Yale University
Yale New Haven Teachers Inst.: Am. Musical Theater: Making It Work in Classroom
A great lesson plan for introducing the musical to students. Great bibliography.
Library of Congress
Loc: American Variety Stage: Bijou Theater
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...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Open Course Ware: Introduction to Western Music
A complete undergraduate-level online course that introduces the history of western music.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source Set: The Golden Age of Broadway
This collection uses primary sources to explore the golden age of musical theater on Broadway.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Open Course Ware: Modern Music: 1900 1960
A complete, undergraduate level online class on the topic of modern music in the 1900s. Includes complete course material.
Other
Puppet Theater of Japan: Bunraku
An introduction to bunraku--the traditional puppet theater of Japan. Find clear explanations of the history of the art form and details of the music, props, and puppets used. Illustrated with beautiful pictures. Includes several video...
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 3: Fifties/sixties Musical Playwriting
This unit appeals to multiple intelligences, encourages interdisciplinary learning, reinforces self-confidence, and stimulates creativity, co-operation and critical thinking. Using songs with a strong narrative, learners are asked to...
Other
Stephen Schwartz
A biography and partial listing of the works of Stephen Schwartz, composer. He also wrote lyrics for the two Disney musicals Pocahontas and The Hunchback Of Notre Dame.
Other
Canal Kids: Arte (Explore Art?for Kids?in Portuguese)
History of the development of cinema, painting, theater, music, and dance--for kids. Visitors can explore how music is mixed, listen to radio, and watch the making of animated cartoons, among many other activities.
Musicals 101
Musicals101: Homepage
This site from Musicals 101 provides a very comprehensive site dealing with all aspects of musicals. Includes great material for schools wanting to put on a musical. Over 330 biographies plus lots of history.
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Features comprehensive biographical details on "the most successful composer of our time", Andrew Lloyd Weber. His play, "The Phantom of the Opera", is the longest running musical in Broadway history and he has won an Oscar, a Golden...
Other
Streetswing: Rumba
Very detailed site includes a history of the dance, as well as key dancers and musicians associated with it. Easy to read charts cover films, theaters, sheet music and a variety of other things connected to the rumba.
Other
Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization: Rodgers & Hart
Presents the history behind the collaboration of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart who are recognized as one of America's greatest musical playwrighting teams.
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: Sir William Gilbert
Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (18 November 1836 - 29 May 1911) was an English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for his fourteen comic operas produced in collaboration with the composer Sir Arthur Sullivan, of which...
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
One of the finest sites of its kind on the Internet, ArtsEdge is dedicated to supporting arts education through such initiatives as curriculum development, cross-curricular teaching, and technology integration. Find arts-related...
Other
Kingwood Library: American Cultural History: 1940 1949
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...
Other
The Minstrel Show: Preface
Richard Moody does a fine job with a general description of a minstrel show. He gives background information on the history and development over the years. There are many links in the left-hand column for more information.
Florida State University
Florida State University: Molecular Expressions: Shadowbox Theatre
Have you ever thought about your shadow? One way to learn about them is to make your own shadow box theater--once a very popular form of entertainment in Europe during the 1800s and early 1900s.