Musical Theatre: A HistoryMusical Theatre: A History is a new revised edition of a proven core text for college and secondary school students – and an insightful and accessible celebration of twenty-five centuries of great theatrical entertainment. As an educator with extensive experience in professional theatre production, author John Kenrick approaches the subject with a unique appreciation of musicals as both an art form and a business. Using anecdotes, biographical profiles, clear definitions, sample scenes and select illustrations, Kenrick focuses on landmark musicals, and on the extraordinary talents and business innovators who have helped musical theatre evolve from its roots in the dramas of ancient Athens all the way to the latest hits on Broadway and London's West End. Key improvements to the second edition: · A new foreword by Oscar Hammerstein III, a critically acclaimed historian and member of a family with deep ties to the musical theatre, is included · The 28 chapters are reformatted for the typical 14 week, 28 session academic course, as well as for a two semester, once-weekly format, making it easy for educators to plan a syllabus and reading assignments. · To make the book more interactive, each chapter includes suggested listening and reading lists, designed to help readers step beyond the printed page to experience great musicals and performers for themselves. A comprehensive guide to musical theatre as an international phenomenon, Musical Theatre: A History is an ideal textbook for university and secondary school students. |
Contents
| 1 | |
| 7 | |
Typical of France | 19 |
When Ribaldry and Racism Sang and Danced | 31 |
American Explorations 16241890 | 43 |
Gilbert and Sullivan 18801900 | 65 |
From Small Time to Big Time | 79 |
Refusing to Say I Love You | 93 |
Broadways Golden Age | 203 |
My Fair Lady | 211 |
Ethel Merman | 221 |
19 Abbott Robbins and Fosse 195063 | 233 |
20 More Golden Age Musicals 1950s1960s | 241 |
The Parade Passes By | 249 |
Sondheim and Prince | 259 |
You Gotta Hang on till Tomorrow 197079 | 267 |
Herbert Cohan and Berlin 190013 | 103 |
The Follies and Beyond | 117 |
10 Jerome Kern and American Ascendance 191419 | 127 |
Al Jolson the Worlds Greatest Entertainer | 139 |
Hot Times and Great Talents 192029 | 149 |
Show BoatPremature Revolution | 167 |
I Guess Ill Have to Change My Plan | 175 |
They Couldnt Pick a Better Time | 191 |
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Abbott actors audience ballad ballet became Berlin Best Musical British Broadway musical Broadway's burlesque career cast century characters choreography chorus Cohan collaboration comedian comic composer dance dancer decades delighted director dramatic entertainment Ethel Ethel Merman film Follies George Gershwin Gilbert and Sullivan girl Harrigan Hart Hollywood Irving Berlin jazz Jerome Kern Jolson Kern King Lady later Lerner librettist libretto London lyricist Manhattan married mega-musicals melodies Merman Merry Widow million minstrel music hall musical comedy musical theatre never night Offenbach offered opened opera operetta Oscar Hammerstein II performances played playwright plot popular production profitable revival revue Richard Rodgers Robbins Rodgers Rodgers and Hammerstein role sang score included screen Show Boat Shuberts singing Sondheim songs songwriters spoof stage star stardom story Street success talent theatrical ticket Tony Awards Tony for Best took tour tune turned vaudeville York Ziegfeld