Musical Theater

Paper Summary:

Musical theater is almost as old as America itself. From the 1700s to the present day, the stages across the United States have come alive with the voices and instruments of dramatic, romantic and comedic musicals that have delighted audiences of all ages. This paper shows that the United States is known for its mixture of cultures, beliefs and traditions and where freedom of expression is not only allowed but encouraged. American musical theater is a prime example of this ethnic and cultural eclectic creativity and presentation. The paper traces the history of musical theater in the United States from the 1700s to the present day.

From the Paper:

"Rodgers and Hammerstein started their run of hits with "Oklahoma." The seemingly impossible mixture of murder, suspense and music worked because the characters were characterized in depth. The creative team took other risks as well: Instead of opening with the usual stirring ensemble number, the curtain rose on a farm woman churning butter as a cowboy enters singing a solo about the beauty of the morning. Further, Hammerstein wrote lyrics for all the songs in a conversational style, each fitting specific characters and storytelling needs. In addition, since the characters would be dealing with emotions that might sound awkward if verbalized by cowboys and farm girls, Rodgers and Hammerstein decided to use dance as an integral element."

More papers on Musical Theater:

• Essay # 55280 : "History of Musical Theater"
• Article Review # 143443 : "Musical Theatre" - An Article Review"
• Essay # 53229 : "Musical Theatre History"

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