Chapter 1
How the modern musical was born
Chapter 2
The era of the spectacular mega-musical
Chapter 3
Breaking rules and blending genres
Chapter 4
The hidden craft behind the curtain
YOUR GOAL
Master of The story of stage musicals
Ch 1 · How the modern musical was born
schopenhauer Two actresses won Oscars for playing the exact same character sixty years apart.
schopenhauer The First Modern Musical
We're saving the show, we're saving the show, / From a theater fire, a musical is born!
schopenhauer The 1943 masterpiece 'Oklahoma!' perfected the integrated musical where every element serves the plot.
schopenhauer In 1927, the musical 'Show Boat' proved that stage shows could tackle serious social issues.
BETA
schopenhauer Sort iconic showtunes and trivia to discover the complete history of musicals.
Fun Fact
Show Boat cast: The original 1927 production of 'Show Boat' featured a massive cast of 96 performers, nearly double the size of modern Broadway casts.
Glossary
book musical (noun)
A musical play in which the songs and dances are fully integrated into a well-defined story. Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II pioneered this genre in 1927 with their groundbreaking masterpiece Show Boat.
A musical play in which the songs and dances are fully integrated into a well-defined story. Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II pioneered this genre in 1927 with their groundbreaking masterpiece Show Boat.
Quiz
Who composed the iconic, jazz-infused score for the 1957 musical 'West Side Story'?
Quiz
What was the name of the popular, variety-style stage shows that predated modern musicals in the early 1900s?
Quiz
Which 1927 Broadway musical was the first to fully integrate songs with a serious narrative plot?
Quiz
Which famous Broadway producer was known for his glamorous, early 20th-century revues featuring spectacular showgirls?
Quiz
Who choreographed the groundbreaking dream ballet in the 1943 musical 'Oklahoma!'?
Quiz
Which Shakespearean tragedy served as the direct inspiration for the 1957 musical 'West Side Story'?
Quiz
In the musical 'Oklahoma!', which two rival groups of settlers must learn to be friends?