenes/story progresses from one character to another to tell an exciting seamless story with a beginning, middle and end.
Vaudeville = Variety Show
Began in the 1880s Cheap and popular Family
Entertainment included all genders and
races. If you were “odd” that was
fine: beauty was not a requirement.
Focus was on Frivolity, Enthusiasm , Absurdity
Acts could not take longer than 10 minutes
Costume was instantly recognizable
Training ground for Broadway Musicals
Individual performer was the focus
Vaudeville Acts Included
• Female impersonators • Shadowists • Bird Imitators • Hand Cuff Chain and Trunk Acts • Chapeaugraphy • Lightening Calculators • Equilibrists • Clay Modelers • Fancy Diver and Swimmers • Living Picture Models • Statuary Posing • Paper Tearing • Whistlers • Billiardists • Hypnotists • Contortionists • Magicians • Ukulele Players • Acrobats • Knife Throwers • Eccentric Acts • Unicycle
• Hobo Acts (Judy Garland – We’re a Couple of
Swells)
• Comedy Cartoonists
• Ethiopian Entertainers
• Feats of Strength
• Electrical Acts
• Knockabout acts
• Iron Jaw acts
• Cornetists
• Gun spinners
• Trick Pianists
• Rolling Globe Acts
• Tabloid Plays
• Novelty Ladder Acts
• Parody Singers
• Yodelers
• Mind Reading
• Knife Throwing
• Regurgitators
• Dancing Dogs
• Jugglers
• Children Acts
Vaudeville
The handful of Performers who made the transfer Gene Kelly Danny Kay Fred Astair Ginger Rogers Buster Keaton George Burns W.C. Fields Al Jolson Eddie Cantor Jimmy Durante Bob Hope The Marx Brothers Fanny Brice (Funny Girl) Jack Benny Jimmy Cagney Charlie Chaplan Bert Williams (first black performer to be
accepted by all races) Ethel Merman (originally Zimmerman)
became a brassy Broadway belter The Andrew Sisters Abott and Costello
Vaudeville ended because of the performers
inability to adapt to film and radio.
Minstrel Show
Began with Northern white performers who observed Blacks entertaining themselves and imitated them
Put on black paint and parodied the blacks
Eventually, Black Americans started their own companies but continued to be expected to portray black stereo types set up by the white performers
White companies continued to use black stereo types but couldn’t compete with their authenticity or talent
Lasted until the 1960s
Burlesque
A revue-style show with sexual overtones.
For the majority of the 19th C burlesque included dramatic sketches and songs that satirized other theatrical forms
Near the end of
the 19th C it was synonymous with vulgar sketches and “girlie shows” (strip tease)
Ziegfeld Follies
Florenz Ziegfeld – legendary producer and first impresario of the American Musical
This is a variety show with several different acts. Grandiose sets and costumes, comedy and spectacle Amalgamation of ethnic communities and comedy
routines – the entertainment melting pot Glorifying the American girl and her beauty Zigfield Follies:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJpsZvpu6FY Gypsy: Burlesque -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFRSawe33sA
Even if you're on the right track,
you'll get run over if you just sit
there.
Ziegfeld Follies of 1918-20s
Started to use Big Named Stars!!!! Marilyn Miller Fanny Bryce Will Rodgers-who became a leader around the country with his
humor & information. Vaudville http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA6wYvVnq4g Bob hope http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjXQ-
MRmROQ&feature=related A good example of several acts -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SfO30jvReU Vaudville video part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZo4imTt4Og http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsVQ9e8nWx0&feature=relate
d
George M. Cohan 1878 - 1942
Grew up in a Vaudeville performance family
Was an innovator who wrote the book, music and lyrics for his own shows in which he also performed.
In his musical shows, he gave his songs an American flavour and made his dialogue more realistic than the common musicals of the time. His shows moved toward the “Book Musical”
Focused on American subjects and made his songs relate to the story.
Wrote the Song “Give My Regards to Broadway” and “Yankee Doodle Dandy”
George M Cohan
The only individual with a statue on Broadway
ALWAYS ended with, “My father thanks you, my mother thanks you, my sister thanks you, and I-thank you.”
