I need an expert!

[*Beautifully Tragic*]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 9:27pm

Hey. I know.. you ALL know about broadway, but I'm doing a research project on broadway and can't find somthing. Does anyone know where I can find information about the first show ever on broadway? Like the first director and that stuff

[gavrochegirl]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 9:30pm

This might help...or maybe Margo can...

[zepka102]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 9:31pm

i was TOTALLY going to say "go ask Margo"!!

[*Beautifully Tragic*]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 9:34pm

thanks for the suggestion. i know the theater and the show. I ahve no clue who the director was and who the star was and that stuff. it's be great if I could find it thought I REALLY doubt I will haha

[Calvin]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 9:36pm

Do you mean Showboat? Because it was the first musical in the form that we know them today. But there were a lot of revue-type shows before that. Are you going all the way back to The Black Crook?

[*Beautifully Tragic*]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 9:41pm

I'm in 1900 with 'A Great White Diamond' at the Star theater.

[Calvin]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 10:00pm

Oy. That's an obscure one. Even ibdb has nada on it outside of the opening date, the writer and the theatre (which evidently was torn down a year later).

Maybe Margo will be around later. All I can do is wish you luck.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 10:01pm

There is an amazing DVD collection on the history of musical theater but i can't think of the name of it.
i DO believe that Showboat was the first 'BOOK musical and it was directed and produced by the GREAT Florenz Zeigfeld.
Hope everyone is having a lovely evening!!

"good times and bum times, i've seen them all and my dear...I'M STILL HERE!!" LOL

[Guillermo Ugarte]

Posted: 3/24/06 at 11:26am

The first show that truly launched the concept of musical theater was something called The Black Crook. This musical production was over five hours long and it ran for 474 performances, starting on September 12, 1866 in New York City's Niblo's Gardens. Giuseppe Operti adapted the music and Charles Barras wrote the book. Though it wasn't a musical in the same sense as we know them today, it was the production to launch the idea of incorporating music into the show with plot and situation relevance.

Most of the musicals that followed during the 1800s and early 1900s were more in the genre of musical reviews with cabaret type staging and feel. The musical selections followed one another with no real book or persistent story line.

Then came Show Boat (12-27-27, Ziegfeld Theatre). Kern, Wodehouse and Hammerstein II wrote the music for integration into the story, with the numbers scattered throughout and designed to advance the plot and characters. The show and the lyrics by Wodehouse and Hammerstein II were based on Edna Ferber's novel. The show ran 572 performances and was a groundbreaker at the Ziegfeld, where Flo Ziegfeld's previous shows had included lots of music, costumes and choreography but NO stories.

I hope this helps.

[SamIAm]

Posted: 3/25/06 at 12:39pm

Guillermo, thanks for the detailed info on these productions. I do recall hearing that the Black Crook was the first, but it was nice of you to round out the info for this person. Hope they saw the post and can use the info.