The New School
History of Musical Theatre (CRN:7175)
Class Assignments for Spring Semester 2013
Lecturer: John Kenrick
With the exception of our first class, students are expected to read or view the required materials for each week beforehand. On the assigned day, be prepared for active discussion, as well as oral and occasional written quizzes on these materials.
- Required reading assignments use the page numbers from the hardcover edition of my textbook.
- In case you do not have access to the textbook, use the links to related pages on Musicals101.com -- but you should eventually read the assigned text as well.
- If you have any questions regarding these assignments, please contact John Kenrick at bwayman08@yahoo.com.
- Optional items are exactly that, not required, but material that can enrich your learning experience. If you have difficulty obtaining the textbook, the Optional online readings will keep you in the loop -- but you are expected to get and use the textbook as soon as possible.
- For More suggests worthwhile reading for anyone interested in doing further research. These are not required materials -- just listed in case a particular subject grabs you.
- Exam dates are noted in red.
- Link to the Fall semester syllabus.
Session 1 (1/28)
Definitions & Beginnings: Antiquity to Ballad
Opera
- Required: Kenrick: pp. 11-34
- Required: Musicals101 - What is a musical?
- Required: Beggars Opera scene
Session 2 (1/30)
Continental Operetta: Offenbach & Strauss
- Required: Kenrick: pp. 35-49
- Required: Musicals101 - European Operetta
Session 3 (2/4)
Minstrelsy, British Music Halls & Variety
- Required: Kenrick: pp. 50-61
- Optional: Musicals101 - Music Halls, Variety, Minstrelsy 1, Minstrelsy 2
Session 4 (2/6)
Early American Musicals
- Required: Kenrick: pp. 61-74
- Optional: Musicals101 - Early US Musicals 1, Page 2
Session 5 (2/11)
Gilbert & Sullivan I
- Required: Kenrick: pp. 75-94
- Optional: Musicals 101 - G&S Page 1, Page 2, Page 3
- For More: G&S Canon, Bibliography & Suggested Links
Session 6 (2/13)
Gilbert & Sullivan II
- REQUIRED: By this week, you must submit your topic for the required 5-6 page research paper.
- Required : Kenrick: pp. 128-133
- Required: Widow scene, Gallery 1, Gallery 2, Gallery 3, Gallery 4
- Optional: Musicals101 - Widow Page 1, Page 2, Page 3
Feb. 18 - President's Day - No Classes
Session 7 (2/20)
Anatomy of a Hit: The Merry Widow
Your Mid-Term will be
given in this class
- No Required Reading assignment for this week
- For More: Bordman, Gerald. American Operetta. New York: Oxford University Press, 1981. A fine look at the beginnings of the musical in America. Includes detailed discussion of The Merry Widow's first Broadway production in 1907.
- For More: Grun, Bernard. Gold and Silver: The Life and Times of Franz Lehar. New York: David McKay Co., 1970. Charming and informative, this book includes extensive coverage of The Merry Widow, as well as a refreshing assessment of Lehar's controversial final years.
- For More: Traubner, Richard. Operetta: A Theatrical History. Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company, 1983 The ultimate love letter to operetta, with superb scholarship throughout. A new paperback edition appeared in 2003.
Session 8 (2/25)
Vaudeville & Burlesque
- Required: Kenrick: pp. 95-110
- Optional: Vaudeville Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4
- For More: Gallery 1, Gallery 2, Gallery 3
- For More: Links & Suggested Reading
Session 9 (2/27)
Career in Profile: George M. Cohan
- Required: Kenrick: pp. 117-122
- Optional: Musicals101 -
Session 10 (3/4)
Victor Herbert & Irving Berlin
- Required: Kenrick: pp. 111-117, 142-145
Session 11 (3/6)
Revues: Ziegfeld's Follies
- Required: Kenrick: pp. 122-127, 145-155
Session 12 (3/11)
Jerome Kern: The Princess Musicals & Beyond
- Required: Kenrick: 134-142
- For More: Bordman, Gerald. Jerome Kern: His Life and Music. New York: Oxford University Press 1980. The definitive resource on Kern and his work. It is all here, a magnificent example of research.
Session 13 (3/13)
Career in Profile: Al Jolson
- Required: Kenrick: pp. 156-167
- Optional: Musicals101 - Jolson Bio 1, Bio 2, Bio 3, Bio 4
- For More: Jolson Musicals, Jolson Bibliography
Session 14 (3/18)
The 1920s: Hot Times, Great Talents & Show
Boat
- Required: Kenrick: 168-206
- Optional: Musicals101 - 1920s Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5
- For More: Kruger, Miles. Show Boat: The Story of a Classic American Musical. New York: Oxford University Press, 1977. (Updated soft cover edition - New York: Da Capo, 1990) The complete history of Showboat in all its incarnations up to the publication dates, this well written book is a model of scholarly research blended with passion for the musical theatre. This volume inspired the historic John McGlinn recording of the uncut score, as well as the wondrous 90's revival.
