Understanding the Evolution of American Musical Theater

Margaret Hall discusses the challenges of communicating about art, particularly the American musical, which is a relatively young art form. She introduces a framework to evaluate aging musicals, categorizing them into Active, Tricky, Troublesome, Augmented, and Archived. The framework helps address how musicals can be adapted or preserved for modern audiences. Hall emphasizes the importance of having discussions about the relevance and impact of older shows to ensure the growth of the art form.

What is the core nature of theater as described in the introduction?

• A digital art form

• A static art form

• A solitary art form

• A collaborative art form

How old is the American musical if 'The Black Crook' is used as a starting point?

• 200 years

• 50 years

• 156 years

• 100 years

What is the average dividing line between artistic generations?

• 25 years

• 100 years

• 50 years

• 10 years

What metaphor is used to describe the transition of the American musical from a teenage art form?

• A seed to a tree

• A caterpillar to a butterfly

• A teenager to a young adult

• A child to an adult

What is the first category in the framework for evaluating musicals?

• Active

• Archived

• Tricky

• Augmented

Which musical is given as an example of the 'Active' category?

• The King and I

• Show Boat

• Oklahoma!

• The Sound of Music

What is the main challenge with 'Troublesome' musicals?

• They have outdated messages

• They resonate but have problematic elements

• They are too short

• They are too modern

What does the 'Augmented' category require for a musical?

• Complete removal

• No changes

• Minor adjustments

• A full rewrite of certain aspects

Which musical is used as an example of the 'Archived' category?

• The King and I

• Show Boat

• Flower Drum Song

• South Pacific

What is the ultimate goal of having discussions about the relevance of art?

• To preserve all art forms

• To avoid difficult conversations

• To ensure community growth

• To eliminate outdated art