Chapter 18.docx

Chapter 18 1590s- Opera (entire play song, no spoken parts) Tried to recreate drama Characteristics and story material of opera (363) Types of Musical Theatre Operetta (European construct) Fairy tales, not as realistic as opera Musical Comedy Light comic story that is interspersed by popular music Songs interrupt the story Musicals Revue Sketches are unrelated, like musical comedy Antecedents (came before Musical Theatre) American imitations of operettas Vaudeville Variety show: animals acts, comedy acts, etc. Burtesque Minstrel shows White actors acting black southerners The Black Crook (1886) George M. Cohan Book musical Libretto (writer of book) Adds to the story Building blocks of Musical Theatre American imitations of operettas Vaudeville Burtesque The shows of George M. Cohan 1920s- Golden Age of comedies composers Irving Berlin Jerome Kern George Gershwin Cole Porter Richard Rogers Lyricists Ira Gershwin Lorenz Hart Irving Berlin Cole Porter Show Boat (1927)- not Musical comedy Break away from other shows being played Completely American Serious story Subplot with mix raced couple Had an accurate portrait of a working black man Songs kept plot going forward 1931- of Thee I Sing Wins the Pulitzer Prize for Drama Book Music 1943- Oklahoma! Ballet entirely 1964- Fiddler On the Roof Concept Musical British Musicals 4 trends since 1990 Revivals- taking a hit show and bringing it back years later New musicals Musicals based on films Musicals based on the music of musical artist and groups