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The Many Forms of Musical Theatre: Opera to the Musical
Tuesdays (Hybrid)
10:30 a.m.–12:00 noon
John Clum

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We’ll start the story in 1600 (though it could start earlier) with Shakespeare’s “musical” Twelfth Night in England, while in Italy, home of Commedia dell’Arte, a group of noblemen, eager to recreate Greek tragedy, created the first operas. What were the social, economic, and political circumstances that created these very different works? 

From 1600 we will follow the development of various forms of musical theatre: opera, comic opera, melodrama, operetta, and the American musical.

What were the social and economic circumstances that allowed these forms to develop? How do the forms differ from one another? How have major American composers attempted to combine the traditional forms?

John Clum taught courses in acting, dramatic literature, playwriting, musical theatre, and the history of theatre and film at Duke University, where he was Professor of Theater Studies and English. He was Founding Director of the Duke University Drama Program and later chaired the Department of Theater Studies.

He has directed almost 100 productions of everything ranging from Shakespeare to many premieres of contemporary plays to opera and musicals. With composer George Lam, he has created two operas which have been produced in New York and elsewhere.

John has written or edited sixteen books and has published 75 essays on modern and contemporary drama, musical theatre, film, television and opera. He has been elected a Lifetime Member of the College of Fellows of American Theatre. 

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