Crash Course Theater: The Broadway Book Musical

Introduction

• Host: Mike Rugnetta
• Focus: The Broadway Book Musical, America's greatest theatrical invention.
• Importance: Changed theater, significant global influence, billion-dollar industry.

Historical Context

• Theater and Music Connection

  • Greek tragedies: sung and danced.
  • Liturgical dramas: musical components.
  • Melodrama: originally musical.
  • 19th-century opera and Asian theater influence.

• American Musical Traditions

  • Minstrel shows (troubling history).
  • Vaudeville, pantomime, operetta, burlesque.

Early American Musicals

• The Black Crook (1866)

  • Considered first American musical.
  • Origin: Theater fire led to pairing of ballet dancers with a nonsensical play.

• First Musical Comedies

  • Created by Harrigan and Hart in the 1870s.
  • Focused on working-class sketches, ethnic stereotypes.

• The Follies (1907)

  • Producer: Florence Ziegfeld.
  • Showcased chorus girls and loosely connected sketches.
  • Combined titillation with classiness.
  • Annual productions from 1907-1931.

The Birth of the Book Musical

• Jerome Kern
  • Revolutionized musicals with contemporary relatable stories.
• Princess Theatre Musicals
  • Collaboration with Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse.
  • Example shows: Oh Boy, Oh Dear.
  • Integrated songs with plot; characters were relatable.

Golden Age of Musicals

• Notable composers: Richard Rodgers, Lawrence Hart, Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin.
• Showboat (1927)
  • Written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein.
  • Addressed racial issues, featured complex characters.
• Oklahoma! (1943)
  • Written by Rogers and Hammerstein, based on Green Grow the Lilacs.
  • Notable song: "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'".
  • Introduced innovative storytelling through music and dance.
  • Included the groundbreaking Dream Ballet by Agnes DeMille.
• Continued success with musicals like Carousel, South Pacific, The Sound of Music, and The King and I.

Influence and Legacy

• Broadway musicals have evolved and influenced global theater.
• The genre remains relevant, exploring complex themes and characters.
• Notable mentions: Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, Gypsy.

Conclusion

• The series wraps up with a reflection on the influence of the book musical.
• Acknowledgment of its complex nature: sometimes problematic, yet virtuosic and hopeful.
• Gratitude to the audience for their support.

Final Note

• Crash Course Theater Details
  • Filmed in Indianapolis.
  • Produced with support from patrons on Patreon.
  • Encouragement to continue exploring theater.