American Musical

American Muscial:

The American Muscial Started as early as the rolling 20's in America.It was a form of history in some ways to bring out issues of society to the public.  We had great musicals as Porgy and Bess, which musical hits from Gershwins, and South Pacific that showed us the issues between black and white.  Musicals are the form of theater where you bring drama and comedy to music and dance.  This form had it rise and falls over the years.  As in the 30's and 40's and then in the 60's the musicals took from broadway to Hollywood which such great Actors as Frank Sintra and Gene Kelly starred in many musicals.  Even Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dick got some of their acting credits in such musicals that took from the stage to the theater and then back to the stage.  In the american musical you will see great stage art work and muscial that will tell you a story love, sadness, hard time, etc.) Most musicals the audience can releate to the story they are telling (expect for cat's i don't understand that show) but the audience are moved by the actions and lyics of the music playing.  For me i can watch musicals almost all day long (as long it isn't cat's) Musical takes me to a place where my troubles are long forgotten and i dream that i am on stage with the actors.

Cat's the second longest musical to hit NYC. 1982-2000

One of the all time famous Musical that played on New York City Broadway was the Musical "Cat" by Andrew Llyod Webber. It is the second longest show to run in New York City starting in 1982. Now on a personal view, I will never know how this show lasted so long since i slepted for the first act, but i guess the music from the second half, which had the musical hit "Memories" done by Barbara Streinsand and the outfits that made the human look like real cats brought the people in. Cat's was moved to second by the musical Opera "Phantom of the Opera" which is another Andrew Llyod Webber production.  Though i come close to seeing that show but failed each time, i will see it before i die.

(memories - cat's the only hit from this musical and only one reason to see it: in my opinion)

starlight express cast - it is was a great experience to see live in London

Though Cat'sand Phantom hold the all time best for Andrew Llyod Webber, my favorite musical by him is actually the one that got the lowest reviews. Starlight Express was a musical based on Roller skates.  This musical the actors roller blade all over the stage. Trust me you don't even want to sleep because there is so much action and music.  I was lucky and saw this play in London and was in awed.  Of course after seeing this musical I had to see cats because Cats got such great reviews and maybe i should seen Cats first. The  plot features around a group of toy railway trains, portrayed by actors on roller-skates, who come to life inside the mind of a small boy. The characters race to become the 'fastest engine in the world', and in the end, the underdog, Rusty, triumphs, winning the race and the heart of a beautiful observation car (starlight). Now the plot for Cat's well it just about cats and i am sorry i can watch my cat at home for more entertainment.


(starlight express video) and this is from london which is where i got to see it

Interesting facts:

my favorite Movie Musical and turned broadway On The Town - the day i feel in love with Gene Kelly

Many musicals were not just the master mind of one person.  In the early stages the greatest musicals were the master mind of two people. Roger and Hammerstein  in many ways were the grandfather of the American Musical which were hits back from the 30-60's and many of their plays were turned in to movies which brought the musical to everyone.  The highlight of the movie musical is one of my all time favorites "On The Town" starring Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra

The biggest hight of the American Musical actaully started in the 1980's and the truth of the matter is that the hight of the american musical period was not even from America but from England.  The Master mind of Andrew Llyod Webber grew to fame here in America with his wonder hits of Cat's, Phatonm of The Opera and Starlight Express to just name a few.


Biliography
Flner, Mira, Orenstein, Claudia; The World of Theater, Person Eduation 2006, pg 169-174
Wikipedia, Cat's the Musical; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cats_(musical) web.
Wikipedia, Starlight Express: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlight_Express web.
videos:  Cat's and Starlight express: http://youtube.com/ ; web