Broadway Musicals: From Ziegfeld to Hamilton

Musicals have been a major part of American theater, from the Tin Pan Alley-driven comedy works of the early part of the 20th century to the integrated musicals that flourished in the heyday years of midcentury America. In this course, we explore book musicals, concept musicals, and the arrival of European mega-productions late in the century. We profile some of the theater world's leading composers, lyricists, writers, choreographers, directors and performers, like Florence Ziegfeld, Irving Berlin, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Jerome Robins, Bob Fosse, Andrew Lloyd Weber and more. We also analyze what made these shows memorable: Oklahoma, My Fair Lady, Showboat, Guys and Dolls, Company, Hair, Cabaret, Rent, Wicked, Hamilton and many more. This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.