Musical Theatre History Flashcards

Flashcards of Lecture Notes

ASCAP

American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers; Established in 1914, co-founded by Victor Herbert. First organization to protect and secure the rights of songwriters

George M. Cohan

Known as the 'Father of American Musicals'. He wrote story, lyrics, music, and directed The Governors Son (1901). Stood out as a tap dancer, made tap dance athletic and masculine

Little Johnny Jones

Play written by George M. Cohan. Famous songs include Yankee Doodle Boy, Give my Regards to Broadway, Grand Old Flag, Over There

Actor's Equity

New union demanding producers recognize it, better rehearsal pay, paid for the Sunday shows and holidays, and overall better treatment of actors

Actor’s Fidelity League

Organization created by Producers that shaved a lot of Actor's Equity demands off so they could still make money

Irving Berlin

Most prolific writer of all time with 2,000 copywrited songs. Russian Jewish Immigrant who dropped out of school at 13 to become a Newsie. Founding member of ASCAP

Alexander’s Rag Time Band

Irving Berlin's first successful song. Beats felt “ragged”- not on the downbeat

Florenz Ziegfeld

A shy showman who was workaholic who didn’t get out of bed. Big spender who wouldn’t pay his bills. Never had close friends. The man behind the Ziegfeld Follies

Anna Held

Met Florenz Ziegfeld in Europe and inspired the Ziegfeld Follies after the Anna Held Girls.

Joseph Urban

Set designer for Ziegfeld Follies who designed from 1913-1931. Art Nouveau was his style. Designed 47 sets for Metro Opera and Follies

Bert Williams

Most famous black actor in Ziegfeld Follies

Jerome Kern

Began as a Rehearsal Pianist in Tin Pan Alley and wrote songs that were sent to England, interpolated into musicals

How’d You Like to Spoon with Me

Breakout song by Jerome Kern from musical Earl and the Girl (1905)

They Didn’t Believe Me

Big hit from musical Girl from Utah (1915) and most important work by Jerome Kern.

The Princess Series

6 show that made Princess Series popular (1915-1918). All written by Jerome Kern. Important because the Small Theater made for natural performing style, most set in New York City, elements were organic, and inspired a generation of songwriters

Julian Mitchell

First influential American director/choreographer

The Jazz Age

Social and Artistic Upheaval using Jazz, Ragtime, Blues, and Improvisation. African American creation

Hassard Short

Staged Music Box Revue and responsible for catwalk, lighting bridge, and revolving stage

Boola, Boola”, “Bingo Eli Yale”, “Bull Dog

Three songs written by Cole Porter while in Yale University. Still performed today

Rodgers and Hart

Songwriting team that wrote a song “Any Old Place With You” and struggled for 7 years

Garrick Gaieties (1925)

Rodgers and Hart show that was supposed to have a weekend, and ran for 311 performances

A Connecticut Yankee (1928)

Most well known Rodgers and Hart musical based on a Mark Twain story. Choreographed by Busby Berkley

George and Ira Gershwin

Songwriting team where George Monopolized the piano and was a Tin Pan Alley song demonstrator. Ira wrote for newspapers and magazines and Worked as a cashier in his dad’s Turkish Bath business

Rhapsody in Blue

George Gershwin was asked to submit a piece for “An Experiment in Jazz” and then “Rhapsody in Blue” is born (1924)

Kid Boots (1923)

Musical directed by Florenz Ziegfeld

Oscar Hammerstein II

Lyricist who teamed up with Otto Harbach with the philosophy that lyrics should always be motivated by the story and develop character

Kurt Weill and Bertold Brect

Took The Beggar’s Opera into The Three Penny Opera then got labeled epic/brechtian theater. Nazis forced Weill and Brecht into exile

Ballad of Mack the Knife

Most famous number in Three Penny Opera that Weill made a dark jazz feel with

Showboat

Began in 1830 and Pushed along by a towboat. Novel written by Edna Ferber based right here in Hampton Roads

James Adams Showboat

(1914-1941) Based right here in Hampton Roads

Helen Morgan

Played Julie in Showboat who was a Speakeasy performer

Jules Bledsoe

Played Joe in Showboat who was a Newcomer, in a couple of Vaudeville shows

Tess Gardella

Played Queenie in Showboat and was a Vaudeville performer famous for blackface

Sweet Adeline

Written by Kern and Hammerstein that was Not as successful as Showboat. Ran for 7 weeks before crash

Simple Simon, 1930

Rodgers and Hart wrote it for Ziegfeld, didn’t pay, Writer’s Guild stepped in

Select Theater Inc.

