Show Boat: Performing Race in an American Musical (Broadway Legacies)

__Show Boat: Performing Race in an American Musical__ tells the full story of the making and remaking of the most important musical in Broadway history. Drawing on exhaustive archival research and including much new information from early draft scripts and scores, this book reveals how Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern created __Show Boat__ in the crucible of the Jazz Age to fit the talents of the show's original 1927 cast. After showing how major figures such as Paul Robeson and Helen Morgan defined the content of the show, the book goes on to detail how __Show Boat__ was altered by later directors, choreographers, and performers up to the end of the twentieth century. All the major New York productions are covered, as are five important London productions and four Hollywood versions. Again and again, the story of __Show Boat__ circles back to the power of performers to remake the show, winning appreciative audiences for over seven decades. Unlike most Broadway musicals, __Show Boat__ put black and white performers side by side. This book is the first to take __Show Boat__'s innovative interracial cast as the defining feature of the show. From its beginnings, __Show Boat__ juxtaposed the talents of black and white performers and mixed the conventions of white-cast operetta and the black-cast musical. Bringing black and white onto the same stage -- revealing the mixed-race roots of musical comedy -- __Show Boat__ stimulated creative artists and performers to renegotiate the color line as expressed in the American musical. This tremendous longevity allowed __Show Boat__ to enter a creative dialogue with the full span of Broadway history. __Show Boat__'s voyage through the twentieth century offers a vantage point on more than just the Broadway musical. It tells a complex tale of interracial encounter performed in popular music and dance on the national stage during a century of profound transformations. Show Boat: Performing Race In An American Musical Tells The Full Story Of The Making And Remaking Of The Most Important Musical In Broadway History. Drawing On Exhaustive Archival Research And Including Much New Information From Early Draft Scripts And Scores, This Book Reveals How Oscar Hammerstein Ii And Jerome Kern Created Show Boat In The Crucible Of The Jazz Age To Fit The Talents Of The Show's Original 1927 Cast. After Showing How Major Figures Such As Paul Robeson And Helen Morgan Defined The Content Of The Show, The Book Goes On To Detail How Show Boat Was Altered By Later Directors, Choreographers, And Performers Up To The End Of The Twentieth Century. All The Major New York Productions Are Covered, As Are Five Important London Productions And Four Hollywood Versions. Again And Again, The Story Of Show Boat Circles Back To The Power Of Performers To Remake The Show, Winning Appreciative Audiences For Over Seven Decades. Unlike Most Broadway Musicals, Show Boat Put Black And White Performers Side By Side. This Book Is The First To Take Show Boat's Innovative Interracial Cast As The Defining Feature Of The Show. From Its Beginnings, Show Boat Juxtaposed The Talents Of Black And White Performers And Mixed The Conventions Of White-cast Operetta And The Black-cast Musical. Bringing Black And White Onto The Same Stage--revealing The Mixed-race Roots Of Musical Comedy--show Boat Stimulated Creative Artists And Performers To Renegotiate The Color Line As Expressed In The American Musical. This Tremendous Longevity Allowed Show Boat To Enter A Creative Dialogue With The Full Span Of Broadway History. Show Boat's Voyage Through The Twentieth Century Offers A Vantage Point On More Than Just The Broadway Musical. It Tells A Complex Tale Of Interracial Encounter Performed In Popular Music And Dance On The National Stage During A Century Of Profound Transformations [publisher Description]. A Ferber Plot -- The Robeson Plan -- The Morgan Plan -- A Ziegfeld Soprano And A Shubert Tenor -- Colored Chorus Curtains -- Featuring Robeson : 1928-1940 -- Broadway Black, Hollywood White : 1943-1957 -- Landmark Status : 1954-1989 -- Queenie's Laugh : 1966-1998. Todd Decker. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Show Boat: Performing Race in an American Musical tells the full story of the making and remaking of the most important musical in Broadway history. Drawing on exhaustive archival research and including much new information from early draft scripts and scores, this book reveals how Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern created Show Boat in the crucible of the Jazz Age to fit the talents of the show's original 1927 cast. After showing how major figures such as Paul Robeson and Helen Morgan defined the content of the show, the book goes on to detail how Show Boat was altered by later directors, choreographers, and performers up to the end of the twentieth century. All the major New York productions are covered, as are five important London productions and four Hollywood versions. Again and again, the story of Show Boat circles back to the power of performers to remake the show, winning appreciative audiences for over seven decades. Unlike most Broadway musicals, Show Boat put black and white performers side by side. This book is the first to take Show Boat 's innovative interracial cast as the defining feature of the show. From its beginnings, Show Boat juxtaposed the talents of black and white performers and mixed the conventions of white-cast operetta and the black-cast musical. Bringing black and white onto the same stage -- revealing the mixed-race roots of musical comedy -- Show Boat stimulated creative artists and performers to renegotiate the color line as expressed in the American musical. This tremendous longevity allowed Show Boat to enter a creative dialogue with the full span of Broadway history. Show Boat 's voyage through the twentieth century offers a vantage point on more than just the Broadway musical. It tells a complex tale of interracial encounter performed in popular music and dance on the national stage during a century of profound transformations. Content: Foreword by Geoffrey Block Introduction Part One: Making 1. A Ferber Plot 2. The Robeson Plan 3. The Morgan Plan 4. A Ziegfeld Soprano and a Shubert Tenor 5. Colored Chorus Curtains Part Two: Remaking 6. Featuring Robeson: 1928-1936 7. Broadway Black, Hollywood White: 1946-1957 8. Landmark Status: 1954-1989 9. Queenie's Laugh: 1966-1998 Epilogue Appendix 1. Archival Sources for the 1927 Broadway Production 2. Select Stage and Screen Versions (1928-1998) References Notes Index Show Boat: Performing Race in an American Musical draws on exhaustive archival research to tell the story of how Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II, and a host of directors, choreographers, producers, and performers-among them Paul Robeson-made and remade the most important musical in Broadway history. This volume draws on exhaustive archival research to tell the story of how Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II, and a host of directors, choreographers, producers, and performers - among them Paul Robeson - made and remade the most important musical in Broadway history