Irving Berlin
Born: Israel Isidore Baline
Immigrated with his family from Russia.
Lived in abject poverty
Started to sing at age 13 for a living
Wrote: “White Christmas”, “Blue Skies”, “Puttin on the Ritz”, “God Bless America”, “Annie Get Your Gun (1946)”
His name was mis-spelled on a poster and he became Irving Berlin and he decided it was a good name for an American Song writer and he kept it.
The Princess Theater Shows
Jerome Kern’s next shows were in the Princess Theater.
These were very fun, young, and enjoyable.
Principle characters were in their late teens & early 20s, set around a college.
Pay tribute to the commedia dell’arte
2 young couples with a fontesca
The Princess Musicals – 1915- 1919
Named for the Princess Theatre Jerome Kern composed 16
Broadway scores between 1915 and 1919.
His musicals used modern, humourous, intimate , intimate stories that were more cohesive than previous shows.
Other composers and lyricists were adapting European Operetta to American purposes.
Oscar Hammerstein II (1895 – Aug 23rd 1960. The lights were extinguished on Sept 1st 1960 at pm on Broadway in memory of his death) combined the best of operetta and native musical comedy to create the book and lyrics for “Showboat” and Jerome Kern composed the musical score.
1920 -1930 Guys Famous for Writing “STANDARDS”
Composers Irving Berlin (1888 – 1989) “Alexander’s Rag Time Band”, “Easter Parade” (wrote his own lyrics) Cole Porter (1893 – 1964) “I Get A Kick Out of You”, “Night And Day” (wrote his own lyrics) Jerome Kern (1885 – 1945) “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes”, “Who?” George Gershwin (1898 1937) “Fascinating Ryhthm”, “Someone To Watch Over Me”, “Embraceable You” Richard Rogers (1902 – 1979) – “My Romance”, “Falling in Love with Love” Lyricists Ira Gershwin (1896 – 1983) wrote lyrics for his brother George Lorenz Hart (1895 – 1943) Collaborations Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II – Oklahoma, South Pacific, The Sound of Music Richard Rogers and Lorenze Hart – Pal Joey and Babes in Arms Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II - Showboat Frederick Lowe and Alan Jay Lerner – My Fair Lady, Camelot, Brigadoon John Kander and Fred Ebb – Cabaret, Chicago 1950s Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim – Gypsy Leonard Bernstein (1918 – 1990) and Stephen Sondheim (1930 - ) – West Side Story 1970s Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice – Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat,
Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserable, Cats Elton John and Tim Rice – Aida, The Lion King
More Collaborations
1950s
Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim – Gypsy
Leonard Bernstein (1918 – 1990) and Stephen Sondheim (1930 - ) – West Side Story
1970s
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice – Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserable, Cats
Elton John and Tim Rice – Aida, The Lion King,
SHOWBOAT
Showboat premiered
on December 27,
1927.
One of a dozen shows
to premiere that night.
One of TWO to
remain running the
following evening.
SHOWBOAT’S IMPORTANCE
Music By Jerome Kern
Book & Lyrics by Oscar
Hammerstein II
Produced by Florenz
Ziegfeld
Based on the novel by Edna
Ferber
SHOWBOAT’s Firsts
First musical where the music moved
the plot of the play forward.
First musical to have depth to the
book;
Socially Relevant;
Addresses the issue of racism in
the plot; which was not allowed
before that time;
Inter-Racial Couple in a primary
role; black woman and a white man
as well as black workers on the
levees of the Mississippi River
African-Americans in major roles.
SHOWBOAT’s Firsts
First musical where the music moved
the plot of the play forward.
First musical to have depth to the
book;
Socially Relevant;
Addresses the issue of racism in
the plot; which was not allowed
before that time;
Inter-Racial Couple in a primary
role; black woman and a white man
as well as black workers on the
levees of the Mississippi River
African-Americans in major roles.
SHOWBOAT’s Firsts 2
First musical to be a DRAMA; up until that time they were musical-
comedies.