Owned by Lee Shubert, the IRS forced them into auction owned by Lee Shubert who Preserves most legitimate theaters

As Thousands Cheer, 1933

Review-esque that Was Directed by Hassard Short and Written by Moss Hart and Irving Berlin. Brings a newspaper to life and contained the popular songs “Heat Wave”, “Easter Parade”, “Suppertime”

Girl Crazy

Written in 1930 by The Gershwins. Plot is man goes to ranch and turns it into a place for showgirls. Starring Ginger Rogers and newcomer Ethel Merman. Introduces songs “Embraceable You” and “I got Rhythm”. Fred Astaire is choreographer

Of Thee I sing, 1931

Plot is about a politician who runs a “love” platform. 1st published libretto. 1st to run over 400 performances in the 30s. 1st musical to win Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Porgy and Bess, 1935

George wants to write a Grand Opera containing elements of Jazz, Broadway, and Classical music so he Wrote Porgy and Bess, 1935- libretto by Dubose Heyward. Popular songsinclude “Summertime”, “I got plenty o’ Nothin’”, “Bess, You is my Woman Now”, and “It Ain’t Necessarily So”

The New Yorkers, 1930

Written by Cole Porter with the song “I’ll Take Manhattan”

Leave it to Me, 1938

Musical by Cole Porter that introduced Mary Martin and chorus boy Gene Kelly. Includes the song “My Heart Belongs to Daddy”

Jumbo, 1935

Musical by Rodgers and Hart Directed by George Abbott. Based on Romeo and Juliet but a circus family

On Your Toes, 1936

Musical by Rodgers and Hart that Wrote for Fred Astaire but goes to Ray Bolger. Choreographed by George Balanchine and Abbott writes the book and directs

Babes in Arms, 1937

Musical by Rodgers and Hart and wFirst time of a show in a barn. Famous songs- most famous“The Lady is a Tramp”,“My Funny Valentines”,“Where or When”. The Nicholas brothers one and only book musical appearance

Very Warm for May, 1930

Written by Kern and Hart and Not done well, disappointing in terms of sales but critics were loving it

Higher and Higher, 1940

Rogers and Hart musical highlight was a trained seal on stage

The Theatre Guild

Offers up Green Grow the Lilacs but Hart refused because he didn’t want to write a musical about cowboys so Rogers agrees if he works with Hammerstein

Agnes DeMille

Choreographer hired for Oklahoma! to tell a story through dance

Oklahoma

Opens in 1943 and Ran for 5 years, 2,212 shows. Changes how we look at musicals. Plot is a love story and Popular songs include “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning”,“People Will Say We Are in Love”,“I Cain’t Say No”. Has a Show stopping dream ballet

Carousel, 1945

Rogers and Hammerstein production after Oklahoma! Based on the play Liliom with 890 performances

South Pacific, 1949

Rogers and Hammerstein musical that is Based on a story out of James Michner’s Tales of the South Pacific. Intrigued by plot and subplot

The King and I, 1951

Musical suggested by Gertrude Lawrence based on an adaptation of Anna and the King of Cyanine. Tony for Best Musical, Best Actor, and Best Actress. Ballet by Jerome Robbins

Cinderella (1957)

TV musical written by Rogers and Hammerstein starring Julie Andrews.

