Where Did Musical Theatre Come From?
For many, simply seeing a musical is the most normal thing in the world. Whether it’s attending a local community production, seeing the latest Broadway adaptation in cinemas, or watching something in the West End. But for the majority of human history there was no such thing as musical theatre. It may seem like a strange idea now, but over 100 years ago it was our reality! So we have to ask: Where did musical theatre come from?
In order to discover the origin of the musical, we first have to travel back to the birthplace of drama itself: Ancient Greece. Performed in large open-air amphitheatres, Greek drama consisted of only three genres: comedy, tragedy, and the Satyr play (or comedy drama). The ancient world took theatre extremely seriously, and sometimes dialogue was delivered via poetry. Songs and dance routines were also common. The music of this era has unfortunately been lost to time, but the use of songs in plays carried on through the Renaissance period and beyond.
Over a thousand years later, musical entertainment was still widespread, but the term ‘musical theatre’ still didnt exist. The 1700s gave us pantomime, ballad operas, and burlettas, which were romantic comedies with a satirical edge. In Europe, the French and Viennese operettas of Johann Strauss and Jacques Offenbach were among the first pieces to become well known internationally. Meanwhile in 1800s London, most theatres were just licenced as music halls, which meant that it was illegal for them to perform plays without music!
The first show to resemble our modern idea of the musical didn’t appear until 1866, with The Black Crook. At the time it was the most expensive production in American history, with elaborate scenery, detailed costumes, and special effects. Despite being over 5 hours long, it ran for a record-breaking 474 performances and toured the USA for decades afterwards. However, the songs had absolutely nothing to do with the plot, instead functioning as brief entertainment during set changes, and its structure resembled a variety show rather than a complete narrative.
As ‘Musical comedies’ continued to grow, the period of time that a show could run for also increased. Mostly as a result of improved transport, diminished poverty levels, and street lighting providing safety at night. This meant that more people than ever could see shows. In Britain, the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan were huge hits. Their collaboration with producer Richard D’Oyly Carte introduced innovations in production and form that would continue into the 1900s. You can still find HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, and The Mikado, being performed by professional and amateur companies all over the world.
The 1920’s gave us the musical talent of Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, and the Gershwins. But in 1927, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein decided to adapt Edna Ferber’s bestselling book to the stage. The premiere of Show Boat presented audiences with an entirely new concept, with the story, music, and dance sequences, being completely integrated. People loved it, and theatre has never been the same. In the years to follow, Oklahoma! also become a huge hit. In 2019, the Broadway revival celebrated the 75th anniversary of the musical.
And all of that leads us up to the present. Over the past century, Musical Theatre genre has become a billion dollar business, with Broadway and the West End receiving more audience members than ever. And even as technology has improved, along with various trends, people still want to see live musical performances. One thing is for certain, Musical Theatre will always continue to innovate and entertain people all around the world. Who knows what this next century could give us?
