Funny Girl And The American Musical Analysis

During this period, musicals (which were labeled “musical comedies” at the time) were in the form of acceptable of guilty pleasures - the appeal of women and their sexuality, silly characters that made fools of themselves, or the goofy country girl dancing through the chores of the day. Ziegfeld’s Follies, Marx brother shows, and Al Jolson playing his character in blackface are great examples of these shows that focused on showing off the stars and gave little care to the

Music is an outlet to all aspects of life and culture is a significant way of forming people and the way they live. Although not always seen directly culture has an overbearing influence on the music that is produced and made popular. The political Climate of the early seventies was full of fire with issues such as Vietnam and constant protest throughout the county. Later in the 70’s the end of the Vietnamese conflict brought the rise of the Watergate scandal and Iran Contra. These issues swept headlines and ingrained people’s thoughts. Social issues also played a big role in the developing culture of the seventies. Protests and constant outbreaks about gay rights and women’s rights seemed to

Thus the Ziegfeld Follies were born. The productions included over the top sets, extravagant costumes and “The Ziegfeld Girls,” a chorus of attractive females. Out of consideration for the sensibilities of theatergoers, the tone of his productions was sexy but never trashy. Ziegfeld considered thirteen his lucky number and thus gave his revue the thirteen letter name Follies of the Day taken from the title of a popular newspaper column penned by librettist Harry B. Smith, who Ziegfeld hired to write the libretto.

Broadway was one of the first forms of entertainment. Before there were television programs, or movies, there was Broadway. Broadway originated in New York in 1750, when actor-manager Walter Murray built a theatre company at the Theatre on Nassau Street. A musical would show about once every weekend. The shows were very male based, and would commonly show a relationship between young boys and their fathers. Women were slowly integrated into Broadway, and as society changed its point of view on women, so did theatre.

Family friendly, heart tugging, hilarious, energy filled, Matilda the Musical does it all in this unbelievable performance and is a must see for everyone. The humor is perfect for all ages and will have everyone laughing, but at the same time still has little remarks that go over the kid's head. Matilda the Musical is currently playing in the beautiful Cambridge Theatre in London’s West End and the set and special of effects of the Matilda are a little unnecessary at times, but still impressive nonetheless. This show will have you laughing and talking about the performance for days to come!

‘Matilda the Musical’ was adapted by Dennis Kelly from one of Roald Dahl’s most famous books, with the lyrics and music being written by Tim Minchin. Matilda was first performed in November of 2010 at the Royal Shakespeare Company, before moving to the West End the next year. The musical tells the story of Matilda, a five year old who escapes her oppressive family and school life through books, and she eventually realises she has the power to move objects with her mind. The song I will be performing is called ‘Quiet’, which is in the second act of the musical. During this song, the audience see a true glimpse of what it is like in Matilda’s mind, and the process she goes through to contain her own anger. Just before the song Matilda’s teacher, Miss Trunchball, has been yelling at her class, until Matilda yells back. Miss Trunchball turns her attack on Matilda, who drowns out the noise and begins to sing to the audience. Throughout the song, Matilda becomes calmer, finding herself in a state of serenity. However, at the end of the song, Matilda is still holding onto some of her anger, and uses it to tip over a cup of water, containing a newt, onto Miss Trunchball. In my performance, I will endeavour to show the audience the chaos that is inside of Matilda’s mind, and how she does her best to control it, both through my vocal techniques and small physical movements.

“Do you ever feel like there is a different person inside of you just waiting to come out?” Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens) says to her friend Taylor Mckessi (Monique Coleman) after receiving a call back in the Twinkle Town musical in the 2006 film, High School Musical. High School Musical is a romantic musical drama about a group of high school friends who stick to the status quo until the new girl comes to East High. This movie will have you tapping your toes and singing its tunes well beyond the theatre.