First EPIC musical; it is multi-generational with three generations of one
family dealing with love.
First musical to inspire more than 1 movie.
First musical to be performed by opera companies.
Eliminated the line of chorus girls
Songs from SHOWBOAT
Ol’ Man River
Bill
Can’t Help Loving That/Dat Man
Why Do I Love You
Make Believe
After The Ball-which was a
contemporary song that was
included into the show to give
the production a modern feel.
George & Ira Gershwin
Brothers dedicated to musical theatre
Of Thee I Sing (1931) Political and cultural satire
first musical to be awarded a Pulitzer Prize
Porgy & Bess
1935-All African-American Opera/Musical Theatre
Gershwin called it a “folk opera”
Music by George Gershwin
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin & DuBose Heyward
Book by DuBose Heyward based on his novel, Porgy.
Incredibly important in breaking down stereotypes.
Porgy & Bess
Famous Songs…
“I Love You Porgy”, “I’ve Got Plenty of Nuttin’”
“Summertime”, “It Ain’t Necessarily So”
“Bess You Is My Woman Now”
OKLAHOMA!
Music by Richard
Rodgers
Lyrics & Book by
Oscar Hammerstein
Based on the novel
Green Grows the
Lilacs, about the
founding of Oklahoma.
OKLAHOMA!
1943-First musical to use DANCE to move the plot forward.
“Dream” Ballet moves the show forward.
Choreographer – Agnes de Mille
OKLAHOMA!
It is considered the first fully integrated musical. The entire show fuses story, music, lyrics, and dances together with tone, mood and intention.
Oklahoma: Dream Dance with Hugh Jackman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSGWoXDFM64&feature=related
Original Choreography for the Dream Ballet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxzMqbJtlX0&feature=fvsr
Rodgers & Hammerstein Musicals
Oklahoma was the first of
a long line of successes
for this collaborative pair
1945 Carousel
1946 State Fair (MOVIE)
1949 South Pacific- deals
with World War II &
Racism
1951 The King & I
1958 Flower Drum Song
1959 The Sound of Music
Lerner & Loewe’s My Fair Lady
1956-Very Important the words are meant
to be SPOKEN, not sung
Rex Harrison could not sing
This led later to Rap Music, early rap artists
recount hearing this album when they were
kids.
Julie Andrews’ First Show!
WEST SIDE STORY
Music by Leonard Bernstein
Concept by Jerome Robbins
Book by Arthur Laurents
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
A modern day Romeo & Juliet
Directed & Choreographed by Jerome
Robbins
Importance of West Side Story
Socially relevant-dealing with real issues of racism, immigration, teenagers, gangs
Very daring for theatre
Parents called for the closing of the show and the theaters
Now Others can take risks of the show
First show with Stephen Sondheim who writes the lyrics
West Side Story, opening scene : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8R9GiLImSw
WWS, Mambo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kokbJvSEMUY&feature=related
Meets Grease – at the dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Lf9gftFhKY&feature=related
Stephen Sondheim Shows
1959- Gypsy!: music by Jule Styne,
book by Arthur Laurents, lyrics by
Sondheim
1963- A Funny Thing Happened On The
Way To The Forum-music & lyrics
1970- Company (concept musical
about relationships)
1971- Follies - (concept musical about
the former starts of Ziegfeld Follies)
1973- A Little Night Music
Sondheim Shows (2)
1975- Pacific Overtures
1979- Sweeney Todd
1984- Sunday In The Park With George
1987- Into The Woods
1990- Assassins
1994- Passion
1996- Getting Away With Murder (play)
2001- Bounce
Fiddler on the Roof:
The End of an Era
Opened 1964
Music by Jerry Bock (1928 - )
Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick (1924 - )
Book by Joseph Stein (1912 - )
Choreographed by Jerome Robbins
Three Shows of Importance
60s & 70s
1. Fiddler on the Roof (1964) –
music by Jerry Bock, lyrics –
Sheldon Harnick, book – Joseph
Stein, choreographed – Jerome
Robbins
2. Hair (1967) written by Galt
MacDermot and Gerome Ragni.