Session 15 (3/20)
1930s-40s: Something is Stirring
- Required: Kenrick: pp. 207-237
- Optional: Musicals101 - 1930s Part 1, 1930s Part 2, 1930s Part 3, 1930s Part 4
- For More: Jablonski, Edward. Gershwin: A Biography. New York: Doubleday, 1987. There are many books on George Gershwin, but this is the best to date. Comprehensive, intelligent, and frank.
- For More: Rosenberg, Deena. Fascinating Rhythm: The Collaboration of George and Ira Gershwin. London: Lime Tree, 1991. One of the few books to examine the collaboration between lyricist and composer. Based on extensive interviews with Ira, it includes a remarkable selection of photos
Mar. 25 through Mar. 29 - Spring Break - No Classes
Session 16 (4/1)
Rodgers & Hammerstein: Oklahoma &
Beyond
- Required: Kenrick: pp. 238-251
- Optional: Musicals101 - 1940s Part 1, 1940s Part 2, 1940s Part 3, 1940s Part 4
- For More: Wilk, Max. OK! The Story of Oklahoma! New York: Grove Press, 1993. A detailed and fascinating look back at the gestation of Rodgers and Hammerstein's landmark hit. Packed with anecdotes and photos.
- For More: Mordden, Ethan. Beautiful Morning: The Broadway Musical in the 1940s. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
Session 17 (4/3)
Rodgers & Hammerstein (Continued)
- No reading assignment for this session
Session 18 (4/8)
After R&H: Broadway's Golden Age
- Required: Kenrick: pp. 251-264
- Optional: Musicals101 - 1950s Part 1, 1950s Part 2
- For More: Mordden, Ethan. Coming Up Roses: The Broadway Musical in the 1950s. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.
Session 19 (4/10)
Anatomy of a Hit: My Fair Lady
- Required: Kenrick: pp. 294-297
- Optional: Musicals101 - 1950s Part 2 (cont'd), 1950s Part 4
Session 19 (4/15)
Career in Profile: Ethel Merman
- Required: Musicals101 - Ethel Merman bio 1, bio 2, bio 3
- For More: See the Musicals 101 Merman bibliography.
Session 20 (4/17)
Directors: Abbott, Robbins, Fosse
- Required: Kenrick: pp. 265-292
- Optional: Musicals101 - 1950s Part 3
Session 21 (4/22)
More Golden Age Musicals
- No reading assignment for this session
Session 22 (4/24)
1960s: The Parade Passes By
- Required: Kenrick: pp. 298-317
- Optional: Musicals101 - 1960s Part 1, 1960s Part 2, 1960s Part 3
- For More: Mordden, Ethan. Open a New Window: The Broadway Musical in the 1960s. New York: Palgrave/St. Martin's Press, 2001.
Session 23 (4/29)
Sondheim & Prince: Worlds to Change
- Required: Kenrick: pp. 325-329
- Optional: Musicals101 - 1970s Part 1, 1970s Part 2, 1970s Part 3, 1970s Part 4
- For More: Hirsch, Foster. Harold Prince and the American Musical Theater. New York: Oxford University Press, 1989. A detailed look at Prince's directorial work up to Phantom of the Opera. Hirsch makes some ill-advised points, but there are plenty of useful facts and observations along the way for serious students of these works.
- For More: Zadan, Craig. Sondheim & Co. New York: Harper & Row, 1974 (Second updated edition, 1986). A fascinating behind the scenes look at how Sondheim's shows were created, with great photos and some reflective insights from Mr. Sondheim.
Session 24 (5/1)
Class cancelled.
Session 25 (5/6)
1970s: The Main Stem Becomes a Side Street
- Required: Kenrick: pp. 318-325, 330-341
- Optional: Musicals101 - 1970s Part 5, 1980s Part 1
- For More: See the Musicals101 A Chorus Line bibliography.
- For More: Mordden, Ethan. One More Kiss: The Broadway Musical in the 1970s. New York: Palgrave for St. Martin's Press, 2003.
Session 26 (5/8)
1980s: Mega-musicals
- Required: Kenrick: pp. 342-358
- Optional: Musicals101 - 1980s Part 2,1980s Part 3
- Your Final Research Paper is due during this class.
Session 27 (5/13)
1990s: Who's the Leader of the Club?
- Required: Kenrick: 358-369
- Optional: Musicals101 - 1990s Part 1, 1990s Part 2
- For More: Mordden, Ethan. The Happiest Corpse I've Ever Seen: The Last 25 Years of the Broadway Musical. New York: Palgrave for St. Martin's Press, 2004. I strongly disagree with some of the opinions expressed in this book, but Mordden's wit and passion make for absorbing reading.
Session 28 (5/15)
Nowadays: Jukebox Jive, Cartoon Candy
- Required: Kenrick: pp. 370-382
- Optional: Musicals101 - 2000s
Session 29 (5/20)
The Future?
- No required readings