A History of the American Musical

Beginning with overtly racist minstrel shows of the 1840s, musical comedy has drawn freely from European, Black, Jewish and Latinex cultures, forging something new and uniquely American. A study of the musical is a study of nearly two centuries of American social history, as the musical reflects and amplifies the political, racial and sexual attitudes of its day. We will encounter the masters of American popular music, from Irving Berlin through George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Stephen Sondheim and Lin-Manuel Miranda, and will study footage of the great stars and showpieces of the musical stage.