TH154-554: History of Musical Theater

Final Exam Spring 2016

Austin Iovanna
NAME: _______________________________________

ODD-ONE OUT - For each of the following, identify the oddone out (i.e. the item that
does not belong with the others). Also, specify why that item doesnt belong with the
rest.
1. (A) The Mikado
(B) The Prince of Pilsen
(C) The Pirates of Penzance
(D) Yeoman of the Guard
The Prince of Pilsen is the only opera that was not
Why is it the odd-one out? ___________________________________________
written by Gilbert and Sullivan
__________________________________________________________________
2. (A) The Grand Duke
(B) The Desert Song
(C) The Student Prince
(D) The Vagabond King
The Grand Duke is the only show that premiered in
Why is it the odd-one out? ___________________________________________
the 1800s but not on Broadway
__________________________________________________________________
3. (A) A Connecticut Yankee
(B) Something For the Boys
(C) The Boys From Syracuse
(D) Babes in Arms
Something For the Boys is the only Cole Porter
Why is it the odd-one out? _________________________________________
musical, the others are Rodgers and Hart works
__________________________________________________________________
4. (A) Finian's Rainbow
(B) Bloomer Girl
(C) Brigadoon
(D) Carousel
Brigadoon is the only show whose focus isnt surrounding
Why is it the odd-one out? ___________________________________________
a social justice issue
__________________________________________________________________
5. (A) Pippin
(B) Cabaret
(C) Chicago
(D) Sweet Charity
Cabaret is the only musical that wasnt directed AND
Why is it the odd-one out? ___________________________________________
Choreographed by Bob Fosse, Prince was the director
__________________________________________________________________
6. (A) Into the Woods
(B) Sunday in the Park With George
(C) Assassins
(D) Passion
Assassins is the only musical that has a book written
Why is it the odd-one out? _________________________________________
by James Lapine
_______________________________________________________________

TH154-554: History of Musical Theater

Final Exam Spring 2016

7. (A) The Scottsboro Boys

(B) Cabaret
(C) Chicago
(D) Flora the Red Menace
Liza Minnelli did not star in The Scottsboro Boys
Why is it the odd-one out? _________________________________________
but did in all of the other musicals
_______________________________________________________________
8. (A) Pacific Overtures
(B) Follies
(C) Road Show
(D) A Little Night Music
Roadshow is the only show out of this selection
Why is it the odd-one out? _________________________________________
that did not open on Broadway
_______________________________________________________________
9. (A) Jellys Last Jam
(B) Ragtime
(C) Passing Strange
(D) Bring in da Noize. Bring in da Funk
Passing Strange is the only musical here that is not
Why is it the odd-one out? ___________________________________________
a social commentary on African Americans during a specific era in history
__________________________________________________________________
10. (A) La Cage aux Folles
(B) Kiss of the Spider Woman
(C) Falsettos
(D) Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Hedwig is the only show here that involves the fringe
Why is it the odd-one out? ___________________________________________
aspect of the gay community
__________________________________________________________________

ESSAY #1 - On a separate piece of paper, please discuss ONE of the following topics
(either question #11 or question #12), including specific quotes from the shows in
question.
11. HAMMERSTEIN TO SONDHEIM: As you know, Oscar Hammerstein acted as
mentor to Stephen Sondheim. And yet, the style of shows that each man helped
produce, at least on the surface, would seem to be worlds apart. Or are they?
Write an essay exploring the similarities between the two men in terms of their
respective bodies of work. Be sure to focus on more than just one show within
each mans body of work. Focus on the following question: How can you look at
Stephen Sondheims body of work and see Oscar Hammersteins influence?
(FOUR to FIVE paragraphs, THREE pages maximum)

TH154-554: History of Musical Theater

Final Exam Spring 2016

12. SONDHEIM/PRINCE VS. SONDHEIM/LAPINE: As was true when Richard Rodgers

moved from writing with Lorenz Hart to writing with Oscar Hammerstein II, there
is likewise a noticeable shift in style and execution as Stephen Sondheim moves
on from working with Harold Prince to working with James Lapine. The
differences are more subtle, to be sure, but they are nonetheless remarkable.
Write an essay that illuminates some of those key differences. Start by filling in
the chart below and then choosing a few categories that, to you, represent
meaningful differences between the genres. As always, give specific examples
from each of the shows that you discuss, then analyze the examples with an eye
towards how the words and the music illustrate your larger point. (FOUR to FIVE
paragraphs, THREE pages maximum)
Sondheim/Prince
Shows

Setting

Tone

Characters

Music

Lyrics

Message

Sondheim/Lapine

TH154-554: History of Musical Theater

Final Exam Spring 2016

13. BLACKS OR GAYS: As we've seen over the past two semesters, musical theater
hasn't always been kind and fair to societal subgroups, in particular African
Americans and members of the LGBTQ community. Using your chart as a guide,
write an essay that focuses on FOUR distinct stages (e.g. stereotypes, 3D but
subjugated, outsize nobility, warts and all/antihero, post-modern, post-bias) in
the development of black or gay characters in musical theater. Within each stage,
address at least one show that addresses the evolution. Be sure to include
specific quotes from each of the shows in question, and spend sufficient time
examining the relevance of those examples. (FOUR to FIVE paragraphs, THREE
pages maximum)

PART 3: Develop an essay question - GRADS ONLY

14. GRADS ONLY: Please develop your own essay question. As part of our focus on
pedagogy, please devise an essay question of your own choosing. As you look
across what weve covered over the last two semesters, what theme emerges for
you as being worthy of exploration? What theme did we not focus on that you
think we should have? [NOTE: You only have to develop the question itself. You
do NOT need to write the essay.]