History of Musical Theatre

History of Musical Theatre

What is Musical Theatre?

• Not style of dance!

• An overall category of performing arts that consists of music/singing, acting and dancing

• Uses Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Hip Hop
  
  

​When did Musical Theatre begin?

• The 5th Century with the Greeks

• Would put on dramatic plays with music and singing. Later the Romans would add the element of Dance.

• 12th and 13th Century - The Catholic Church used musical shows to reinforce lessons about morals and the bible.

Did you know?

The Romans created the first tap shoes by nailing bits of metal to the soles of their sandals so that their steps could be heard?

• Black song and dance parodies born when traveling blackface performers began presenting full shows.

• Originated from slave owners forcing their slaves to perform musical numbers for other white owners.
  

Minstrel Shows

Minstrelsy & Vaudeville

• Series of unrelated acts including dance, clogging, tap, acrobatics, singing, musical numbers, skirt dancing and toe dancing.

• Beginning of Broadway!

Vaudeville Shows

Minstrelsy & Vaudeville

Ballroom, Ragtime & Chorus Girls

• Ballroom is everywhere!

• Ragtime Music - European Folk Songs mixed with african Drum Rhythms

  • Born in the heart of New Orleans - Moved to Chicago, New York, St. Louis and other major cities.

• Chorus Girls - Dancers that were chosen to be "Background Dancers"

Florenz Ziegfeld - Ziegfeld Follies

• Director and Creator of Broadway Shows! Created the "Ziegfeld Follies" - Company

• He created what is known as the Ziegfeld Walk

  • Dancers in fancy and elaborate costumes would slowly enter the stage in line with large fans. (Vegas Show Girls)

• John Tiller - Tiller Girls

  • Choreographer/Director - Known for setting the "standard" for dancers. Needed to fit a specific stereotype.

  • Military style precision with his dancers

​The Darktown Follies

• Black Broadway Show - All Black Performing Company

• Harlem, New York City

• Blurring the lines between segregated shows

• Ziegfeld Purchased different dance moves from them to add to his shows.

Broadway Musicals - Pull out your phone, open Google and let's make a list of Musicals!

• Annie

• Hamilton

• Lion King

• Chicago

• The Wiz

• Addams Family

• Wicked

• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

• Cats

• Hairspray

• Elf

• Six

• West Side Story

• Aladdin

• Legally Blonde

• Bring It On

• A Beautiful Noise

• Back To The Future

• Phantom of the Opera

​Broadway Musicals! - Video Links

• Six! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egqqtAo8WSI

• Hamilton - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hjgn7DELmGM

• Wicked - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Svt0UytcAgc

• Legally Blonde - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txW5FZtp54o&list=PLipxRatmphTZ3NEn0OdGvM8u7Akohr_ax&index=2

• MJ The Musical - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJk6sgZPP4c