Musical Theatre History

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One of the Musical theatre’s greatest songwriters, Tom Jones once wrote, “It is clear that musical theatre is changing. No one knows where it is going. Perhaps it is not going to one place but to many.” (Making Musicals: An informal introduction to the World of Musical
Theatre) Musical theatre, from its modest beginnings to the Great Broadway known to many today has affected a wide array of people and places. While it may have not always been labeled as such, the art of interspersing acting with singing and dancing has been a part of many cultures and *word.* Musical theatre. From Vaudeville and opera, to comedic and Broadway, musical theatre has become a mainstay in American society. Growing far beyond a simple amusement, musicals …show more content…

From the mid 17th-mid 19th century, many theatres were built and the majority of these theatres had proscenium –picture frame–stages. The *word* that the stages were built depended on the extent of the production program. Theatre companies often hired itinerant artists to build and paint scenery for them. As time went on, stock scenery became popular.
“Stock sets” were pre-made sets that depicted common scenes such as A Noblemen’s library, a courtyard, or even a forest. If something was needed to help create a certain scene, such as a particular street, theatres could order from a catalogue that contained specially made sets.
After the production, the sets were stored away, until needed again. Today, set design has become exclusive to production studios. All the scenery is privately built and painted by the theatre-hired studio. Specialty items that require engineering or need special fabrication are “frequently subcontracted” for the theatre. From its modest beginning of planks and fabric, to the grand, larger than life scenery we see today, set design has …show more content…

His work introduced disturbing plots, ironic and cynical themes, and bore skepticism about conventional morality. His pieces also contained adult themes and lyrics such as those in
Sweeney Todd. Sondheim presented the grittier side of life both present and past. Musical theatre was in a time of transition from the light and romantic to the harsher realities of life. Musicals had changed from the “relatively narrow confines of the 1950’s. After the wide success of Showboat, more and more musicals were created to promote religious tolerance and racial harmony. During the early years of the Golden Age musicals such as The King and I and
South Pacific featured racial issues. Towards the end of the Golden Age musical theatre dealt with Jewish issues and subjects with musicals like The Fiddler on the Roof, Rags, and Blitz. Rock musicals were also popular in the 1960’s. Controversially, the musical Hair contained elements of nudity, and highly debated views on the Vietnam War. Homosexuality was also introduced in
Hair and later, more overtly promoted in La Cage Aux Folles. Rock musicals flourished in the 1970’s, and prevalent musicals of the time were Jesus

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