Florenz Ziegfeld Essay

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CHAPTER NINE STUDY QUESTIONS – The Musical Theatre (Pgs. 243-259/247-261)

1. Describe some of the facts concerning the musical on Broadway (p. 244) (248).
Broadway musicals can be characterized by aspects such as having multiple performances nearly every day of the week, having productions that tour the nation in hopes of attracting more audiences, and having large casts and orchestras (Cohen 248).

2. Who was Florenz Ziegfeld and what were his productions like? (p.245) (249)
Florenz Ziegfeld is described in the text as an American performer who dabbled in vaudeville and burlesque, whose productions involved music, comedy, and various other forms of entertainment (Cohen 249). He was an influential character in the history of the development of American musical …show more content…

Summarize two or three of the seriously-themed musicals arising in the ‘40’s and ‘50’s. (p. 248) (251)
Cohen lists “the King and I” and “West Side Story” as two of the heavily themed musicals that emerged between the 40s and the 50s (251). “The King and I” tells the love story of an English teacher who travels to a faraway kingdom to educate the royal children in an effort of the King to steer his country in a modern direction, and together the teacher and King overcome many cultural barriers as they fall in love (Cohen 250). On the other hand, “West Side Story” is a version of Shakepeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” that is set against the backdrop of New York City, where two teenagers from different ethnicities fall in love but are ultimately outdone by the cruelty of hatred (Cohen 251).

6. Describe one of the “dancer-choreographers” who rose to prominence. Name some of their hit musicals. (p. 250-251) (252)
Jerone Robbins was one of several “dancer-choreographers” that amassed a great reputation in regards to American musicals (Cohen 252). He was skilled in ballet and a talented actor, who is best remembered for his contributions in Uncle Tom’s Cabin, the King and I, Westside Story, and Gypsy (Cohen

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