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"The Black Crook" Playwright Charles M. Barras
This play is often referred to as the beginning of the American musical theatre. The show contained a trope of ballet dancers with a variety of songs to accompany them. Containing dazzling visual spectacles, a plethora of young women wearing tights and form-fitting bodices attracted much attention and would run 476 performances. This made the play become the first production to run over a year and would see commercial success on its tour to places such as New York. -
"Die Fledermaus" Playwright Johann Strauss II; Composer Jacques Offenbach
This international operetta was popular across the Western world. The show contained lighter tones, subject matter, and musical/vocal complexity compared to the traditional opera. The shows lighthearted comedy adored audiences and would influence the form of entertainment beyond its time. This can be considered the early forms of what would become the modern musical. -
"Dahomey" Playwright Jesse A. Shipp
This show was the first all-black musical to play on Broadway and was performed to racially mixed audiences within the United States before performing within the United Kingdom in London for an extended run. It is commonly regarded as a marquee turning point for African-American representation within the theatre space. Although this was the case, this play along with the ones to follow would utilize the performance of a blackface cast in the mist of the social climate of the time. -
"The Zingfield Follies" by Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.
During this time, writers such as Florenz Ziegfeld (1867-1932) were aiming to write musical comedies for the upper-class to enjoy. He began to popularize the Broadway revue by introducing his various incarnation of The Ziegfeld Follies which launched the carriers of many and contained various singers and comedians who would perform. Attractive, glamorous young women who would ware elaborate costumes performed memorable production numbers and became a staple for musical entertainment. -
"Show Boat" Playwright Oscar Hammerstein II
This landmark musical launched the modern musical with this cohesive story, believable characters, song, music, and dance. It was the first musical to be based upon a serious novel (by Edna Ferber from 1926 with the same name). The controversial subject matter the play discussed about a biracial woman's romantic relationship with her white husband challenged audiences of the time which also included a variation of musical styles along with a multitude of African American folk songs. -
"Of Thee I Sing!" Playwrights George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind; Composers George & Ira Gershwin
This play marked a new measure of respect for the musical theatre and was the first to receive an awarded Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It also was the first Broadway musical to have both its book and lyrics published and the first to run over 400 performances. The show lampoons and satirizes American politics and politicians with its story consisting of a man running for President on the 'love' platform. He falls in love with the beautiful pageant winner and finds himself in political water. -
"Anything Goes" Playwrights Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodenhouse; Composer Cole Porter
This ever-popular romantic comedy was one of Cole Porter's biggest hit with a total of 420 performances. The show-stopping dance numbers and memorable songs such as "Anything Goes", "You're the Top", "Blow, Gabriel Blow", and "I Get a Kick Out of You" coined the decade of the 1930s and set a new standard for musical excellence within the medium. Since its debut at the Alvin Theatre (now known as the Neil Simon Theatre), the musical has been revived multiple times for modern audiences globally. -
"On Your Toes" Playwrights Richard Rodgers, George Abbott, and Lorenz Hart; Composed by Richard Rodgers
This play exerted a strong influence on the medium due to its new set of standards for dance could advance narrative. It also mixed traditional Broadway style dance with the form of ballet. The play was originally conceived as a film, but due to the refusal of Fred Astaire as the lead vehicle, the show was initially presented as a stage production. Later, the musical would be adapted into a film in 1939. -
"Oklahoma!" Playwright Oscar Hammerstein II; Composer Richard Rodgers
This play was first collaboration of Rodgers and Hammerstein that would mark the Golden Age of the American Theatre. In addition to the title song, the show contains hits such as "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning", "I Can't Say No", and "The Farmer and the Cowman". The musical marked a new standard of excellence for whats called the "book musical" and wound run for an astounding 2,212 performances. Its popularity also spurred the innovative original cast recoding for millions to hear everywhere. -
"Kiss Me Kate" Playwrights Bella & Samuel Spewack; Composer Cole Porter
This production is considered Cole Porters most successful musical. The show consists of divorced couple starts in a musical version of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. This Golden Age musical, with music and lyrics that were woven into the script, ran for over 1,000 performances and won the first Tony Award for Best Musical in 1949. The 1999 Broadway revival, starring Marin Mazzie and Brian Stokes Mitchell, won five Tony nominations including Best Actor and Best Revival of a Musical.