Lesson Plan
Yale University

Yale New Haven Teachers Inst.: Am. Musical Theater: Making It Work in Classroom

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A great lesson plan for introducing the musical to students. Great bibliography.
Graphic
Library of Congress

Loc: American Variety Stage: Bijou Theater

For Students 9th - 10th
Musical theater and vaudeville were popular in the Gilded Age. Here is a theater program from the Bijou Theater in Boston. Leaafing through the pages gives a great slice of life at the time, not only because of the playbills, but also...
Website
Other

Lone Star College Kingwood: American Cultural History: The Twentieth Century

For Students 9th - 10th
A comprehensive look at life in the twentieth century complete with timelines and photos. Decades are broken down by art and architecture, books and literature, educational movements, fads and fashion, historic events and technology,...
Primary
Duke University

Molly Green; In Dahomey (Historic American Sheet Music)

For Students 9th - 10th
This site shows the original sheet music for the first black musical, "In Dahomey," which was written by Paul Laurence Dunbar and Will Marion Cook.
Website
PBS

Pbs Great Performances: Porgy and Bess an American Voice

For Students 9th - 10th
Revisit the original production of "Porgy and Bess" with interviews, photos, and stories never told. Although the site doesn't have any clips from the musical, it does provide links where you can find them.
Handout
PBS

Pbs American Masters: Richard Rodgers

For Students 9th - 10th
This site has a comprehensive biography of the American composer. Site details Rodgers collaboration with lyricist Lorenz Hart and later work with Oscar Hammerstein. There is also the "Career Timeline" or the audio/video resources found...
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: American Variety Stage: Vaudeville and Popular Entertainment 1870 1920

For Students 9th - 10th
This page is the front door to an extensive collection of play scripts, theater bills, motion pictures, sound recordings and photographs that document popular entertainment, especially vaudeville, from 1870 to 1920.
Graphic
Duke University

Historical American Sheet Music: Mandy by Irving Berlin

For Students 9th - 10th
Take a look at the sheet music from Irving Berlin's "Mandy", performed at Ziegfeld Follies in 1919. Very cool old poster.
Handout
PBS

Classics for Kids: Gershwin Biography

For Students 3rd - 8th
A brief biography of American composer, George Gershwin.
Article
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: The Tech: Five Moe's Amuses With Laughs, Crowd Interaction

For Students 9th - 10th
This site reviews the 1993 production of "Five Guys Named Moe" at Boston's Wilbur Theater. It gives a good summary of the musical, as well as a critique of that production.
Handout
Other

Kingwood Library: American Cultural History: 1940 1949

For Students 9th - 10th
Take a walk through this part of American history surrounding World War II. Each section includes cultural history of the time, with links pertaining to art and architecture, books and literature, education, fads and fashion, historic...
Website
Other

The Official Website of Will Rogers

For Students 9th - 10th
The official website of American actor and humorist Will Rogers, with extensive biographical information, photos, and quotes by and about him.
Handout
Other

Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization: Rodgers & Hart

For Students 9th - 10th
Presents the history behind the collaboration of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart who are recognized as one of America's greatest musical playwrighting teams.
Website
Other

Will Rogers Memorial Museum

For Students 9th - 10th
A museum dedicated to American actor and humorist Will Rogers, with extensive biographical information, photos, quotes, his writings, and a virtual tour of the museum.
Website
Other

Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization

For Students 9th - 10th
The web page for this copyright administrator for a variety of entertainment intellectual properties. In addition to comprehensive theatre library, site provides detailed biography and discography of artist and properties represented.
Graphic
Curated OER

Wikipedia: Natl Historic Landmarks in Tennessee: Beale Street Historic District

For Students 9th - 10th
Birthplace of the blues style of music, Beale Street produced significant developments in African-American music and the music of the United States generally. W.C. Handy was a prominent Beale Street figure from when this was a lively...
Graphic
Curated OER

National Public Radio Tribute to Richard Rodgers

For Students 9th - 10th
This site has a concise summary of the contributions of composer Richard Rodgers to American music and theater. Centennial tribute provides a brief biography and extensive exploration of the musical influences which shaped Rodgers career.
Graphic
Curated OER

National Public Radio Tribute to Richard Rodgers

For Students 9th - 10th
This site has a concise summary of the contributions of composer Richard Rodgers to American music and theater. Centennial tribute provides a brief biography and extensive exploration of the musical influences which shaped Rodgers career.