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Gilbert and Sullivan - Best Musical Duo
Gilbert and Sullivan, the best-known duo in the musical theatre industry. Together they made outstanding musicals “The groundbreaking and incredibly successful duo lasted for over two decades, between 1871 to 1896, producing an astounding fourteen operas” (Gilbert and Sullivan). Both left behind the legacy of a new genre of theatre by making opera’s almost musicals with more dialogue and comedy to create an electric experience for all audiences. -
Show Boat from Opera to Musicals
Show Boat was the first great musical. It was the first great example of music used to tell an emotional story. Opera and Musicals difference is the singing technique “While some musicals require a classical singing style, most employ a more conversational, belt-like technique” (Differences between Opera and Musical Theatre). A classical singing style is much higher pitched and complex. Musicals use the belt-like technique which is much simpler words said using a classical singing pitch. -
The Great Depression and Musical Theatre
Musical theatre was just starting to become a hit with big musicals like the Show Boat in 1927; two years before The Great Depression. The next big musical wouldn’t be made until 1943. Franklin D. Roosevelt wanted theatres to increase employment “Between 1935 and 1939, the FTP reopened numerous theaters and employed 13,000 professional theater workers while producing 64,000 performances that reached an audience of 15 million” (Communications). Musical theatre was a great way to entertain people. -
Musical Theatre During Times of War
Musicals made during wars were all about staying positive and showing American pride. Most soldiers had a family back home during World War 2 and were losing motivation to fight in war knowing what they had been missing out on. Musicals during World War 2 “...were designed for the soldiers themselves to perform in the field” (Army Musicals). War is scary and people are far away from home, bringing musicals to soldiers to give them relief and boost their spirits made musicals special. -
Oscar Hammerstein 2nd
His most famous play was a musical called Show Boat. Hammerstein also created another play called Oklahoma. This play finally completed his goal of creating a hit play that had music and all elements of a musical. Most of Hammerstein's plays had the same characteristics “His best lyrics are characterized by an outer simplicity and inner depth of feeling, as well as a sharp attention to character” (Oscar Hammerstein). He ended his career by making one last hit The Sound of Music. -
Romances in Musical Theatre
Audiences love romantic musical theatres. Audiences are always pulled into love stories and like to think about the perfect love story. The audience really likes plays that are convincing and heart wrenching “The way they look at each other, the subtle gestures, and the connection they create can make or break the believability of the love story” (Musical Theaters and Romantic Love). People don’t want to see a fake love or acting, audiences want to see real love. -
Sondheim - Music with Actors
The most influential artist in musical theatre is Stephen Sondheim. Sondheim wrote multiple plays for Broadway. One thing that is interesting to note is that though Sondheim is famous for his musicals, “Mr. Sondheim liked to think of himself less as a songwriter than as a playwright, albeit one who wrote very short plays and set them to music” (Weber). His musicals weren’t spectacles as much as they were good stories. Sondheim writes these musicals largely about actors'lives. -
Fred Ebb and John Kander - Greatest hits
Fred Ebb developed his passion for musical theatre away from home. In 1964 Ebb would meet his business partner John Kander who he would stay partners with for 21 years. Ebb and Kander would make several hits. Their biggest hit was “In 1966, Cabaret opened, winning seven Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Score of the Season Award” (Fred Ebb). Their success was legendary and will both go down as one of the longest and most acclaimed musical playwright partnerships in history. -
Jukebox Musicals
Jukebox musicals connect people with their generation and past “These musicals are a magical blend of comfort, nostalgia and innovation that remind us of our shared human experience” (Thirty Saints). There are many types of plays that connect people with their past experiences, but musical plays such as jukebox theatre instantly make people think of their favorite memories. Audiences are listening to their favorite music while watching a bit of themselves, this makes jukebox theatres special! -
Modern Musicals
Modern musicals are changing Broadway and making musicals personal and relatable again. The world has new problems and people need new resolutions “Broadway musicals have adapted in order to address important aspects of society, such as depression and anxiety in young adults, and even the painful, arduous subject of suicide” (Friedman). Suicide would have been almost unheard of several centuries ago.There was once less suicide and less focus on mental health.