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Minstrelsy
The Minstrelsy is defined as an American entertainment form consisting of comic skits, variety acts, dancing and music. It is the 1st distinctly American theatrical form.
Certain aspects and “characters” of the minstrel show made appearances in stage entertainment -
Native born
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The Minstrel Show
The “minstrel” show really reached its characteristics -
Broadway
Broadway development -
Thomas D. Rice (the father of blackface)
Rice was a white comedian who is given the credit for popularizing blackface. Aside from popularizing blackface costume, he introduced the song “Jump Jim Crow” and accompanied the song with the dance. -
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Master Juba
Master Juba’s” legal birth name (it is thought, since the records on him are really scarce) was William Henry Lane. The name “Juba” was a common name given to slaves that had musical or dancing talent. However, he was born a free man, not a slave, and is considered by many to be the creator of modern tap.He became well known when he participated in many dance challenges, or competitions, and often won them. -
white performers movement
white performers movement which found fame in the minstrel show which was copied by the Levee Dancers . -
Christy’s Minstrels
The Christy’s Minstrels were an all black performance troupe -
Juba's top billing
Juba became well enough known that he received top billing in a minstrel show.
He was the 1st black performer to receive this honor over a white performer. -
The “minstrel” show height
it reached its height around the Civil War -
The Black Crook
The Black Crook is given credit as the 1st modern musical (though it was still not exactly like what are called “book musicals”, which for our purposes, means modern day musicals). -
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Bill “Bojangles” Robinson
He spent most of his career performing in nightclubs, revues and in Vaudeville. Additionally, he made a great deal of money at this time-making up to $3,500 a week.
Eventually he made his way to Hollywood and received roles in film. He is most well known for his film roles, especially the roles he played opposite Shirley Temple. -
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Vaudeville
Vaudeville is defined as a genre of variety entertainment prevalent in the U.S. and Canada .
It was inspired by many sources including concert saloons, the minstrelsy, freak shows, dime museums and burlesque shows. -
The rise and peak of the musical/musical theater genre
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John W. Buck
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The Wizard of Oz
an immortalize music that has been part of our culture when it was turned into a film musical. -
Babes in Toyland
an immortalize music that has been part of our culture when it was turned into a film musical. -
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Ford Lee Washington
Bubbles is considered to be the “father of rhythm-tap”, which, if we go back to our styles, is what hoofing is. Bubbles is rumored to have been booed off stage at the Hoofer’s Club in Harlem, so he worked extra hard to produce something that would get him remembered. He is credited with adding the use of the heel to create rhythmic sounds on the off beats -
The Ziegfeld Follies
It was very popular in the U.S. -
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Fayard Nicholas
one of the duo of the "Nicholas Brothers".
Stylistically, the brothers were the classic “flash” act. Their performances were showy, flashy and full of tricks and acrobatics. -
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Harold Nicholas
one of the duo of the "Nicholas Brothers".
Stylistically, the brothers were the classic “flash” act. Their performances were showy, flashy and full of tricks and acrobatics. -
Warner Brothers Studio
Warner Brothers Studio took a gamble on a Vitaphone film even though the studio executives weren’t interested in making talking films. -
The Jazz Singer
It was the 1st full length feature to use recorded song and dialogue. It was still mostly silent, and when first presented, it was still completely silent in many venues because the theatres didn’t have the sound technology; nevertheless, the film was a smash hit. The success of the film pushed studio executives to see that the talking feature “fad” might not be a fad and that they should serious think about investing more into “talkies.” -
Showboat
Showboat is considered the earliest musical with the modern recipe, meaning that it had an integrated book and score and had dramatic themes told through music, dialogue, setting and movement. -
The beginning of competition between stage musical and the new "talking" picture
There was not a lot of competition between the two when films were silent, but once sound entered movies, the combination of the novelty of the new “invention” and the cheaper cost of the movies drove audiences from live theater seats and into movie theater seats. -
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The 1st major musical film stars were created and animated musicals make an appearance .