Had no real story line and was
the first in a series of very
cultural & social musicals…
“pop”
And……
3. A Chorus Line- 1975
Music by Marvin Hammlisch
Lyrics by Edward Kleban
Directed by Michael Bennett (1943 –
1987)
3rd Longest Running Show in Broadway
history
Symbolized the ascendancy of
choreographer/directors like
Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse and Michael
Bennett
1970s The British “Musical” Invasion
Starting in the 19thC with Gilbert and
Sullivan
Two British men who were friends
They wrote formal “Mini” operas
All Following a similar theme
Theme of a G and S show:
Young Lovers Meet & are forbidden to
marry
Someone complicates their relationship
Several Comic Characters
Must have a “Patter” Song
1970s The British “Musical” Invasion
The Pirates of Penzance - Poor Wandering One (linda ronstadt-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAFRRYyrx7o
Modern Major General:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSGWoXDFM64&feature=related
The Mikado - Three little Maids:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXWkIZUPmDY&feature=fvwrel
HMS Pinafore
1970s The British “Musical” Invasion
1971 Jesus Christ Superstar
Music by Andrew Lloyd
Webber
Lyrics by Tim Rice
Started as a concept album &
grew into a major performance
and cultural aspect
Very avant-garde & minimalistic
“Rock” Opera- all sung
1979- Evita!
1980 – Cats
1986 – Les Miserable
1987 Phantom of the Opera
1989 – Miss Saigon
They were Spectacle Shows
BIG….BIG…BIG!!!!!
Very Technical
Very Expensive Sets & Lighting
Large Casts
Special Effects Heavy
Inspired from the British
Cats in 1982 is the 2nd-longest
running show
Other Shows by
Andrew Lloyd Webber
1987- Starlight Express
1988- The Phantom of the Opera (Longest running show on
Broadway)
1990- Aspects of Love
1992- Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (revivial)
1994- Sunset Boulevard
1998- Whistle Down The Wind
2005- The Woman In White
Other Spectacle Shows
Les Miserables- 1987
British Invasion Solidified
Epic; Based on the classic novel
Miss Saigon- 1990
Vietnam story
Big shows still in effect, but drop
in sales
Revivals rule the 90s, until 1996…
RENT
Modern Day Opera based on La Boheme
Brought back cutting edge realism into the theater
Very Minimalistic- low key
The story & characters moved the show, not the special effects
Allowed others to TAKE RISKS!
1996-98
1996-Bring In Da’ Noise,
Bring In Da’ Funk- brought
tap back to its roots
1996/7- Chicago (revival)-
small & minimalistic
1997- Titanic-big & grand,
but with small elements
1998
1998- Ragtime & The Lion
King-powerful and
cutting-edge
1998- Cabaret!
(revisal)- Change in the
classic show; the future?
1999
The Who’s Tommy-1969; just an album…Becomes a Broadway show in 1991…HOWEVER- it is the 1st Rock Opera
The Focus of 1999 Is A Combination Of Updating The Past…A form of REVISAL
You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown
Fosse (Tony Award Winner)
Kiss Me Kate
Annie Get Your Gun
The Music Man
The NEW Century
The Musicals Of 2000 Are Finding New Life In Putting Together Past & Present
Contact- dance show…TONY
The Suessical (flop)
2001-A New Era (?)
• The PRODUCERS
• Record # or TONY Awards
• Movie 1st
• The Full Monty
• Also a movie
• Urinetown
• Another Satire
• Sweet Smell of Success-2002
2001-2002
Movies & Rock RULE
Thoroughly Modern Millie (TONY)
Hairspray…destined To Be A Classic(tony)
Mamma Mia (Abba)
MOVIN’ Out (Billy Joel)
POST 9/11-TODAY
Comedies
Avenue Q
Putnam County
The Drowsy Chaperone
“Pop-sicals”
Imagine
Jersey Boys
POST 9/11- TODAY
Movies
SPAM-A-LOT
HIGH FIDELITY
Revivals
Little Shop Of Horrors
The Pajama Game
Revisals
Sweeney Todd & Company