Maricopa Community Colleges  MHL146   20026-20075 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 06/25/02
MHL146 20026-20075 LEC 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s)
Survey of Broadway Musicals
Survey of Broadway musicals traced from their origins to the present viewed in their cultural, political, and socio-economic contexts. Emphasis on stylistic periods, composers, lyricists, directors, and choreographers.
Prerequisites: None.
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
MHL146   20026-20075 Survey of Broadway Musicals
1. Identify the various rudiments of musical theater that have influenced the Broadway musical. (I)
2. List musical and dramatic traits of each Broadway stylistic period. (II)
3. List examples of each type of musical form. (III)
4. Identify musical titles and styles of prominent composers during each stylistic period. (IV)
5. Trace the development of lyricists and literature in Broadway musicals. (V)
6. Identify changes in choreographic styles in Broadway musicals. (VI)
7. Describe the impact of various directors on Broadway musicals. (VII)
8. Explain how cinema has affected Broadway musicals. (VIII)
9. Identify business concerns that affect Broadway musicals. (IX)
10. Identify and explain the cultural, political, and socio- economic factors that have impacted the evolution of Broadway musicals. (X)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
MHL146   20026-20075 Survey of Broadway Musicals
    I. Origins of Musical Theater
        A. The Beggar's Opera, John Gay
        B. English comic opera, Gilbert and Sullivan
        C. Viennese Operettas, Strauss, and Lehar,
        D. The Virginia minstrels, American minstrelsy
        E. The Black Crook, American musical comedy
      II. Stylistic Periods of Broadway Musicals
          A. Early 1900's
          B. 1920s
          C. 1930s Depression/Pre-War Era
          D. 1940s-50s Post-War Era
          E. 1960s-70s Concept/Pop-Rock
          F. 1980-2000s Contemporary
        II. Broadway Musical Genre
            A. Ballad-opera
            B. Vaudeville
            C. Revue
            D. Musical comedy
            E. Musical plays
            F. Concept musicals
          IV. Composers
              A. 19th century
              B. Early 20th century
              C. 1920s
              D. 1930s Depression/Pre-War Era
              E. 1940-50s Post-War Era
              F. 1960-70s Concept/Pop-Rock
              G. 1980-2000s Contemporary
            V. Lyricists/Literature
                A. 19th century
                B. Early 20th century
                C. 1920s
                D. 1930s Depression/Pre-War Era
                E. 1940-50s Post-War Era
                F. 1960-70s Concept/Pop-Rock
                G. 1980-2000s Contemporary
              VI. Choreographers
                  A. 19th century
                  B. Early 20th century
                  C. 1920s
                  D. 1930s Depression/Pre-War Era
                  E. 1940-50s Post-War Era
                  F. 1960-7's Concept/Pop-Rock
                  G. 1980-2000s Contemporary
                VII. Directors
                    A. 19th century
                    B. Early 20th century
                    C. 1920s
                    D. 1930s Depression/Pre-War Era
                    E. 1940-50s Post-War Era
                    F. 1960-70s Concept/Pop-Rock
                    G. 1980-2000s Contemporary
                  VIII. Movie Musicals
                      A. Staged versions
                      B. Remakes for film
                    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
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