Fall 2019

The American Musical:GMTW-UT.1002.01/GMTW-GT 2002.01

Thursday, 6:20pm – 9:00pm; 715 Broadway, 2 fl; Blue Room (Rm 260)

Instructor: Marie Costanza 212-998-1831

department # 212-998-1830
mcc1@nyu.edu or marie.costanza@nyu.edu
TOFT (theatre on film and tape - NYPL 212- 870-1642- open tues-sat from 12:00-6:00)

*Your health and safety are a priority at NYU. If you experience any health or mental health
issues during this course, we encourage you to utilize the support services of the 24/7 NYU
Wellness Exchange 212-443-9999. Also, all students who may require an academic
accommodation due to a qualified disability, physical or mental, please register with the Moses
Center 212-998-4980. Please let your instructor know if you need help connecting to these
resources."

SYLLABUS & ASSIGNMENTS

CLASS ONE: OVERVIEW 9/5/19

From its earliest days, music played an important role in entertainment in America. Songs and
music were used as background or afterpieces for straight plays and melodramas, puppet shows,
lectures, museum demonstrations, etc. In addition to the Dutch, French, English and Germans
who arrived early to our shores, America saw an influx of immigrants in the 19th century. In the
1845-50 the Irish and Germans arrived as a result of the potato famine in Ireland and the failed
revolution in Germany. Later in the 1880’s, Italians and Russian Jews arrived due to economic
distress and increased religious persecution. The interaction of these immigrant populations with
African-Americans led to a melting pot of cultures in America and the growth of a truly
American form of entertainment -- The American Musical. We will examine how a variety of
theatrical forms such as extravaganza, revue, operetta, opera buffa, vaudeville, burlesque, etc
contributed aspects of their style to become the American Musical.

CLASS TWO: THE TWENTIES AND ON 9/12/19

The roaring 20's saw a proliferation of theatres and entertainment offerings. Revue was the most
popular form of musical theatre of this period; but other forms flourished- variety/vaudeville,
extravaganza, operetta, star vehicle musical comedy and the beginnings of the musical play.
Show Boat is considered the beginning of the integrated form we now consider the musical play
but it was not the norm. The star vehicle with little or no relationship between the plot and the
music was still the most common form of musical theatre entertainment in the 20's. The first
anomaly to this norm and the most successful book musical of this period was No, No Nanette.
To better understand Show Boat, it's necessary to examine this hit of the preceding season

NO, NO, NANETTE Opened: September 16,1925

Music: Vincent Youmans 321 performances
Lyrics: Irving Caesar
Book: Otto Harbach & Frank Mandel
Assignment: Read: Libretto of No, No Nanette; Listen to: CD
 CLASS THREE: SHOW BOAT 9/19/19
An amalgam of old forms and ground breaking trends, Show Boat is generally believed to be the
genesis of the integrated book musical.

SHOW BOAT Opened: December 27, 1927

Music by Jerome Kern 572 performances
Book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Assignment: Read: Older ShowBoat script (labeled T.B. Harms) in its entirety;
Read: Additional Scenes in R&H Script (I,3; I,5; II,1; II,2; II,3; II,7; II,9 -11)
View: Video of B’Way Production at TOFT or Papermill Playhouse production at
Bobst Library (off-air dub - placed on reserve under class GMTW-
UT.1002.01 and my name, Marie Costanza, at Avery Fischer - ask at the
desk). In a pinch, you can view the 1936 movie.

CLASS FOUR: THE DEPRESSION YEARS AND BEYOND (1929 - 1945) 9/26/19
The depression changed the face of American Musical Theatre. Extravagant revues and operettas
of dubious quality could no longer survive. Even though the number of works dwindled, there
was still room for quality and the major writers of the day (Rodgers and Hart, Cole Porter, the
Gershwin’s) who wrote several of their most important works (Pal Joey, Anything Goes and
Porgy and Bess) during this period. All of which led to the next major step in the history of the
musical play - Oklahoma and then Carousel.

CAROUSEL Opened: April, 19, 1945

Book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Assignment: Read: Libretto of Carousel
Read: Ferenc Molnar’s Lilium
View: Lincoln Center Prodution of Carousel at TOFT or listen to cast album or
view video of movie (on Netflix or in general collection @ Bobst Avery
Fischer Center)

Optional: I will assume a general acquaintance with Oklahoma as we discuss Carousel

OKLAHOMA Opened: March 31, 1943
Music by Richard Rodgers 2,212 performances
Lyrics and Book: Oscar Hammerstein II
Optional: Read: Libretto of Oklahoma or watch video starring Hugh Jackman
CLASS FIVE: THE 1950'S 10/3/19
The 1950's saw the expansion of the book musical and experimentation with alternative means of
narrative. In West Side Story, we will examine what happens when exquisite music, a strong
story and clear/appropriate lyrics are wed to dance.

