MONEY AND THE MUSICAL THEATRE

MONEY AND THE MUSICAL THEATRE
The American Musical Theatre grew out of shows that played in the southern section of New York City called the Bowery. Popular songs linked together by simple plots became a prevalent form of public entertainment. At the end of the nineteenth century theaters in the Broadway region (42nd and Broadway, going south) of New York brought about the birth of the American Musical Theatre. On September 28, 1891 Reginald de Koven invests $109.50 in a production of Robin Hood which generated 40 performances then evaporated into obscurity. One song from that show has enjoyed continued performances, in fact, it has been performed as much at weddings as any song within the century...O Promise Me. In 1904, running 52 performances, George M. Cohan writes, performs and produces Little Johnny Jones, with the wonderful song Give My Regards to Broadway. His popular style is widely embraced by the New York public. 1910 brought another landmark in the history of the Musical Theatre with Victor Herbert’s classic Naughty Marietta. It ran 136 performances being produced by Oscar Hammerstein, founder of the Manhattan Opera Company, who believed that Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life from the show was the most beautiful song ever written on American soil. This grad European style was also loved by the New York public. In 1914, as World War I is raging in Europe, Jerome Kern had a successful run of The Girl from Utah, which has now fallen out of the performance repertory, but the song They Didn’t Believe Me, remains a classic to this day. Perhaps the most important event linked with the run of this show is the fact that Oscar Hammerstein II, the grandson of Oscar Hammerstein was in attendance at the age of 19. It was an important moment for him as he determined to work in the musical theatre himself. Opening December 21, 1920 and running 570 performances, Jerome Kern writes a musical starring Marilyn Miller called Sally. One of the songs from the show, Look for the Silver Lining, becomes very popular, especially in the great depression which is a decade into the future. The next significant landmark of Broadway opens on December 27, 1927, running 572 performances. It is produced by Flo Ziefeld and is based upon Edna Ferber’s literary masterwork entitled Showboat. Music by Jerome Kern, one of the most respected mature composers of the time, and a youthful Oscar Hammerstein II supplying the words, Showboat deals with a subject most people were uncomfortable addressing, miscegenation, the mixing of races. Showboat has enjoyed continued success from that time to the present. Hal Prince’s elaborate revival in the late 90's continues to enjoy success touring throughout the world. Though the view of miscegenation has changed since 1927, the subject still warrants consideration. The message of Ol’ Man River seems proof that those works of art which transcend popular immediacy will “keep rollin’ along”.