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Cotton Club
club in Harlem in were they the only black act allowed to mingle with the white patrons. -
Porgy and Bess
The musical is based on the novel “Porgy” and deals with African-American life in a fictitious neighborhood called Catfish Row in Charleston, South Carolina -
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
one of animated musicals -
Perfomance of Nicholas Brothers in the "Babes in Arms "
George Balanchine invited them to perform in “Babes in Arms” -
Academy Award won by Ginger Rogers
She won an Academy Award for role in film Kitty Foyle. -
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The “Golden Age” of musicals
This period became the" Golden "Age becauseThe musicals during this period hit the perfect cohesive balance between book, music, storyline, songs and dance. During this period, ALL the elements came together and contributed to furthering the story. -
Rodeo
De Mille originally created Rodeo for Ballet Russes de Monte Carlo. The score was by Aaron Copland and de Mille starred in the original and was so popular she received 22 curtain calls.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PGkJkpK1yU&feature=related -
Oklahoma
The musical Oklahoma ushered in the Golden Age and is considered to be the first musical of the period. -
On the Town (One example of an Americana musical )
One of the most popular themes of musicals during this time, particularly during the first part of the Golden Age, or during wartime (WWII), were displays of Americana. -
Cover girl
film created by Gene Kelly.The film was important for his career because he created a number where he danced with his own reflection in a store window , a camera trick that had never been done before . -
Anchors Aweigh
A film that Gene Kelly choreographed for -
Carousel
one of Agnes de Mille 15 musicals and 21 ballets -
Period: to
Gregory Hines
He was a big improviser in tap dance -
Brigadoon
one of Agnes de Mille 15 musicals and 21 ballets -
South Pacific
South Pacific wasbased on the book “Tales of the South Pacific” and explores issues of racism through the stories of two couples: an American nurse stationed at a U.S. Naval base during WWII and an expatriate French plantation owner (she struggles to accept his biracial children) and a U.S. Lieutenant and an Asian woman. -
Gentleman Prefer Blondes
one of Agnes de Mille 15 musicals and 21 ballets -
The film version of "On the Town"
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Cinderella
one of Disney musicals; animated films, live films. -
“Guys and Dolls”
A music created during the" Golden Age ". -
Period: to
A big period of changes
Many of the major stage hits were made into film including
A number of musicals made specifically for film began to be made Disney was heavily involved in the musicals; they invested the most in their animated films, but also did some live films. -
An American in Paris
one of musicals made specifically for film -
Alice in Wonderland
one of Disney musicals; animated films, live films. -
An American in Paris
A film done by Gene Kelly .This film is the story of an American painter living in a starving artists community in Paris and his adventures trying to get his work sold and pursue love. -
Paint Your Wagon
one of Agnes de Mille 15 musicals and 21 ballets -
"The King and I"
This musical was based on the book “Anna and the King of Siam,” and told the story of an English women who was summoned by the King of Siam (modern day Singapore) to be a governess to his children and to also teach him and his household (including all his wives) Western customs. -
Singin’ in the Rain
one of musicals made specifically for film -
Singin’ in the Rain
The story of this musical is based in the transition of films from silent to talking. Kelly plays the lead male of the silent films and he falls in love with a woman who is a backup dancer for the movie studio he is a part of. -
Peter Pan
one of Disney musicals; animated films, live films. -
White Christmas
one of musicals made specifically for film -
The Girl in Pink Tights
one of Agnes de Mille 15 musicals and 21 ballets -
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
This musical was choreographed by Michael Kidd and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture.
It was based on the story “The Sobbin Women” by Stephen Vincent Benet; the story is about seven brothers who live in the mountains -
DJ Kool Herc.
