Musical Theatre is a form of theatre containing songs, music, dance and sometimes spoken dialogue. Musical theatre (often referred to as musicals) is performed worldwide and is a very well liked form of theatre. Musicals have been influenced by a variety of remarkable forms through the centuries, with the modern version emerging in Britain and the United States in the late 20th century.
Musical Theatre in Europe dates back to as early as 5BC and the ancient Greeks who were the first to include music and dance in their stage productions of comedies and tragedies. The first theatre piece that conforms to the modern conception of a musical is ‘The Black Crook’ which first premiered in New York in 1866. By the 19th century the European opera was a popular art form, which comprised songs with a plot. The modern musical was also influenced by American art forms like the minstrels, burlesque, pantomime and operetta.
In the 1970’s one of the worlds leading composers was Andrew Lloyd Webber. Webber’s shows are notable in that they have minimal dialogue and that they are continuously sung throughout. Hits have included ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ (1971), ‘Evita’ (1978), ‘Cats’ (1981) and ‘Phantom Of The Opera’ (1986). His musicals are still popular today.
Recently however it is the pop musical that has become increasingly popular. Many are based on novels or works of literature and many musicals first performed in the 1980’s and 1990’s are still being performed today such as ‘Evita’, ‘Mary Poppins’ and ‘Sunset Boulevard’.
Musical Theatre in Europe dates back to as early as 5BC and the ancient Greeks who were the first to include music and dance in their stage productions of comedies and tragedies. The first theatre piece that conforms to the modern conception of a musical is ‘The Black Crook’ which first premiered in New York in 1866. By the 19th century the European opera was a popular art form, which comprised songs with a plot. The modern musical was also influenced by American art forms like the minstrels, burlesque, pantomime and operetta.
In the 1970’s one of the worlds leading composers was Andrew Lloyd Webber. Webber’s shows are notable in that they have minimal dialogue and that they are continuously sung throughout. Hits have included ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ (1971), ‘Evita’ (1978), ‘Cats’ (1981) and ‘Phantom Of The Opera’ (1986). His musicals are still popular today.
Recently however it is the pop musical that has become increasingly popular. Many are based on novels or works of literature and many musicals first performed in the 1980’s and 1990’s are still being performed today such as ‘Evita’, ‘Mary Poppins’ and ‘Sunset Boulevard’.