<p>Hi Everyone. So for my American History class, I have to do a project on a topic of my choice and write an eight page paper about it. It has to impact or fit in with society during the time period. And I was excited for this opportunity because I've always wanted to learn more about the developement of American Musical Theatre. Anyways, I decided that I would do my project on Golden Age Musical theatre. I'm thinking about doing rodgers and Hammerstein, but also would really like to research Sondheim. I'm leaning towards Rodgers and Hammerstein because their musicals were often reflective of the time period, and I feel it might be easier to find information for them. I was wondering if anyone on this forum knows of any primary or secondary sources that deal with Rodgers and Hammerstein or Sondheim. Any other suggestions would also be great. Thank you</p>
<p>I think you will find a ton of sources both online and in a library on both composers/lyricists! Sounds like a great project. </p>
<p>When my D was a junior in high school, she wrote a long paper and presented it (including with song) for her Humanities class (English/History combined) on comparing and contrasting both Sondheim and Jonathan Larson. There was plenty of source material. </p>
<p>I will add that recently Sondheim came out with his books of Look I Made a Hat and Finishing the Hat and you should definitely look into those.</p>
<p>PBS recently aired a special a special on Oscar Hammerstein. I honestly didn’t realize that for the times Showboat and South Pacific really took on the issues at the time like racism and interracial marriage. Could be others too, but those are two that I remember from the show.</p>
<p>Netflix also has some specials on Broadway, the Golden Age and Broadway, the American Musical (narrated by Julie Andrews). They’re not on instant stream but you can get them on DVD.</p>
<p>My D just wrote a 10 page paper on Sondheim. There are some GREAT books out there…she used “Look, I Made a Hat,” and “Finishing the Hat.” Although these books are often described as collections of lyrics, they are so much more. All sorts of discussions about the meanings of his plays, his lyrics, etc. They were really fascinating, and had great info…both primary sources, too. She also relied heavily on “Sondheim on Music: Minor Details and Major Decisions,” which is not a primary source, but had great information. Good luck!</p>
<p>This thread is bringing back memories. Back in the dark ages, when I was in high school, I created an hour-long radio segment on Sondheim. It’s funny to think that way back then he hadn’t yet written Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd, Merrily We Roll Along, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Assassins, etc. Truly the dark ages! Then of course D did a paper for APUSH on MT as well.</p>
<p>Is there any chance your teacher will let you do a multi-media presentation so, like Soozievt’s D you can sing or at least include some of the music? Maybe a DVD with your paper? Sounds like a fun project, and I agree with others there is no shortage of reference material if the subject stays broad. D’s APUSH paper was on a very narrow MT topic and finding source material for that was much harder.</p>
<p>Have fun!!</p>
<p>Yeah, as I said, besides writing a long paper on comparing Sondheim and Larson, when my D presented it to the class, she enlisted some musical friends and they performed the various songs being discussed in the paper. Not sure if your class also has presentations. </p>
<p>But this also brings back a memory for me that goes way further back than age 16 when she did the Sondheim/Larson project. Back when D was 8, she did an independent study research paper (typed 20 pages!) on 100 Years of Broadway. She also illustrated a very long time line of significant shows from the past 100 years. She got to do a presentation of the research paper and when she got to each show in the paper, she broke into song and sometimes dance as well of a number from each show from the past 100 years that she covered. She either sang it or in a few cases, played it on piano, recorder, or flute. She would put on little props and costumes throughout the presentation for each show on the timeline and in the paper. I have this on video and it brings a smile to my face thinking about how young she was and what she is doing now…similar stuff! I recall in college she took a course on the History of Musical Theater and told me she learned nothing new as she had studied it her whole life from a young age before she ever got to college.</p>
<p>Building on a reference in a previous post, if you haven’t done so already, I would view the PBS Series, “Broadway the American Musical.” It is available on Netflix and is a great secondary source (there is also a book out under the same title you can look for in a library). Here is the website:</p>
<p>[Broadway:</a> The American Musical | PBS](<a href=“http://www.pbs.org/wnet/broadway/]Broadway:”>Broadway: The American Musical | PBS)</p>
<p>This page has some great essays to look at:</p>
<p>[Broadway:</a> The American Musical . Hello, Broadway! | PBS](<a href=“http://www.pbs.org/wnet/broadway/hello/index.html]Broadway:”>http://www.pbs.org/wnet/broadway/hello/index.html)</p>
<p>This series of shows provides a wealth of ideas and insights regarding Broadway and Society.</p>
<p>It sounds to me like your paper needs to look at how what you choose to explore “impact(s) or fit(s) in with society during the time period.”</p>
<p>There is a wonderful book called “The American Musical and the Formation of National Identity” [Amazon.com:</a> The American Musical and the Formation of National Identity (9780691118642): Raymond Knapp: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/American-Musical-Formation-National-Identity/dp/0691118647]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/American-Musical-Formation-National-Identity/dp/0691118647) that would be helpful in looking at musicals within the social context of their time. Unfinished Show Business: Broadway Musicals as Works in Process <a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Unfinished-Show-Business-Works---Process/dp/0809326671/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1336696739&sr=1-1[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/Unfinished-Show-Business-Works---Process/dp/0809326671/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1336696739&sr=1-1</a> also could be useful.</p>
<p>Since it is only an 8 page paper, make sure you focus in your topic accordingly…</p>
<p>for example: “How Oklahoma!, Carousel, and South Pacific reflected society during and immediately following WW II” or “1957: The Music Man, West Side Story, and the end of the 1950s”</p>
<p>:-) Kat</p>
<p>Or… “Oklahoma! and On The Town as reflections of World War II America.” … etc… etc… Whatever you pick, touch on the shows, the time period, and how the shows are a reflection of the time and/ or impacted those during that time period. It sounds like the paper topic will require use of both theatre history sources and American history sources. </p>
<p>Great project!</p>
<p>If you go with something related to Rodgers and Hammerstein this is a great book as well – <a href=“http://www.amazon.com/The-Hammersteins-Musical-Theatre-Family/dp/1579128467[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/The-Hammersteins-Musical-Theatre-Family/dp/1579128467</a></p>
<p>Thank you all for your suggestions. They really helped me focus my research. And KatMT, I’m going to do my project on Oklahoma!, South Pacific, and I wanted to pick one more musical. I know you mentioned Carousel in your above comment, but how did that really fit in with life at the time period? I only broused through a synopsis, so I don’t really know too much about the musical. Or would it be better to add On The Town to my paper instead of Carousel? Thank you</p>
<p>Another show worth consideration would be The King and I. A case could be made that Oklahoma, South Pacific and The King and I all tackled classism/racism in unique ways.</p>
<p>Ooops-- just remembered the class the project is for is American History, so Carousel would fit better with that. ;-D</p>