Show Time!: Music, Dance, and Drama Activities for Kids

Show Time!: Music, Dance, and Drama Activities for Kids — page 7
City was the hot spot for American musicals Many songwriters including Irving Berlin and George Gershwin created musicals in these publishing hous es In 1927 musicals began to take on all sorts of themes both comedic and serious Show Boat was the first musical that had songs that actually moved the plot forward a breakthrough for telling stories in musical theater style The term musical was shortened from the term musical comedy but it now refers to dramas as well as comedies In 1960 the first rock and roll musical hit the stage It was called Bye Bye Birdie and told a story similar to what happened when Elvis Presley was drafted It also includes a grown up love story that follows the standard boy gets girl boy loses girl boy gets girl back plot of earlier musical comedies Many rock musicals have since followed Today Andrew Lloyd Webber and others continue to add to the wealth of musical theater Many actors say that live musical theater is where they began and it is still their favorite venue Musicals continue to be a favorite among theatergoers especially young peo