THEA 336 – Musical Theatre Performance, Spring '12

In class last night, we discussed the social and economic factors that lead to the growth and development of a new type of theatre entertainment in post-Civil War America.  This new entertainment is exemplified by Florenz Ziegfeld’s Follies in New York.

Here are two more clips to help you get a better sense of the Ziegfeld Follies.  The video quality varies and the audio may not be original.  Please forgive skips in the video and keep in mind, this material is nearly 100 years old at this point.

This first clip is a great example of the “glorification” of beauty, elegance, and opulence that was so widely associated with Ziegfeld’s shows.  You’ll see a kickline adapted from the French burlesque, examples of European ballet and singing, and the French tableaux vivants (“living picture”).

This second clip gives a better example of the Follies as a whole.  Described as the Finale to the evening, the clip has four parts:  ”Ladies of the Dance,” (an operetta-style tenor singing while the ladies of the troupe display their elaborate costumes and headpieces); “The Flippity Flop,” (an American early jazz tune sung in the contemporary style by a solist, followed by a dance routine); an “Eccentric Dance,” (a comedic dance by a clown-like male soloist); and the “Finale” (where everyone and their mother join together).  The “Finale” may seem like a nearly disparate mix of styles and performances…and it is.  So were the Follies.

The 2011 Kennedy Honors were awarded last month to Meryl Streep, Neil Diamond, Sonny Rollins, Yo-Yo Ma, and Broadway legend Barbara Cook.  Ms. Cook also curates the Broadway cabaret series at the Kennedy Center.  Here is the musical tribute to her from the Honors ceremony.

How many of these songs can you name?  Why are they special to Barbara Cook?  And how many of these performers do you know?  Do you have a favorite?

The documentary Carol Channing: Larger Than Life opens today in LA.  It will be released in NY, San Francisco, and other select cities on Feb. 3rd.  Let’s pray DC is one of them.  For more info, visit: http://www.carolchanningmovie.com/.  (I’ve had an on-going suspicion that Carol Channing may be the best human being on the planet…this may prove it).

As we start this semester, please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the layout and content of this class blog.  This site will serve as a resource for you throughout the semester.  Sometimes I will tell you when you need to visit the site and post comments.  However, I expect that you’ll visit frequently on your own to check out updates, read your classmates’ comments, and look for readings/video clips.

If you’d like a review of the music theory basics we covered in the first class, please check out the Theory tab at the top of the page.