Spring 2013
TH 497A (CRN 14780)
American Musical Theatre
MWF 10-10:50 King Hall 216
Jim Bartruff KI 201G
jbartruf@emporia.edu
620.341.5704
Textbook
 MUSICAL THEATRE: A History by John Kenrick. (Continuum, 2008)
 BROADWAY: The American Musical, a film by Michael Kantor. (PBS, 2004)
Assignments.
1. Attendance and quizzes
2. Musical Theatre “field trip”
3. First exam
4. Midterm
5. Research project
6. Final exam
Grading Scale.
A
93-100%
A90-92%
364
B+
88-89%
349
B
83-87%
339
B80-82%
314
C+
78-79%
(50 points)
(50 points)
(100 points)
(100 points)
(100 points)
(100 points)
465-500
450-464
C
73-77%
C70-72%
365-389
350-
440-449
D+
68-69%
340-
415-439
D
63-67%
315-
400-414
D-
60-62%
300-
390-399
F
0-59%
001-299
Attendance statement. Absences affect your progress through the course. You will
begin the semester with 50 attendance points. Each absence or tardy will deduct 5
points.
Course outcomes.
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Develop a better understanding of the history of the American musical theatre by
tracing its major developments from its origins to the present day.
Recognize major musical works by composers such as Irving Berlin, George
Gershwin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Richard Rodgers, Frank Loesser, Jerry
Herman, John Kander, Frederic Loewe, Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber
and others.
Recognize major works by librettists and lyricists such as Lorenz Hart, Oscar
Hammerstein II, Fred Ebb, Arthur Laurents, Alan Jay Lerner and others.
Understand the differences between various musical styles: opera, operetta,
revue, musical comedy, musical theatre, etc.
Express your critical evaluation of musical theatre in performance.
Course policies
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All assignments are due on the day they are assigned--at class time.
Late assignments may or may not be graded. But you must turn them in to pass.
All written assignments must be typed or electronically transmitted.
If you arrive late to class, you will be considered absent.
Early departure from any class will also count as an absence.
Bring your book, something to write with and note paper to each class.
Participation in school plays/activities will not excuse you from class work.
We will follow ESU’s Dishonesty Policy at
http://www.emporia.edu/acadaff/dishonesty.htm
Disability statement.
Emporia State University will make reasonable accommodations for persons with
documented disabilities. Students need to contact the Director of Disability
Services and the professor as early in the semester as possible to ensure that
classroom and academic accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.
All communication between students, the Office of Disability Services, and the
professor will be strictly confidential.
Faculty-Initiated Student Withdrawal Procedure.
Students should be aware that your instructor follows the university’s policy of facultyinitiated student withdrawal. It reads as follows: “If a student’s absences from class or
disruptive behavior become detrimental to the student’s progress or that of other
students in the class, the faculty member shall attempt to contact the student in writing
about withdrawing from the class and shall seek the aid of the office of Vice President of
Student Affairs to help insure contacting the Student. The Office of the Vice President of
Student Affairs shall provide the student information about the existing appeals
procedures. Upon receiving a written report from the faculty member, the Vice President
of Student Affairs may initiate a student withdrawal from the class. None of the above
implies or states that faculty members are required to initiate the student withdrawals for
excessive absence. [Policy and Procedures Manual 43.11]
Some Recommended Internet resources. Google the site name for a URL.
American Musical Theatre Index
Musicals 101
Blue Gobo
Playbill.com
Broadway Direct Radio
Rodgers and Hammerstein Library
The Broadway League
Broadway World
Samuel French Musicals
Spotlight on Broadway
Internet Broadway Database
Tams-Witmark
Music Theatre International
TheatreMania.com
Musical Theatre History Resources
Theatre Talk
ESU syllabus attachment <http:// www.emporia.edu/regist/enroll/syll.html>
You can download a copy of this syllabus from <http://www.emporia.edu/~bartruff>
Course Calendar – TH 497 – Spring 2013
January
16
18
21
28
30
February
1
4
6
8
Vaudeville”
11
13
15
18
20
22
25
27
Course introduction and pre-test
Assign research projects. INTRODUCTION (Pages 11-17)
MLK HOLIDAY. No class
KCACTF Region Five Festival at the University of Nebraska (January 20-26)
Chapter One: Ancient Times to 1850 (18-34) Excerpts from Ballet and Opera
Chapter Two: Continental Operetta (35-49) Offenbach and Strauss
Chapter 3: American Explorations, 1624-1880 (50-74) “The Black Crook.”
