Concept Musicals

Concept musicals emerged during the Golden Age of musical theatre in the 1960s. Unlike traditional musical theatre at this time, concept musicals did not tell a story with a beginning, middle, and end. Instead, their aim was to explore a theme, make a statement, and/or convey a message to the audience. In contrast to Golden Age musicals, songs do not usually flow out of the narrative, but instead break out of the story offering a moment for self-reflection or commentary. However, the term ‘concept musical’ did not come into existence in theatre scholarship until the 1970s. This guide will explore the development of the concept musical and consider the influence of key composers and practitioners.

Terminology

• Golden Age musical: a Broadway musical written and produced between 1943 and 1965.
• Linear plot: a series of events that have a clear beginning, middle and end.
• Megamusical: a large-scale musical produced for large commercial profit.

Key dates & Events

• 1927 - 1987 - Life of Bob Fosse
• 1928 - 2019 - Life of Hal Prince
• 1930 - Birth of Stephen Sondheim
• 1966 - Premiere of Cabaret
• 1947 - Premiere of Roger and Hammerstein’s Allegro and the first experimentation into the concept musical
• 1975 - Premiere of A Chorus Line and the first use of the term "conception" in musical theatre
• 1981 - Premiere of Cats and the beginning of the megamusical
• 2003 - Premiere of Avenue Q