From West Side Story to Spring Awakening: the Evolution of the American Musical
TA 300
23 September 2012
From West Side Story to Spring Awakening: The Evolution of the American Musical Broadway, also known as The Great White Way, no matter how you chose to describe it, they describe a place that for over one hundred years has put on the most spectacular musicals in the world. From Ancient Greece to the Globe Theatre and finally to Broadway, these places have all been known for being “the” place for plays and musicals. “Broadway is the street in New York that has come to symbolize live theater entertainment throughout the world” (Talkinbroadway.com). Over the last one hundred years many things have changed in the world of the musical. Producers, directors, and actors now have more freedom and liberty with their production and the portrayal of the characters.
“While the contemporary Broadway musical took its form from operetta, it got its comic soul from the variety entertainments that delighted America from the mid-1800s onward. Crude American Variety and Minstrel Shows eventually gave way to the more refined pleasures of Vaudeville -- and the rowdy spirit of Burlesque” (Musicals101.com). George M. Cohan was the first to really put his stamp on The Great White Way, and in turn he unknowingly started a change in how shows on Broadway were performed and produced. “American composers George M. Cohan and Victor Herbert gave the American musical comedy a distinctive sound and style” (Musicals101.com). With his performing past Cohan could only succeed. His biggest hit was Little Johnny Jones, wherein George Cohan would play an “American Jockey name Johnny Jones, who had returned to his hometown victoriously after being falsely accused of throwing a race at the London Derby” (Lewis 6). "While the London stage was still living in another century with The Arcadians and The Quake Girl…..outside a small section of Manhattan Island known as The Great White Way, one man was setting the American musical stage on the course it was to take for the
23 September 2012
From West Side Story to Spring Awakening: The Evolution of the American Musical Broadway, also known as The Great White Way, no matter how you chose to describe it, they describe a place that for over one hundred years has put on the most spectacular musicals in the world. From Ancient Greece to the Globe Theatre and finally to Broadway, these places have all been known for being “the” place for plays and musicals. “Broadway is the street in New York that has come to symbolize live theater entertainment throughout the world” (Talkinbroadway.com). Over the last one hundred years many things have changed in the world of the musical. Producers, directors, and actors now have more freedom and liberty with their production and the portrayal of the characters.
“While the contemporary Broadway musical took its form from operetta, it got its comic soul from the variety entertainments that delighted America from the mid-1800s onward. Crude American Variety and Minstrel Shows eventually gave way to the more refined pleasures of Vaudeville -- and the rowdy spirit of Burlesque” (Musicals101.com). George M. Cohan was the first to really put his stamp on The Great White Way, and in turn he unknowingly started a change in how shows on Broadway were performed and produced. “American composers George M. Cohan and Victor Herbert gave the American musical comedy a distinctive sound and style” (Musicals101.com). With his performing past Cohan could only succeed. His biggest hit was Little Johnny Jones, wherein George Cohan would play an “American Jockey name Johnny Jones, who had returned to his hometown victoriously after being falsely accused of throwing a race at the London Derby” (Lewis 6). "While the London stage was still living in another century with The Arcadians and The Quake Girl…..outside a small section of Manhattan Island known as The Great White Way, one man was setting the American musical stage on the course it was to take for the
Cited: Lewis, David H.. Broadway Musicals: A Hundred Year History. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland, 2002. Pgs. 6-8, 18-22, 84, 167. Print. Jackson, Arthur. The Best Musicals from Show boat to Sweeney Todd: Broadway, Off Broadway, London. New York: Crown Publishers, 1977. Page 22. Print. Green, Stanley. Broadway Musicals, Show by Show. Seventh ed. Milwaukee, WI: H. Leonard Books, 1985. 175. Print. "Talkin ' Broadway - Broadway 101 "The Great White Way"." Talkin ' Broadway - Broadway & Off-Broadway theatre discussion, cast recording news, reviews of musicals and drama. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2012. <http://www.talkinbroadway.com/bway101/1.html>. Birdie, e Bye. "American Musical Theatre: An Introduction." TheatreHistory.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2012. <http://www.theatrehistory.com/american/musical030.html>. 1990s, The. "Musicals On Stage: A Capsule History." Musicals101.com - The Cyber Encyclopedia of Musicals. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2012. <http://www.musicals101.com/stagecap.htm>.