The Sound of Music, 1959

Von Trapp Family Singers- true story with Nun who is a Governess. Ran for 1,400 performances and goes to West End for 2,300

Dorothy and Herb Fields

Write Libretto for Annie Get Your Gun

George Bernard Shaw

(1856-1950)- playwright Very protective of his work and wrote Pygmalion (1913)- very Cinderella story

My Fair Lady (1956)

Alan Jay Lerner- Lyricist. Frederick Loewe- Composer. Oliver Smith- Set design. Cecil Beaton- Costume design. Moss Hart- Director and worked on the play (librettist). Hanya Holm- choreographer

Gigi

Write Gigi for MGM but Doesn’t become a Broadway musical until later

Camelot

Based on the Once and Future King. Stars Julie Andrews

George Abbott

Director (1887-1995) Jumbo was his first show in 1935. Consultant on Broadway show at 106 years old

Betty Comden and Adolph Green

Writers for On the Town and worked on libretto

On the Town (1944)

Director- George Abbott. Choreographer- Jerome Robbins. Writers- Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Composer- Leonard Bernstein. Changed how we see dance

Where’s Charley (1948)

Musical that Songwriter Frank Loesser

Jerome Robbins

Ruled by sheer rage “Attila the Hitler”. Threw friends under the bus during the “Red Scare”Knew how to turn musicals into hits

Bob Fosse

Former night club dancer. Dance as a form of dramatic expression. Iconic moves based on his insecurities. Dances ranged from comedic to sophisticated sexuality

West Side Story (1957)

Directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins. Composed by Bernstein and Lyrics by Sondheim and Book by Arthur Laurents

Abe Burrows

Librettist for Guys and Dolls and did not write for Broadway before

Guys and Dolls (1950)

Based on short stories in a newspaper with Abe Burrows as librettist and Frank Loesser as composer and lyricist with George S Coffman as Director and Michael Kidd as Choreographer that Provides organic storytelling

Michael Kidd

Choreographer whose Dance was athletic and told a story and Portrayed how ordinary people would move

The Music Man (1957)

Book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson. Choreography- Onna White Stars Robert Preston and Barbara Cook with the first Grammy award-winning musical cast album

Stop the World- I Want to Get Off

(1961) and Had more success in US than in London

Gower Champion

Directed Bye Bye Birdie in 1960 and hello Dolly! with cinematic feels

Jerry Herman

Wrote Score/lyrics for Hello Dolly!

Funny Girl (1964)

Producer- Herbert Ross. Director- Garson Kanin but later Jerome Robbin and then Bob Fosse. Music- Jule Styne. Lyrics- Bob Merrill and Starring Barbra Streisand

Fiddler on The Roof (1964)

Director/choreographed by Jerome Robbins. Book- Joseph Stein. Score- Jerry Bock and Lyrics- Sheldon Harnick

Mame (1966)

Based on novel called Auntie Mame who was written about his own aunt by Patrick Dennis and the Stars Angela Lansbury. Choreography- Onna White and Director- Gene Saks

Stephen Sondheim

Family friend of the Hammerstein's and Oscar II becomes his mentor. Disappears for 7 years then become Composer and lyricist for Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1962) and Anyone Can Whistle (1964)

Harold Prince

George Abbott’s Assistant and Co-produced with Abbott on The Pajama Game (1954)

Tommy Tune

Seesaw (1973) who was Born 1939

No, No Nanette

Revivals in the 70s

Annie (1976)

Based on the comic strip Little Orphan Annie written with Conventional musical preaching honest virtues

Gower Champion

Rolling Into The 80swith Director/choreographer for 42nd street in 1980 who dies hours before opening

Trevor Nunn

Director for Cats

Andrew Lloyd Webber

On the Mega-Musical Express. Wrote Jesus Christ Superstar, Sweeney Todd, Evita, Cats, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

The New Amsterdam Theatre

Disney buys The New Amsterdam Theatre for The Lion King

Johnathan Larson

Composer/lyricist for Rent who Died the day before the first preview

Susan Stroman

Director/choreographer for The Producers

Tim Curry

Starring Tim Curry Monty Python’s Spamalot (2005)

Lin Manuel Miranda

Writer for In The Heights and Hamilton

Bono and The Edge

Composers of Spiderman - Turn Off the Dark

Casey Nicholaw

Director/choreographer for The Book of Mormon

Christopher Gattelli

Choreographer of Newsies