Course B
Music Theatre History
Masi Asare, Associate Professor, Theatre and Director, American Musical Theatre Project
Tuesdays, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Flowing from 19th century roots in vaudeville, burlesque, and minstrelsy, in dialogue with jazz, operetta, music hall shows and more, the musical has taken a variety of shapes over the past 130 years. As follies, revues, “integrated” musicals, dance-driven musicals, rock musicals, concept musicals, megamusicals, jukebox musicals, and more, the landscape of US musical theatre has undergone vast shifts over time. Yet each wave of new approaches also restages musical theatre conventions from the past. As we work to gain a deeper grasp of the shows, people, stories, and sounds that have come to define the form, we will also consider the ways that musicals themselves tell musical theatre history. Across each era, what do musicals and musical theatre artists have to say (or sing!) about their times, beliefs, and social contexts?
NOTE: Supplementary course material will be available. Previewing is optional, but doing so will enhance your lecture experience. To access the material, click the Course Materials button below.
