Whether they be on stage or the big screen, musicals have been inextricably linked with our 20th and 21st century lives. Because there are so many human experiences for which words by themselves are just not enough. Breaking out into song is just the only way to go, when so much emotion is pent up inside. From the Wells Fargo Wagon coming down the street to Defying Gravity, the musical continues to be a way of sharing our common, or not so common, experiences and expressing it with music, song, and dance.
Many musicals began their lives on stage, either as a play first or as an original musical. Some are based on novels, and some from old Greek Mythology. No matter the content, the electricity and magnetism of the live musical performance is undeniable. The most popular, or most successful stage musical is a subject that is up for debate. Different stories and songs appeal to different people. The only statistic I can give you, is that “The Phantom of the Opera” is officially the longest running Broadway Show in history (for now) there is plenty of competition, but “Phantom” did beat out “Cats” (deservedly so) and “Les Miserables” for this right.
Many musicals have been brought to the big screen, and many began their lives on the big screen and continue on the small screen of television. Arguably in the early days of Hollywood Musicals, they were mostly Lerner and Lowe or Rogers and Hammerstein. Lerner and Lowe brought us great romance in such luscious musicals such as “Camelot”, “Brigadoon” and the ever popular “My Fair Lady”. While Rogers and Hammerstein conquered Broadway, television and film with the infamous “Sound of Music” and the largest television audience (at that time) premier of “Cinderella”. Gene Kelly himself said that the greatest of these Hollywood Musicals was/is “Meet Me in St. Louis”. Following the adventures in a year with a family in St. Louis just before the first Worlds Fair opened, and from songs such as “The Boy Next Door” to “The Trolley Song” and the wonderful “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, this musical has captured the hearts of generations. (And FYI, I am currently downloading my fav songs from iTunes;-)
Ever since “The Jazz Singer” premiered and won a special award at the 1927/28 Academy awards, musicals have claimed a special place with the Academy. However, it would not be until 1951 that the first Hollywood Musical would make a real splash with the Academy. Beginning with “An American in Paris” (Gershwin), “The King and I” (Rogers and Hammerstein), “Gigi”(Lerner and Lowe), “West Side Story”, “My Fair Lady” (Lerner and Lowe), “The Sound of Music” (Rogers and Hammerstein), “Oliver!”, and “Caberet” followed. Then it would be 30 years before another Movie Musical would take home a major award at the Oscars: “Chicago”. This unfortunate 30 year gap, shows how the movie industry was changing in the ‘70’s, ‘80’s and ‘90’s. But though the big movie musicals seemed to have died out, the musical was now arguably entering it‘s golden age on stage.
When Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals began to hit the London and Broadway stages, amongst others, he helped to revive musical theatre and bring it back again. From “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” to “Cats” and the ever popular “Phantom of the Opera”, Andrew Lloyd Webber has done his part. Other musicals in the past 20 years or so include the wonderful “Les Miserables” , “Crazy For You: a New Gershwin Musical”, “Titanic” and “Wicked” among others. Disney has successfully adapted several of their most famous animated films for the stage: “Beauty and the Beast”, “The Lion King” and more recently, “The Little Mermaid” and “Mary Poppins”, all with great success. And of course, many old standards still make the rounds, such as “The King and I” and “South Pacific”. There is no end in sight for musicals on stage, as the overwhelming popularity of “Wicked” is so aptly proving. With a story about an outsider who doesn’t fit in, and her rejection of what is considered “normal” in order to attempt to help others is a time honored backdrop for a great musical, and it doesn’t disappoint. “Wicked” is truly a musical for the 21st century.
But still, there is no stopping musicals in other mediums besides film and stage. Joss Whedon’s immensely popular “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” which premiered on the internet in three acts, has proven that musicals can adapt to any medium that may come our way. Even with the oddest storyline. . .and a pretty small budget. . .Neil Patrick Harris, Felicia Day, and Nathan Fillion manage to delightfully surprise us with their vocal abilities, belting out these very catchy little tunes that stick with you. . . In a good way ;-). Just another instance when words are just not enough when you want to get into the Evil League of Evil.
Even though the Academy of Arts and Sciences neglected musical films for 30 years, that doesn’t mean that they were not still out there. (Hey, when has the Academy ever really known what it is doing anyway?) “Fiddler on the Roof” and “The Slipper and the Rose” both came out in the ‘70’s. “Fiddler” had of course been a success on stage first, but what about “The Slipper and the Rose”? Why, it was a movie musical version of Cinderella with music by the Sherman Brothers (“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and “Jungle Book”). Starring Richard Chamberlin and a great cast of older supporting actors who are all sadly gone now, “The Slipper and the Rose” was actually the first time that anyone had ever told the Prince’s side of the story. Beginning with the Prince lamenting after a journey where he was supposed to propose to a suitable princess, and asking “Why can’t I be two people?” His parents then ask him “What has love go to do with being married?” The film is designed to be as realistic as possible, except for the fairy godmother, played brilliantly by Annette Crosbie. With wonderful songs such as “What a Comforting Thing to Know”, “When He Danced With Me”, and “Protogolicgorically Correct”, the film takes us on a lovely, and realistic/surreal journey into one of the most beloved fairy tales of all time. And of course, Andrew Lloyd Webber brought us “Evita” starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas and “The Phantom of the Opera” starring Gerard Butler *grins broadly while giving significant glances ;-)* and . . . Oh, I don’t remember who else is in it, to the big screen. Disney, once again gave us a great movie musical hit with "Newsies", starring Christian Bale. Telling the story of newspaper boys in turn of the century New York, it follows them as they make the choice to stick together and strike against the giants of the newspaper world. With wonderful songs such as "Seize the Day" and "I'm the King of New York" this movie dances it way straight to the heart. Tim Burton has been breaking ground with the marriage of songs and claymation (truly a dying art in this modern day of Computer technology) with "A Nightmare Before Christmas" and "The Corpse Bride". And of course he brought us the big screen adaptation of the very dark, and very sharp "Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street" starring Helena Bonham Carter and the incomparable Johnny Depp. Then there is “Moulin Rouge” which follows no particular pattern with their choices of different modern songs to blend into their story. And of course there is “Across the Universe” which so brilliantly took Beatles songs and created a plot from the lyrics. Visually stimulating and filled with lovely tidbits for Beatles lovers, this film proves once again that the musical in any form is far from dead.
It is apparent that the musical, whether it be on stage, screen or on the internet, has a long and happy life ahead of it. As long as there are stories to tell and emotions to express, there will be songs to sing, and music to dance to. Whether you listen to “The Music of the Night” or dream about “The Boy Next Door”, the musical continues to inspire, comfort and uplift the hearts of music lovers all over the world.
This is Faith E. Young, ace Musical correspondent, signing off.
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