Musicals. What are they and how have they evolved throughout time? They have been evolving for a long time. Before musicals were just Ancient Greek plays with songs and Roman Comedies had music. Musicals like The Black Crook and The Beggar's Opera started to shape the history of American Theatre. Even then Musical Theatre had a long way to go to evolve into what is today. Many changes were involved along the way and even the forms of musical began to change. We were of course influenced by other parts of the world and that led to other culture influencing the stage. There was a time when the Musical stage wasn't as popular as it is today. That was before many composers and directors began to shape the history. Today we have great musicals like Hairspray, Spring Awakening, Legally Blonde, Rent and The Phantom of the Opera that are gracing or have graced the Broadway stage. Even today we don't know where the musical stage will be in a 100 years or so because there are still many new musicals coming out. It is a mystery where the musical stage is going but we do know its roots and the great form of art is today. Change is inevitable for the Broadway stage but one thing that is sure is that musicals will be lasting for a long time.

Sources

Gänzl,Kurt
The Musical:A Concise History 
Copyright 1997



Green,Stanley
The World Of Musical Comedy
Enlarged and Revised Edition

Last published in 1968



Kenrick,John
Musicals on Stage: A Capsule History

Updated September 30, 2002, Seen on 9/14/2008
http://www.musicals101.com/stagecap.htm



Mordden,Ethan
Better Foot Forward


 

Musical Theatre
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_theatre

Updated Septemeber 11, 2008
Seen on September 12,2008



Russell,Micheal
"Musical Guide-A Brief History of Musicals"
http://ezinearticles.com/?Musical-Guide---A-Brief-History-Of-Musicals&id=149474

Updated 2/21/06
Seen on 9/12/08