Origins - "First Vaudeville"

Musical Theatre

The Vaudeville, Music Hall & Cabaret

1880s-1930s

 Vaudeville: Initially a farce with music.

Vaudeville was born within music halls and saloons, and the lyceum circuit, which prospered in the U.S. from the 1830s- 1870s.

Vaudeville had its mix of acts, while the lyceum offered vaudeville a vision of the road, as well as the idea that Americans liked seeing various types of entertainment.

Note take:  Kenrick on Vaudeville

Note take: A potted history of Vaudeville in three minutes.

Musical Theatre

The Vaudeville, Music Hall & Cabaret

Musical Theatre

The Vaudeville, Music Hall & Cabaret

thoughts?

Musical Theatre

The Vaudeville, Music Hall & Cabaret

Origins - "First Vaudeville"

Musical Theatre

The Vaudeville, Music Hall & Cabaret

We will watch three examples of the Vaudeville style within the musical theatre canon. 

• ‘Keep it Under Your Hat’ (Calamity Jane 1961)

• ‘Baby June and Her Newsboys’ (Gypsy 1959)

• ‘Fit as a Fiddle’ (Singin’ in the Rain 1952)

Note key components of each of the routines, ask yourself the question: what is vaudeville?  How does it apply to our current context? (i.e. is it still relevant?) Why is this style still being used in these newer decades? Is there any commentary?

Musical Theatre

The Vaudeville, Music Hall & Cabaret

Musical Theatre

The Vaudeville, Music Hall & Cabaret

Musical Theatre

The Vaudeville, Music Hall & Cabaret

Over IN Britain - "London Calling"

Musical Theatre

The Vaudeville, Music Hall & Cabaret

Music Hall: 1850s - 1920s

The core and most distinctive part of English music hall is song.

An instantly recognizable kind of tune evolved in music hall,

often written in a cheeky, working class voice — sometimes

broadly comical, sometimes sentimental and sad, and

occasionally a little risque.

Often booklets were passed out so that the audience could sing along. The proceedings were led by a so-called “Chairman”, the rough equivalent of our emcee. Music hall comedy, too, was of a certain type, stylistically allied with the song. Variety acts of the sort we associate with vaudeville rounded out the bill.  Because of the shared language and the convenience of new-fangled steamship travel, it was common for British and American acts to play in each other’s countries. Many American acts were big in Britain; and many Brits popular in the states.

Musical Theatre

The Vaudeville, Music Hall & Cabaret

Musical Theatre

The Vaudeville, Music Hall & Cabaret

Over IN Britain - "London Calling"

Musical Theatre

The Vaudeville, Music Hall & Cabaret

Victorian England was an age of stuffy complacency, remembered for its crinolines and hansom-cabs, satanic mills and streets with gas lamps and knocker uppers and for the birth of a peculiarly English institution - the music hall - often referred to as the good old days.

 Music Hall & Variety Theatre:  Article  

 LINK

Note Take: As I read through the article,

write down ideas and scenes you find interesting. 

Over IN Britain - "London Calling"

Musical Theatre

The Vaudeville, Music Hall & Cabaret

We will watch two examples of the Music Hall  style within the musical theatre canon.

• ‘A Cover Is Not A Book’ (Mary Poppins Returns 2018)

• ‘I'll Make A Man Of You’ (O' What A Lovely War 1914)

Note take:  Key components of each of the routines, ask yourself the question: what is vaudeville?  How does it apply to our current context? (i.e. is it still relevant?) Why is this style still being used in these newer decades? Is there any commentary?

Musical Theatre

The Vaudeville, Music Hall & Cabaret

Musical Theatre

The Vaudeville, Music Hall & Cabaret

Cabaret - "Wilkommen"

Musical Theatre

The Vaudeville, Music Hall & Cabaret

Cabaret, 19th-20th Century:

A frivolous form of entertainment involving various musical, dance, and theatre acts being performed to an audience whilst they drink and dine – is a significant aspect of Parisian culture, which has helped to define the city’s very character. The cabaret clubs in the French capital – the Crazy Horse and Moulin Rouge, for example – are nothing short of legendary and have inspired various international artists, film-makers, and writers over the years.

History Of Cabaret: Article   LINK

Note Take: As I read through the article, write down ideas and

scenes you find interesting.

Musical Theatre

The Vaudeville, Music Hall & Cabaret

Musical Theatre

The Vaudeville, Music Hall & Cabaret

Musical Theatre

The Vaudeville, Music Hall & Cabaret

~At The PIano

Musical Theatre

The Vaudeville, Music Hall & Cabaret

If we have time let's sing:

•  A Couple Of Swells from Easter Parade:  LINK
• Let's All Go Down The Strand:  LINK
• Can-Can:  LINK

Discuss amongst your groups how the song types really change the style.

Musical Theatre

The Vaudeville, Music Hall & Cabaret

Musical Theatre

The Vaudeville, Music Hall & Cabaret