Abstract:
Musical theatre shows the ideals and the morale of those watching each show. In the 1950s, American morale was high for white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestants. The population was booming, the economy was in great shape, and industry was on the rise. Shows like The Music Man followed a formula that was hugely popular. The Music Man also looks at the United States and shows the audience how wonderful life in America is. It hides the underlying tensions, such as Civil Rights issues and the Cold War, going on in the country through a light fluffy musical with relatively trivial problems. In the 1970s, American morale was low. There was an economic recession, and unemployment was extremely high. Americans did not trust their federal government anymore. Musicals were no longer at the forefront of popular culture. Some musicals were changing the musical formula, while others tried to hold on to the ideals of musical comedy laid out in the 1950s. 42nd Street pretends to be a Golden Age musical even though it premiered in 1980. 42nd Street is the ultimate escapist musical. It takes the audience away from their difficult lives and tries to show how well the American dream works. In the 1970s, there were other options of styles of musicals for people to go see, while in the 1950s there was only the Golden Age formula. In the 1950s the formula worked as was used over and over again. In the 1970s, a musical that was emulating the Golden Age
