Maricopa Community Colleges  MHL146   20076-99999 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 06/26/07
MHL146 20076-99999 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   20076-99999 Survey of Broadway Musicals
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 socio-economic influences and events. (IV, VII, VIII)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
MHL146   20076-99999 Survey of Broadway Musicals
    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
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