Early Roots
A landmark 1927 musical with music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It is considered the first "integrated" musical, where songs and dances are essential to the plot. It broke ground by tackling serious themes like racial prejudice.
What is "Show Boat?"
They created dozens of hit songs and musicals in the 1920s and 1930s, known for their clever lyrics, memorable melodies, and sophisticated style. Some of their most famous songs like “My Funny Valentine” and “Blue Moon.”
Who is Rogers and Hart?
The first collaboration between Rogers and Hammerstein
What is Oklahoma?
This composer and lyricist wrote the scores for Wicked, Godspell, and Pippin, and is known for his catchy melodies and uplifting themes.
Who is Stephen Schwartz?
The only art form that is credited to have originated in America
What is The Musical? (& Jazz)
This show was made up of a series of unrelated acts—comedy routines, singers, dancers, magicians, acrobats, novelty acts—rather than a single storyline.
What is Vaudeville?
Known for witty, sophisticated lyrics, this Jazz Age songwriter wrote “Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall in Love).” His music is featured in the musical "Anything Goes"
Who is Cole Porter?
Rodgers and Hammerstein had pioneered a kind of show in which this was more important than anything else.
What is Story?
This British composer created some of the longest-running musicals in Broadway history, including Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, and Evita.
Who is Andrew Lloyd Webber?
A legendary Broadway Queen who starred and originated in many iconic roles including Mary Poppins, Eliza Doolittle, and Maria.
Who is Julie Andrews?
The large-scale visual and sensory elements designed to impress or overwhelm the audience.
What is Spectacle?
He wrote music and lyrics for hundreds of songs and several musicals and films. His style was simple, catchy, and uniquely American. Some of his most famous songs include “White Christmas,” “God Bless America,” and “Puttin’ On the Ritz.” He’s often considered a founding figure of American musical theatre.
Who is Irving Berlin?
This composer wrote the music for West Side Story, Candide, and On the Waterfront—and had a major career as a conductor.
Who is Leonard Bernstein?
This legendary composer and lyricist is known for complex lyrics and innovative musicals like Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, and Company.
Who is Stephen Sondheim?
This is what the lines written for an actor to speak in a musical are referred to as.
What is "the book?"
Debuted the Follies show- a variety show that featured comedy, dance, sometimes animals, and lots and lots of spectacle.
Who is Florenz Ziegfeld?
George Gershwin was an American composer known for blending classical music with jazz and popular styles. He wrote both Broadway musicals and concert works. Some of his best-known pieces include “Rhapsody in Blue,” “An American in Paris,” and the opera Porgy and Bess (which features “Summertime”). His music helped shape the sound of early American musical theatre and 20th-century music overall.
Who is George Gershwin?
This musical was the first to heavily utilize choreography to help further the plot of the story.
What is West Side Story?
This style of modern musicals often blends pop, rock, hip-hop, and electronic music with traditional storytelling, features sung-through numbers, and reflects current social issues—examples include Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, and Six.
What is Pop-Rock Musicals?
A song where the main character clearly expresses their deepest desire, goal, or dream.
What is a "I Want" song
A performer who broke down walls for black actors to appear on Broadway. Notably appeared in many Minstrel shows
Who is Bert Williams?
Fred Astaire was an American dancer, singer, and actor famous for his incredibly smooth, elegant style of dancing. He appeared in many classic movie musicals—often partnering with Ginger Rogers—and is considered one of the greatest dancers in film history.
Who is Fred Astaire?
The last song that Rogers and Hammerstein wrote together.
What is Edelweiss?
She was the first woman to win a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for The Lion King in 1998. Known for bringing innovative visual storytelling: puppetry, masks, and elaborate costumes
Who is Julie Taymor?
When an actor/singer looks at the lyrics and finds acting beats, meaning, objectives, and tactics
What is textual analysis?