| vaudeville | A show with varied acts, including blackface scenes, dogs, circus stunts, songs, and dance.
|
 |
|
|
| burlesque | A variety show featuring satirical humor; later associated with striptease acts.
|
|
|
|
| revue | Originally, a show with lavish staging and costumes but with no integrated plot. Later, a series of scenes united by a theme but without a plot.
|
|
|
|
| book shows | Musicals with an integrated plot.
|
|
|
|
| operetta (light opera) | A form of musical theater in which the music and dancing are closely integrated with the plot.
|
|
|
|
| patter song | A feature of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operettas, as well as other forms of musical theater, in which humorous words, outrageous puns, and unlikely rhymes are sung very rapidly, with comic effect.
|
|
|
|
| Gilbert and Sullivan operettas | Comic English musicals (words by William S. Gilbert, music by Arthur Sullivan).
|
|
|
|
| musical comedy | A play with music, in which the elements of entertainment are connected by a plot.
|
|
|
|
| Show Boat | Landmark musical, by Jerome Kern, based on a literary work and addressing sensitive social issues.
|
|
|
|
| choreographer | Artist who designs the steps and movements of dancers.
|
|
|
|
| Oklahoma! | Landmark musical, by Rodgers and Hammerstein, integrating all elements of entertainment into the drama.
|
|
|
|
| ensemble | In musical theater, a group of solo singers simultaneously performing independent words and music.
|
|
|
|
| concept musical | A musical show presenting ideas subject to the audience’s interpretation and leaving provocative situations unresolved at the end.
|
|
|
|
| chamber musical | A musical for a small cast, requiring economical resources.
|
|
|
|
| multimedia show | Performances including some combination of music, dance, film, slides, tape recordings, and other sound and visual effects.
|