MCCCD Program Description

Survey of Broadway Musicals

Course: MHL146

First Term: 2007 Fall

Lecture 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s) 3 Load
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: S

Description: Survey of Broadway musicals traced from their origins to the present viewed in their cultural, political, and socioeconomic contexts. Emphasis on stylistic periods, composers, lyricists, directors, and choreographers

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Identify the origins and structures of musical theater that have influenced the Broadway musical, including African-American inspired minstrel shows, vaudeville, and European operetta. (I) 2. Study cultural/historical events that influenced the development of the musical, including the Civil War, emancipation of slaves, European immigration, World Wars I and II, the 1960`s rock culture, the AIDS epidemic, and the revival of family values in the 1990`s. (II, III) 3. Define the components of a musical, and discuss how national and international events shaped both style and content of Broadway musicals. (II, III, IV, V) 4. List musical, dramatic and choreographic traits of each Broadway stylistic period, provide examples of each, and explain the cultural and socio-economic impact on the American population. (II, III, VI) 5. Study Broadway songs and dance styles that have become standard literature in our culture which have contributed to the national sensibility of an era. (II, V) 6. Study Broadway performers who have become icons in our culture, including the study of minority performers and their inclusion on the Broadway stage. (IV) 7. Identify composers, lyricist, directors, and choreographers who have shaped the Broadway musical, and discuss their significant contributions. (III) 8. Explain how cinema and the pop/rock culture have affected Broadway musicals. (II, III, VIII) 9. Identify business concerns that affect Broadway musicals. (VII, VIII) 10. Study current trends in musical theater, based on cultural and socioeconomic influences and events. (IV, VII, VIII)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Origins of Musical Theater A. The Beggar`s Opera, John Gay B. English comic opera, Gilbert and Sullivan C. French Follies Bergere D. Viennese Operetta, Lehar, Herbert, Romberg E. Minstrelsy F. Vaudeville and Burlesque II. Stylistic Periods of Broadway Musicals A. Late 1800`s-Civil War and Minstrelsy B. Early 1900`s-Immigration-Vaudeville C. World War I-George M. Cohan D. 1920`s-Jazz Prohibition, Musical Comedies-Show Boat E. 1930`s-Depression and Unionization-Gershwin, Porter F. 1940`s-The Golden Age-World War II-Rodgers and Hammerstein G. 1950`s-Post World War II-Urbanization-Lerner and Loewe H. 1960`s-Vietnam War-Rock Revolution-Hair I. 1970`s-Emancipation of Women-Concept Musicals J. 1980`s-Sondheim and Lloyd Weber K. 1990`s Disney-Revival of family-friendly musicals L. 2000`s- Movies as Musicals III. Composers, Lyricists, Choreographers, Directors A. Styles of drama, dance and music B. Collaboration C. Musicals as reflection of current events IV. Cultural Heritage A. Russian Jewish B. African-American C. Asian D. Women`s changing role E. Sexual orientation issues and influences V. Structure of Broadway Musicals A. Book/lyrics B. Score C. Orchestration D. Musical Styles E. Underscoring/vamp VI. Dance Styles A. Cakewalk B. Ballet C. Varsity Drag and Charleston D. Tap E. Jazz F. Hip-hop G. Modern H. Line VII. Movie Musicals A. Staged variations B. Remakes for film C. Disney influence VIII. Business Aspects of Broadway Musicals A. Financial factors B. Touring companies C. Equity D. Unionization E. Family contribution to big business IX. Business Aspects of Broadway Musicals A. Financial factors B. Critics C. Touring companies D. Equity X. Cultural, Political, and Socio-Economic Factors in the Development of Broadway Musicals A. Ballad opera as popular social reaction to opera seria B. American minstrelsy and its romanticized portrayal of plantation slaves and slave life C. The demise of American minstrelsy due to the onset of the Civil War D. Vaudeville, revue, and burlesque as non-racial alternate outgrowths of minstrelsy E. The diametric social functions and cultural acceptance of vaudeville and burlesque F. The influence of English and Germanic music theatre on American musical comedy G. The advent of the talkies and the declining effect on live theatre H. The musical play as representative theatre I. The Industrial Revolution and its impact on music theatre content J. Music theatre as vehicle for social commentary and political activism K. The awareness and propagation of cultural diversity in the integrated musical as represented by the works of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II L. Film as music theatre medium and its distribution to the public M. Concept musicals as forum for polemics and ideology N. The modern musical as financially driven populace-oriented entertainment

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: 6/26/2007

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.