A musical comedy is a play that includes musical numbers as part of the plot. Many stories have been told in this genre, but there are a few common themes that run through them all. Musical comedy has its origins in mid-nineteenth-century French productions. Throughout the twentieth century, the style spread and evolved in the United States.
Musical comedies are known for having a number of recurring characters. Positive plots are common, and there is usually a moral at the end of the story. “Good” always triumphs over “bad,” and the boy always wins the girl, uplifting the audience. Musical numbers with catchy music, beautiful costuming, and, on rare occasions, special effects are also a big part of the show. This is a result of the genre’s origins in burlesque and operetta performances.
Musical comedy can be traced back to the French composer Hervé, who is credited with the invention of the operetta. Several other composers produced a slew of popular operettas in the second half of the nineteenth century. In London and New York, translations made their way onto stages, introducing audiences to the world of musical theatre. The Black Crook, which premiered in New York in 1866, is thought to have been the first show of its kind in the United States. These early operettas are thought to have paved the way for the development of musical comedy as we know it today.
Musical comedy began to emerge as its own art form in the early twentieth century, with a more upbeat and patriotic tone that American audiences could more easily relate to. This was largely due to the work of George M. Cohan, who wrote a number of well-known songs, including “Give My Regards to Broadway.” Following Cohan’s early works, the genre flourished with contributions from composers such as George Gershwin and Irving Berlin.
Throughout the rest of the twentieth century, musical comedy grew in popularity. Rogers and Hammerstein, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Bob Fosse were all influential in the genre. Musical comedy is still a popular form of theater production in 2011.