​The Roaring Twenties was a decade absorbed with the growth of the music industry thanks to the radio being born in 1920 (Tyle). The excitement of the war being over brought the Roaring Twenties forth. The American people hungered for change, and the new music of the era, jazz, satisfied their great hunger (100 Favourite Songs). Jazz was a brand new type of music drastically different from anything the American people had heard before. Unfortunately, the Great Depression, which occurred in the thirties, brought forth an aroma of sadness and despair in the lives of the American people. Would jazz also cave into the Depression? Or fight back? Although the mood of the American people changed from the Roaring

It is not a secret that Lucille Ball was one of the first significant female actresses of her time, but the importance of that role is one that is often overlooked. Not only did Lucille Ball defy traditional domestic roles off-screen, but the character Lucy on I Love Lucy, was also untraditional in terms of the 1950s mindset. While Ball is merely looked at as a hilarious television star, the importance of her humorous personality is also valuable. In the 1950’s, the airing period of I Love Lucy, a woman's traditional place in the world was not one of humor and comedy. A woman's role at that time was cooking and cleaning and caring for her husband and children, along with maintaining a beautiful physical appearance. An example of such perfection for the time is the character June Cleaver, from Leave it to Beaver. June was the epitome of a perfect woman for that time. Perfect hair and outfit, always cooking decadently, faultlessly cleaned house, all topped off with curlers in her hair and a smile. In the 1950s and 1960s, a perfect woman would be a domestic, dutiful wife and mother who lacked economic independence, sexuality, voice, or presence of her own, and her identity was crafted by a patriarchal society. While Lucille Ball’s character in I love Lucy lacked

Tony and Maria - more romantic love, idealised, though Tony has to agree with Riff,

Gertrude Pridgett was born in 1986 to tent performers Thomas Pridgett Sr. and Ella-Allen Pridgett. Both were said to had traveled around the south performing minstrel shows, which was the most popular form of live comedy entertainment from 1840 to the early nineteenth century (Biography.com). Because of her parents involvement, Gertrude had always been surrounded by show business and always had a love for singing and

Jukebox musicals began in film and later shifted to theatre. They had begun to make theatre more popular with the public, which had begun to gravitate towards film and music. By combining the two, they gain some of the same as well as a whole new audience. I will discuss how this came to be by speaking of the shift that occurred.

Two great writers of American musical theatre, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, had one idea in common. They wanted to present to the American public a new and revolutionary musical that would stand out above the rest. They wanted to make an impact on the societies of the era. They wanted to be creative and do something that was considered rebellious. When they finally combined their ideas together they created an American masterpiece in musical theatre: Oklahoma!. It was the first Rodgers and Hammerstein collaboration, starting the most successful creative partnership in the history of American musical theatre.

Country music is constantly changing, an example of this is how women are now viewed in country music. The American form of music became popular in the 1920’s, and continued to grow, artists of this era include the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, and Vernon Dalhart. One of country’s most well-known female singers is Dolly Parton, becoming a major country star in the 1970’s. Dolly was one of the first female artists to challenge the gender stereotypes in country music, this major success led to her long career. She has contributed over 35 hits to country and popular music, including her album Coat of Colors released in 1971, by RCA records was the album that changed her career. The 8th solo album made it onto Time Magazine 's 100 Greatest

The history of American music begins with a fundamental process of exchange through all different social lines, where diverse cultures meet, and mix. Music has and always will be defined as sounds that are arranged in a particular pattern that are played to be meaningful and pleasurable. The chronology of music began in the Medieval period, when chanting was introduced into the Church. Music has then moved its way through many stages: renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic and leading up to 20th century American music. American 20th century music is made up of a diverse number of styles that are reflected by cultural traditions and the era’s of the past. Immigrants from Spain, France, England, Germany and Ireland all contributed and brought their own unique styles to the forefront, hence creating American music. African Americans created influential musical traditions that include rhythm and improvisation that were later combined with European traditions and other indigenous music.