When Did The Golden Age Of Musicals Begin?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

The exact dates of the “golden age” of musical theatre are fuzzy, but many agree on the years between 1940 – 1959 , which is listed chronologically below. Also, there are of course some other musicals that came out during the golden age.

When did the golden age start musical Theatre?

After lean times on Broadway in the 1930s, the 1943 production of Oklahoma!, by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, ushered in a phase on Broadway now known as the “Golden Age.” Highlighted by great shows, costumes, and stars, this period brought Broadway back to life.

What musical began the golden age of Broadway?

The production of Oklahoma! in 1943 ushers in what is commonly considered the “golden age” of the Broadway musical. The experiments toward greater unity that began with Show Boat by 1943 are normally true of musicals.

What is the golden age musicals?

  • Cabin in the Sky (1943) ...
  • Singin’ in the Rain (1952) ...
  • The Wizard of Oz (1939) ...
  • Cover Girl (1944) ...
  • A Star Is Born (1954) ...
  • An American in Paris (1951) ...
  • You Were Never Lovelier (1942) ...
  • Meet Me in St.

What is the longest running Broadway musical?

The Phantom of the Opera

The longest-running show in Broadway history officially opened on January 26, 1988 and is still playing at the Majestic The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical won 7 1988 Tony Awards® including Best Musical.

What happened when the musical theater golden age ended in America?

The golden age of the American book musical came to an end in the 1960s . ... Although the new musical still usually had a book and the characters were still often grounded in some sort of reality, the stories tended to be less soundly structured, the characters less complex and the integrity of the book less important.

What is the most famous musical?

Rank Musical Original production Debut year 1 The Lion King 1997 2 Wicked 2003 3 The Phantom of the Opera 1988

Why is it called the golden age of Broadway?

The “golden age” of Broadway was no exception. The period of the 1940s and 1950s was a tumultuous period in American history: The role of women was shifting , people were becoming more open to new styles of music, dance, art, and architecture, and World War II affected virtually every aspect of American culture.

What was the first musical?

The first original theatre piece in English that conforms to the modern conception of a musical, adding dance and original music that helped to tell the story, is generally considered The Black Crook , which premiered in New York on September 12, 1866.

What is considered the best musical of all time?

  1. 1 The Lion King (1994) (8.5)
  2. 2 Hamilton (2020) (8.5) ...
  3. 3 Singin’ In The Rain (1952) (8.3) ...
  4. 4 La La Land (2016) (8.0) ...
  5. 5 The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) (8.0) ...
  6. 6 Aladdin (1992) (8.0) ...
  7. 7 Beauty And The Beast (1991) (8.0) ...
  8. 8 The Sound Of Music (1965) (8.0) ...

What was the most successful musical of the 1930s?

  • The Wizard of Oz 1939, 101 min. ...
  • Duck Soup 1933, 68 min. ...
  • A Night at the Opera 1935, 91 min. ...
  • Top Hat 1935, 101 min. ...
  • Swing Time 1936, 103 min. ...
  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 1937, 83 min. ...
  • 42nd Street 1933, 89 min. ...
  • Gold Diggers of 1933 1933, 96 min.

Who was the most popular singer in the 40s?

  • Bing Crosby was the best selling pop artist of the 1940s.
  • Jimmy Dorsey remained at the top of the Billboard number-one singles chart for 32 weeks.
  • Glenn Miller big-band trombonist, arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era.
  • Frank Sinatra was one of the best-selling male pop artists of the 1940s.

What is the most famous Broadway musical?

# Title Opening date 1. The Phantom of the Opera January 26, 1988 2. Chicago (1996 revival) November 14, 1996 3. The Lion King November 13, 1997 4. Cats October 7, 1982

What is the number one screen to stage?

1. West Side Story (1961)

What is the most expensive Broadway musical ever made?

  • Shrek- The Musical- $27.6 million: ...
  • Lion King: $27.5 million: ...
  • Beauty and the Beast: $17.4 million. ...
  • Wicked- $16.9 million: ...
  • The Little Mermaid: $16.6 million.
  • Tarzan: $16 million.
  • Dance of the Vampires: $15.2 million.
  • The Phantom of the Opera: $14.2 million.

What show is considered the first American musical?

Cohan’s Little Johnny Jones (1904) is considered the first American musical. Cohan’s vaudeville roots led to his rise to stardom. Coming from a family of vaudeville performers, Cohan was the composer, lyricist, producer, director, and choreographer of his shows.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.