GOLDEN AGE Question. Need Answer Quickly..

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 1:39pm

What would you consider the official years of the Golden Age of Broadway?

I'm thinking from the 40's to the late 60's. I'm pretty sure HAIR is considered the show to end the Golden Age.

So what would you consider the starting and ending years of the Golden Age?

[lildogs]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 1:42pm

Yeah--probably 1943 (Oklahoma!) to either HAIR or COMPANY...

[Pippin]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 1:44pm

I think on Broadway: the golden age they say it lasted 15 years- from '43-'58

of, course, that figure is subjective, give or take 3or 4 years.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 1:47pm

I would say from "Oklahoma!" to "Hair"

1943--1968

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 1:53pm

Yup, you're right.

From OKLAHOMA! to HAIR.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 1:56pm

I agree, Oklahoma to Hair.

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 1:57pm

Okay thanks so much guys.

I am doing a report on the Golden Age. and will definitely cover this era from Oklahoma to Hair.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 2:03pm

I'm sure you've seen it, but if you haven't, you absolutely have to get your hands on a copy of BROADWAY: THE GOLDEN AGE. It is an invaluable source. A brilliant documentary that EVERYONE should own.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 2:48pm

I'd end with Fiddler. It's the last great traditional book musical, in a wildly influential staging by Jerome Robbins that led to the '70s concept musicals of Prince-Sondheim, and the Robbins heir apparent director-choreographers like Bennett, Fosse and Tune. Cabaret, which is part traditional book musical, part concept musical, is too transitional a show to serve as an end point, and Hair, though important for its score, staging, political stance, topicality et al, I think might have been too much of a one off to represent the true end of the Golden Age.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 2:55pm

So then you don't consider ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER, MAN OF LA MANCHA, MAME, THE APPLE TREE, CABARET, I DO! I DO!, etc. to be a part of the golden age?

I certainly can see why you say FIDDLER, but the end of the Golden Age came when HAIR opened and inspired a new type of musical. Between the opening of FIDDLER and HAIR, several important "golden age" shows were produced. You disagree?

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 3:18pm

Just personal opinion and personally, I like them all, but I think On a Clear Day, I Do! I Do!, Man of La Mancha, Mame and The Apple Tree have various flaws and problems that keep them from the eschelon of greatness. (Clear Day has a weak book, La Mancha a hit or miss score, I Do! I Do! and Apple Tree are pleasant and professional, but of relatively minor importance, and Mame is inferior to its original source material).

Cabaret is huge, but I think of it as the transitional show from the book musicals of the 40s/50s/early 60s to the concept musicals of the 70s/80s and beyond, with a book musical and concept musical existing side by side in its original script and conception.

As far as Hair goes, it clearly is a milestone, but I think it might belong more toward ushering in a modern musical theatre era, than serving as the official end of the Golden Age. You can draw a direct line for Hair to Jesus Christ Superstar, which leads you through the rock musicals of the 70s, which leads you to the Big British Four of the 80s, etc.