A History of Musical Theatre

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A History of Musical Theatre
Rodgers and Hammerstein




Oklahoma –
o Oklahoma was the first show of Richard Rogers and Oscar
Hammerstein, and clearly defined the “Book Musical” (a play with
song and dance integrated to establish as story, rather than as
asides for comic effect) genre as the go to style of the period. It was
before the time of the Tony Award for Best Musical, but received a
special Award in 1993 to celebrate its 50th anniversary. It was a box
office smash at it’s time and ran the longest run till that point with
2,212 (over taken by their later hit South Pacific)
o IMDb synopsis: Just before Oklahoma became a new state, Laurey
Williams notices that Curly, a handsome though shy ranch hand,
has been acting strangely around her. Through some course of
events, she and Curly soon realise the feelings they have for each
other. Judd, a hired hand at Laurey's home, also has feelings for her.
Together, she and Curly have to do something to save their
relationship and keep Judd from doing something terrible. Woven
into this plot is the life of Ado Annie, one of Laurey's friends. Her
boyfriend has just gotten back from an exciting trip to Kansas City.
While he was away, she has fallen for a peddler who is a ladies' man
and doesn't really want to marry her. Does she give Will, her
boyfriend, "all or nuthin'", or does she run away with the peddler?
Set against the backdrop of ranching Oklahoma, this musical is full
of fun, music, and romance for everyone.
o There is a 15 minute “dream ballet” at the end of Act I which is used
to express the female lead, Laurey’s emotions about Jud and Curly.
In the original production (and subsequent recreations, different
actors play the parts of Curly and Laurey). The Dream Ballet was
choreographed by Agnes De Mille, who gained the title the Grande
Dame of American Ballet due to her position in the American Ballet
Theatre.
o Hit songs from Oklahoma are: “Oh what a beautiful Morning” (Male),
“(I’m just a girl) I can’t say no” (female jokey) “Oklahoma” (Group).
This piece is considered “Legit Musical Theatre”
o Despite its amazing run in 1943, the show did not win a Tony or
Olivier until 1999, where Shurler Hensley won the Olivier for best
featured actor in a musical for the part of Jud, then 2002 won the
Tony and Drama Desk Award in the same category.
Carousel
o When Rodgers and Hammerstein agreed to work together again
they feared the next project would forever live in Oklahoma’s
shadow. However Richard Rodgers has said that Carousel is his
favourite show of theirs. Similarly Time Magazine name it the Best
Musical of the 20th Century.
o Plot: Mill worker Julie Jordan and carousel barker Billy Bigelow begin
a romantic entanglement, but are both fired as a result. Billy
becomes restless with his unemployment leading to his beating
Julie. However upon hearing that his (now) wife is pregnant he takes

o

o

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South
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part in a robbery to support for her, but is killed in the process.
Taken to heaven he is informed that he has not done enough good
and is sent back to Earth 15 years in future after his daughter has
grown up. He tries to lead is ostracised daughter, Louise, back to
society and bring her home, which concludes with her graduation.
He also informs his widow Julie he loves her as he returns to
heaven. Sub-story is that of Carrie and Enoch, another miller worker
who marries a fisherman, and the pair once again have emotional
problems.
Key songs: “If I loved you” (male solo, audition song) “you never
walk alone” (female solo). Billy’s soliloquy at the end of Act 1 is also
a favourite of Elaine Paige’s BBC Radio 2 show.
Louise’s entrance is a large ballet number (similar to Oklahoma) as
Billy ventures down to earth. The Original Broadway Louise was so
adored by the audience that following the ballet and her next
entrance she was forced to break character and take a bow. The
Louise ballet was choreographed by Agnes De Mille as director
Rouben Mamoulin’s version was not working.
Audra McDonald won the Tony for “Best Featured Actress in a
Musical” for the Carousel Revival in 1994. She has also won the
Tony for “Best Leading Actress in a Musical” “Best Featured Actress
in a Play” and “Best Leading Actress in a Play” making her a
Broadway Legend in recent years. http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=D6o-EpKSXPM – Audra McDonald and Neil Patrick Harris closing
the Tonys in 2013
Pacific –
Mary Martin returns! Mary Martin won the Tony for Best Lead Actress
in a Musical for South Pacific. Mary Martin had almost got the part of
Laurey in Oklahoma and was staring as Annie in Annie Get Your Gun
at the time South Pacific was written, and the writing partners saw it
and immediately begged her to play Nellie. This allowed Mary to
gain her first Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical (her
second in Peter Pan most famously by Jule Styne and her third in
Sound of Music). Martin was initially reluctant at being cast opposite
Opera Star Ezio Pinza, but the pair rarely had to sing together.

o
The King and I –
Pipe Dream –
Sound of Music –
o Sound of Music has had two "Film" version of "The Sound of Music".
One had one of the greatest women of all time playing Maria (Julie
Andrews) in 1965, and the other had a failing country singer (Carrie
Underwood) in 2013. The 2013 LIVE version was severely lacking in
power as Carrie Underwood is not a musical singer.
o The Original Broadway Maria, Mary Martin stared in many Rogers
and Hammerstein Shows, winning the Tony for Best Leading Actress
in South Pacific and The Sound of Music during the 50's-60's as well
as gaining a Tony for Peter Pan...she also was the Mother of Larry
Hagman (JR in Dallas (TV))
o The West End Revival in 2006 was a result of Lloyd Webbers “how
do you solve a problem like Maria?” and Ironically had problems

o

with Maria when in 2007 Connie Fisher suffered a heavy cold and
had to pull out of the run for two weeks leading an understudy to
take over Monday Evening and Wednesday Matinee performances.
This production also stared Lauren Ward as “The Baroness”, who
later went into Matilda as Miss Honey!
The Sound of Music won the Tony for Best New Musical in 1960 (tied
with Fiorello). This was however the only award it did win either side
of the Pond, with numerous revivals being performed and the 2006
and 2014 versions being nominated for the Olivier.

Early Composers
Cole Porter




Kiss Me Kate –
Anything Goes –

Lerner and Loewe



My Fair Lady –

Leonard Bernstein



West Side Story –

Stephen Sondheim





West Side Story –
Gypsy –
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum –

Kander and Ebb






Chicago –
Cabaret –
Kiss of the Spider Woman –
The Rink –

Mid Composers
Cy Coleman

Jule Styne

Marvin Hamlisch


A Chorus Line

Webber and Rice

Shoenburg and boubil




Les Miserables
Miss Saigon
Martin Gaire

Stephen Schwartz

Later Composers
Jonathan Larson

Jason Robert Brown

Shairman and Wittman

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