WEST SIDE STORY Opened: Sept. 26, 1957

Music by Leonard Bernstein 732 performances
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Conceived by Jerome Robbins
Book by Arthur Laurents
Assignment: Read: Libretto of West Side Story
Read: Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
View: Movie of West Side Story (Netflix or in general collection @ Bobst)

CLASS SIX: 1950'S CONTD... 10/10/19

The modern musical is often designated as a “book musical.” With Gypsy, we examine one of
the most superbly constructed books of the genre.

GYPSY Opened: May 21, 1959

Music by Jule Styne 702 performances
Book by Arthur Laurents
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Assignment: Read: Libretto of Gypsy
View: Bett Midler production of Gypsy at Bobst (Netflix or available in general
collection of Bobst Avery Fischer Center) or view TOFT video of recent
production starring Patty LuPone

CLASS SEVEN: THE SIXTIES -THE FOLK MUSICAL 10/17/19

Some consider “Fiddler” the last traditional “musical play” in the tradition of Rodgers and
Hammerstein. Others see it as a “folk musical.”

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Opened: Sept. 22, 1964

Music by Jerry Bock 3,242 performances
Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Book by Joseph Stein
Assignment: Read: Libretto of Fiddler on the Roof
View: B’way production at TOFT, movie version of Fiddler on the Roof (Netflix
or Bobst or listen to original cast recording

MIDTERMS DUE : 10/18/19 (include Fiddler)

CLASS EIGHT: MORE SIXTIES: THE MUSICAL AS SOCIAL CRITICISM 10/24/19

The late sixties and early seventies saw the rise of a non-narrative, non-Rodgers & Hammerstein
musical. This new style can be said to begin with “Cabaret.”

CABARET Opened November 20, 1966

Music by John Kander 1,165 performances
Lyrics by Fred Ebb
Book by Joe Masteroff
Assignment: Re ad: Libretto of Cabaret
Read: John Van Druten’s “I Am A Camera”
Listen: Cast recording or view B’Way production of Cabaret at TOFT or movie

CLASS NINE: THE SONDHEIM DECADES 10/31/19

The 1970’s and 1980’s can be said to be dominated by Stephen Sondheim. Of all his major
works, “Sweeney Todd” is considered by many to be his masterpiece.

SWEENEY TODD Opened: March 1, 1979

Music by Stephen Sondheim 557 performances
Book by Hugh Wheeler
Assignment: Read: Libretto of Sweeney Todd
View: Videotape of Broadway production at Bobst staring Angela Lansbury
(Netflix or at Bobst)

CLASS TEN: MUSICALS AT THE END OF THE CENTURY:RAGTIME & BEYOND

11/7/19
RAGTIME Opened: January 18, 1998
Book: Terrence McNally 834 performances
Music: Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens
Based on the novel by E. L. Doctorow
Assignment: Read: Libretto of Ragtime
View: Broadway production at TOFT or Listen to cast recording

CLASS ELEVEN: MUSICALS IN THE 21ST CENTURY: WICKED ETC 11/14/19

WICKED Opened: October 30, 2003

Book: Winnie Holzman
Music & Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz
Based on the novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” by Gregory
Maguire
Assignment: Read: Libretto of Wicked
View: Current B’way production or Listen to cast recording
CLASS TWELVE: MUSICALS IN 21ST CENTURY CONTD: IN THE HEIGHTS &
HAMILTON 11/21/19

IN THE HEIGHTS Opened : March 9, 2008

Book: Quiara Alegría Hudes Closed: – Jan 9, 2011
Music &Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda; Total Performances: 1184
Assignment: Read: Libretto of In the Heights
Listen: to CD
HAMILTON Opened: August 6, 2015
Book/Music/Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda;
Inspired by the biography “Alexander Hamilton: by Ron Chernow
Assignment: Read: Libretto of Hamilton
Listen to CD

Thursday, November 28 – Thanksgiving – No Class

CLASS THIRTEEN: THE ROCK OPERA – HAIR, RENT AND BEYOND 12/5/19
HAIR Opened: April 29, 1968
Music by Galt MacDermot 122 performances
Book by Gerome Ragni & James Rado
Lyrics by Gerome Ragni & James Rado
RENT
Music; Book & Lyrics: Jonathan Larson Opened: April 29, 1996

Assignment: Read: Libretti of Rent and Hair

View: Movie of Rent or video of stage production or listen to cd;
Listen: to cd of Hair

CLASS FOURTEEN: Wrap Up 12/12/19

Final papers due – 6:20pm

Note: Grades are based on three things:

1) Attendance and participation. More than 2 absences for any reason will have
a negative affect your grade. Class participation is also factored into this
portion of your grade.
2) Midterm
3) Final Paper: Can be on any musical theatre related subject as long as it is
not an analysis of a musical already on the syllabus. Preclearance of the topic
suggested.
Final paper should be 7-10 pages succinctly written (do not give a blow by blow
plot description of the musical to pad paper – points will be taken off).
Times New Roman 12 pt., Double Spaced.
Outside references (either end notes or bottom notes are fine) and bibliography
at end required