DJ Kool Her was the father of hip-hop and he earned this title by the methods of DJ’ing that became the foundation for hip-hop music -
The Lady and the Tramp
one of Disney musicals; animated films, live films. -
The film version of "The King and I "
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“My Fair Lady”
A music created during the" Golden Age ". -
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
one of musicals made specifically for film -
“The Music Man”
A music created during the" Golden Age ". -
Sleeping Beauty
one of Disney musicals; animated films, live films. -
The Sound of Music
The The Sound of Music loosely told the story of the von Trapp family (an actual family), of which Maria becomes a governess (although in real life she was supposed to be a tutor). The story explored issues of the Nazis and their takeover of Austria prior to WWII. -
“The Sound of Music”
A music created during the the " Golden Age " -
The Fiddler on the Roof (musical explored Jewish subjects and issues)
This musical was based on a series of stories called “Tevye and his Daughters.” The musical focused on a Jewish family in Russia in 1905. The community is steeped in ancient traditions, including arranged marriages and orthodox Judaism. -
Mary Poppins
one of Disney musicals; animated films, live films. -
Cabaret
Musical which which Bob Fosse began to make impact on the Broadway stage . -
Jungle Book
one of Disney musicals; animated films, live films. -
Hair(The Golden Age essentially closed out with this music )
Hair was racially integrated, explored issues like homosexuality and sexuality in general, drugs, the Vietnam War, questioned/made fun of the government and contained a nude seen. -
unpopularity of The golden Age of Musicals
this impacted the film musical as much as it did the stage musical. As a result, there were fewer musical films produced and of those that did get made there were many bombs, but there were also a few hits. -
hip-hop
The original of hip-hop is in New York City and it emerged from African American culture -
film version of "The Fiddler on the Roof"
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Jesus Christ Superstar
stage musicals -
The Rocky Horror Show(inspired by Hair )
stage musical -
Savion Glover
Stylistically, Glover is seeking to bring back the essence of tap that he feels was lost behind entertainment and jazz hands.
He dances with heavy, hard, loud sounds and removes the choreographed upper body.
He teaches dancers to “hit” or say something about oneself through tap.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89HdVh0vksg -
Chicago
Musical which which Bob Fosse began to make impact on the Broadway stage . -
A Chorus Line
As a musical, A Chorus Line received 12 Tony Award nominations and won 9.
The interesting thing about this musical is that there is no real story; rather, the whole musical is about a group of dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line. -
the consideration of Porgy and Bess as a legitimate work .
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Rocky Horror
Musical that gained fame in as a midnight movie because audiences began participating with the film in the theaters. -
film version of "Hair"
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Evita
musical of the big budget musicals inspired by the European “mega-musicals” -
Period: to
The big budget musicals inspired by the European “mega-musicals”
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The Tap Dance Kid
The Broadway production in which Glover starred in -
White Nights
Movie that Hines’s co-star in with Mikhail Baryshnikov -
The Phantom of the Opera
musical of the big budget musicals inspired by the European “mega-musicals” -
The Little Mermaid
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National Tap Day
It is on May 25th 1989 in honor of “Bojangles” birthday. -
The film Tap
Hines starred in a film.
This film is credited with helping to revitalize and renew interest in tap. -
Beauty and the Beast
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Aladdin
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Newsies (big live musical)
took time for it to become popular. It flopped at the box office and only became popular as it became a cult classic. -
The Lion King
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Rent
musical of the big budget musicals inspired by the European “mega-musicals” -
Savion Glover most famous work
he created his most famous work to date: Bring in da Noise, Bring in the Funk for which he won a Tony. -
The Gregory Hines Show
Hines television series -
Seussical
Turning Disney stories and children’s books into musicals like -
Hamilton
This musical is based on a biography written about Alexander Hamilton. Its recently taken the musical theatre world by storm, and is known for two things- racial role reversals where people that aren’t white are playing men from U.S. history that were white, and it’s a rap musical where many of the songs are sung in a rap format vs. the traditional musical theatre or rock musical format. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wboCdgzLHg -
Savion Glover most recent production.
Received a nomination for a Tony.