Chapter 4: Gilbert and Sullivan (75-94) Excerpts from The Mikado and Pirates of Penzance
Kantor film—Give My Regards to Broadway (1893-1927)
Chapter 5: The Birth of Musical Comedy (95-110) “American Masters: History of
Chapter 6: A New Century (111-133) Cohan and Ziefgeld
Review Chapters 1-6
FIRST Exam.
Kantor Film—Syncopated City (1919-1933)
Chapter 7: American Ascendance (134-155) Jerome Kern
Presidents Day—No classes.
Chapter 8: Al Jolson (156-167) and SHOWBOAT
Presentation of research projects.
March
1
4
6
8
11
13
15
25
27
29
Chapter 9: The Jazz Age (168-206) Berlin, Gershwin and Porter
Chapter 10: Depression Era Miracles (207-237) Kurt Weill and Rodgers & Hart
Kantor film—I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin’ (1931-1942)
Review Chapters 7-10
MIDTERM exam.
Chapter 11: A New Beginning (238-264).
Kantor film—Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’ (1943-1959)
SPRING BREAK. No classes. (March 19-27)
The legacy of Rodgers and Hammerstein
Chapter 12: Broadway Takes Stage (265-297). The rise of the choreographer.
Kantor film—Tradition (1957-1979)
1
3
5
8
10
12
15
17
19
22
24
26
29
Chapter 13: Rock Rolls In (1960-1970) (298-317)
HAIR, RENT, SPRING AWAKENING, ONCE
Presentation of research projects
Chapter 14: New Directions (318-341) Sondheim, Bennett and Fosse
Kantor film—Putting It Together (1980-2004)
Chapter 15: Spectacles and Boardrooms (342-369)
Andrew Lloyd Webber - CATS and THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Cameron Mackintosh - LES MISÉRABLES
Presentation of research projects
Stephen Sondheim and lyrics - SWEENEY TODD and COMPANY
The Film musical - THE MUSIC MAN and WEST SIDE STORY
Frank Loesser - GUYS AND DOLLS.
Cole Porter - KISS ME KATE.
1
3
6
8
10
16
Kander and Ebb - CABARET and CHICAGO
Chapter 16. Musical Comedy Returns (370-382)
Presentation of research projects.
Disney on Broadway and “The Making of Wicked”
Final review
Final Exam (10:10 a.m.)
April
May
TOPICS FOR RESEARCH PAPERS
PEOPLE
George Abbott
Bock and Harnick
Fanny Brice
Mel Brooks
Gower Champion
George M. Cohan
Agnes deMille
Bob Fosse
Rudolf Friml
George and Ira Gershwin
Savion Glover
Oscar Hammerstein II
Lorenz Hart
Victor Herbert
Jerry Herman
Al Jolson
Jones and Schmidt
Kander and Ebb
Jerome Kern
Michael Kidd
Frank Loesser
Lerner and Loewe
Beatrice Lilly
Lindsay and Crouse
Maltby and Shire
Rouben Mamoulian
Ethel Merman
David Merrick
Zero Mostel
Cole Porter
Robert Preston
Harold Prince
Jerome Robbins
Paul Robeson
Bill “Bojangles” Robinson
Richard Rodgers
Sigmund Romberg
Billy Rose
Lillian Russell
Stephen Schwartz
The Shubert Organization
Noble Sissle
Stephen Sondheim
Sam and Bella Spewack
Susan Stroman
Julie Taymor
Sophie Tucker
Tommy Tune
Gwen Verdon
Thomas “Fats” Waller
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Kurt Weill
Bert Williams
Florenz Ziegfield
SHOWS
Annie Get Your Gun
Anything Goes
Assassins
Babes in Arms
Babes in Toyland
The Black Crook
Cabaret
Candide
Cats
Chicago
A Chorus Line
Company
The Cradle Will Rock
Damn Yankees
Dreamgirls
Evita
Fanny
The Fantasticks
Fiddler on the Roof
Good News
Guys and Dolls
Gypsy
Hair
Hello, Dolly!
