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Musical Threatre (1865 - 1955) - Travis Ribby
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The Black Crook
On September 12, 1866 The Black Crook was first released at Niblo’s Garden on Broadway in front of an audience of over 3,200 people. The Black Crook was the first musical ever produced and was considered a melodramatic romantic comedy. The Black Crook is a musical more commonly known for its special effects. The Black Crook was the first musical of its time and set many performances records and continues to be in production today (Kenrick). -
H.M.S. Pinafore
On May 25, 1878 H.M.S. Pinafore was first performed at the Opera Comique in London. At this time H.M.S. Pinafore was the second longest running musical with 571 performances. H.M.S. Pinafore was considered a romantic play which takes place on a ship where the captain’s daughter falls in love with a lower class sailor. H.M.S. Pinafore is still in production today and has become the author’s most popular work. (Gilbert & Sullivan Archive) -
A Gaiety Girl
The musical A Gaiety Girl was first performed at the Prince of Wales Theatre, in London France. A Gaiety Girl is a musical comedy performed in two acts and was authored by Owen Hall. A Gaiety Girl was performed 413 times in less than a five month span. (The Guide to Musical Theatre) -
The Geisha, a story of a tea house
The Geisha - A Story of a Tea House is a Japanese musical which is performed in two acts. The Geisha was first performed at Daly's Theatre in Leicester Square London, France on April 25, 1896. The Geisha was performed 760 times and became very popular due to the music which was written by Sidney Jones. (The Guide to Musical Theatre) -
Victor August Herbert
Victor Herbert was an American composer who found success with operettas performed on Broadway. Victor Herbert was born February 1, 1859 in Dublin, Ireland. Throughout his life, Victor was the author of several musicals and was the founder of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers in 1914. Victor Herbert later died on May 26, 1924 in New York. (Ankeny) -
Sally
Sally is a musical Comedy that was first performed at the New Amsterdam Theatre, Broadway on December 21, 1920. Sally was performed 570 times before it made it's way to London in 1921. Sally is made up of three acts with five different scenes which tells the story of a dishwasher who is trying to become famous. (The Guide to Musical Theatre) -
George Gershwin
George Gearshwin, an American songwriter born on September 26, 1898 in Brooklyn New York. George Gearshwin moved to Paris shortly after high school graduation where he found little success as he hoped to study with Nadia Boulanger. After moving back to New York in 1924, George teamed up with his brother Ira and flooded Broadway with songs they wrote. Their songs made their way into many musical comedies to include Lady Be Good (1924), Oh, Kay (1926) and Funny Face (1927). (Gershwin Enterprises) -
Ethel Merman
Ethel Merman is considers one of the most successful performer of her time. Ethel was born January 16, 1908 in Queens, New York and started performing as a child. Starting in 1930, Ethel Merman started her on stage career performing in thirteen roles on Broadway to include Reno Sweeney, Annie Oakley, Sally Adams, and Mama Rose. (Masterworks Broadway) -
Rodgers and Hart
Richard Rodgers, an American composer and Lorenz Hart, an American lyricist were a successful duo in the early 1900's. Their work eventually found it's way into musical theatre in 1919 and stuck around until Hart's death in 1943. Rodgers and Hart produced 28 musicals and wrote over 500 songs for plays and movies to include "My Funny Valentine," "The Lady Is a Tramp," "Blue Moon," "Mountain Greenery," and "With a Song in My Heart". (Sears) -
Oklahoma
Oklahoma premiered March 31, 1943 at the St. James Theater in New York. Oklahoma was performed 2,212 times until is was produced into an Oscar winning film in 1955. Oklahoma was written by Rodgers and Hammerstein and has become a very popular choice for many school drama classes. (Kenrick)