The King and I
Kiss Me Kate
Lady in the Dark
Les Miserables
The Lion King
Little Johnny Jones
Mame
Man of La Mancha
The Music Man
My Fair Lady
The New Moon
No, No Nanette
Of Thee I Sing
Oklahoma!
On Your Toes
Pay Joey
Phantom of the Opera
The Pirates of Penzance
Porgy and Bess
The Producers
Ragtime
1776
Show Boat
The Sound of Music
South Pacific
Spring Awakening
Sweeney Todd
West Side Story
Ziegfield Follies
2012-2013 Performing Arts Events in our region
Emporia State University Theatre
(620) 341-6378
Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel
Jim Bartruff, Director of Theatre
http://www.emporia.edu/theatre
February 27 - March 2
Karl C. Bruder Theatre
Brownstone by Catherine Butterfield
La Diner, Spring Dance Show
April 10-13, 17-20
May 3
RQ Frederickson Theatre
Karl C. Bruder Theatre
Emporia Arts Council
(620) 340-6473
Violinist Bella Hristova
Atlantic Steps (Irish Dance)
The Marvelous Wondrettes
John Tartaglia’s ImaginOcean
Missoula Children’s Theatre
Melissa Windsor, Executive Director
http://www.emporia.com/eac
January 31
Granada Theatre
February 9
Albert Taylor Hall
February 28
Granada Theatre
March 10
Granada Theatre
June 28,29
Emporia High School
Community Theatre of Emporia
(620) 341-9283
Nancy Boyce
http://www.cteks.com
Emporia High School Theatre
(620) 341-2365
Musical Revue
Theatre Production
Grant Geis, Director
http://www.usd253.org/ehs/
February 8,9
April 5,6
Kansas State University Theatre
(785) 532-6428
Winter Dance 2012
Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo by Rajiv Joseph
The Marriage of Figaro
Spring Dance 2013
The Heiress by Ruth and Augustus Goetz
Kate Anderson, director
http://www.k-state.edu/sctd/theatre
February 7 - 17, 2013
Nichols Theatre
April 19-21, 25-28
Nichols Theatre
March 7 - 9
McCain Auditorium
April 5,6
McCain Auditorium
April 25 - May 4
Nichols Theatre
McCain Series at Kansas State University
(785) 532-6428
A Chorus Line
Shrek the Musical
Joe Goode Performance Group
Mummenschanz
Swan Lake
Rock of Ages
(All events at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
KU Theatre – Lawrence
(785) 864-3982
Undergraduate Directing Project
Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens
Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage
La Boheme by Giacomo Puccinni
John Staniunas, Director
http://www.kutheatre.com
February 14-21, 2013 Inge Theatre
February 28 - Mar 3
Crafton-Preyer Theatre
April 3 - 11
Inge Theatre
April 19-27
Crafton-Preyer Theatre
Lied Center of Kansas - Lawrence (Partial listing)
(785) 864-2787
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Guru of Chai
West Side Story
Mummenschanz 40 Years
Regina Carter - Reverse Thread
http://www.lied.ku.edu December 12
Touring Broadway musical
February 7-9
Indian Ink Theatre Company
February 19
National tour
March 8
Legendary Swiss pantomime
April 5
Recipient of MacArthur Fellowship
http://www.k-state.edu/mccain/
Jan 29, 2013
National Tour
February 12
National tour
February 22
The Rambler
March 12
Legendary Swiss pantomime
April 28
Russian National Ballet
May 14
National tour
Topeka Civic Theatre
(785) 357-5211
Hairspray
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams
Red, White and Tuna
http://www.topekacivictheatre.com
March 1-30, 2013
April 19 - May 4
May 31 - June 22
University of Missouri – Kansas City
(816) 235-6222
The Wrestling Season (w/ Coterie)
The Last Days of Judas Iscariot
Billy Bishop Goes to War (w/ KCAT)
A Yorkshire Tragedy
The Winter’s Tale
Tom Markides, Chair
http://cas.umkc.edu/theatre/
January 24-February 19, 2012
February 3-19
February 10-26 at National WWI Museum
March 9-18
April 20-29
KANSAS CITY AREA THEATRES
American Heartland Theatre
(816) 842-9999
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Life Could Be a Dream
Miss Abigails Guide to Dating, Mating…
The Bikinis, A New Musical Beach Party
http://www.ahtkc.com
January 11 - February 24, 2013
March 8 - April 21
May 10 - June 23
July 12 - August 25
Broadway Across America – Kansas City
(800) 776-7469
Billy Elliot, The Musical
Hair
Mary Poppins
Music Hall/Kauffman Center
http://www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com
January 22-27, 2013
Municipal Aud - Music Hall
February 5-10
Kauffman Center
April 9-14
Municipal Aud - Music Hall
Coterie Theatre
(816) 474-6552
Number the Stars
Tell-Tale Electric Poe
Slashdance
Bud, Not Buddy
Lyle the Crocodile
Crown Center, Kansas City
http://www.coterietheatre.org
January 22 - February 21, 2013
January 29 - February 22 (Touring production)
March/April TBD (Coterie at night series)
April 9 - May 24
June 18 - August 4
Harriman Jewell Series
(816) 415-5025
Russian National Ballet “Swan Lake”
Bobby McFerrin, Spirit You All
http://www.hjseries.org
January 25, 2013
April 26, 2013
JCCC Theatre
(913) 469-8500
reasons to be pretty by Neil LaBute
Fisherman and the Goldfish
Anna in the Tropics by Nilo Cruz
Beate Pettigrew, Artistic director
http://www.jccc.edu/home/depts.php/1108
Feb 22-24, 2013 and March 1-3
March 15-17
April 26-28, May 3-5
JCCC Performing Arts Series (Partial listing)
Emily Behrmann, General Manager
Kauffman Center
Kauffman Center
(913) 469-4445
Shrek--The Musical
Broadway’s Next H!T Musical (Improv)
Garrison Keillor - Tales from Lake Woebegon
MOMIX - Botanica
Les Ballets Trockadero del Monte Carlo
http://www.jccc.edu/performing-arts-series/
February 16
March 8
Polsky Theatre
March 27
April 5-6
April 27
Kansas City Ballet
(816) 931-2232
A Midsummer Nights Dream
Jazz and Sass
William Whitener, director
http://www.kcballet.org
March 15-24
Kauffman Center
May 3-12
Kauffman Center
Kansas City Repertory Theatre
(816) 235-2700
Death of a Salesman
Carousel by Rodgers and Hammerstein
American Buffalo by David Mamet
Eric Rosen, director
http://www.kcrep.org
Jan 18 - Feb 10, 2013
Feb 15 - Mar 17
Mar 15 - April 7
April 19 - May 19
Spencer Theatre
Copaken Stage
Spencer Theatre
Copaken Stage
Lyric Opera of Kansas City
(816) 471-7344
The Flying Dutchman by Richard Wagner
The Mikado by Gilbert and Sullivan
Ward Holmquist, director
http://www.kcopera.org
March 2-10, 2013
April 20-28
Kauffman Center
Kauffman Center
Quality Hill Playhouse
(816) 421-1700
I’ll Be Seeing You: Songs of WW II
Sh-Boom, Sh-Boom: Doo-wop of the 50s
You’ve Got a Friend
Great Big Broadway
J. Kent Barnhart, executive director
http://ww.qualityhillplayhouse.com
January 18 - February 17, 2013
February 22 - March 24
April 19 - May 19
May 31 - June 30
Tulsa (OK) Performing Arts Center
(918) 596-7111
Jekyll and Hyde
Cathy Rigby in Peter Pan
Forbidden Broadway
West Side Story
http://www.tulsapac.com
January 22-27, 2013
March 5-10
April 19-20
April 30-May 5
Waiting for You on the Corner of 13th and Walnut
Chapman Hall
Chapman Hall
Williams Theatre
Chapman Hall
Orpheum Theatre at Omaha (NE) Performing Arts
(402) 345-0606
http://www.omahaperformingarts.org
Memphis - The Musical
January 15-20, 2013
Disney’s The Lion King
March 12 - April 7
The Addams Family
May 14 - 19