October 1, 2026: The Great Depression & World War II: Musicals of the 1930s & 1940s

Class Preparation

Recommended Reading: 

• Broadway: The American Musical: ​
  • “Broadway and the Depression” (pp. 119-124)
  • “Oh Lawd, I’m on my way”: Porgy and Bess  (pp. 140-145)
  • “Ethel Waters” (pp. 148-149)
  • “Political Satire on Broadway” (pp. 156-161—focus on the show As Thousands Cheer)
  • “Stand up and fight like hell”: The Postwar Black Musical (pp. 202-207)
• Black Broadway: ​
  • Chapter 4 ("Breadlines to Breakthroughs: The 1930s and 1940s"), pp.88-121

​Handouts:

• Class 3 Selected Lyrics
• ​Handout of Key Class 3 slides

Links & Playlists

 YouTube Playlists:

• As Thousands Cheer (1998 "World Premiere" Cast Recording of Irving Berlin's 1932 revue)
• Highlights of the Metropolitan Opera's 2019 Production of Porgy and Bess​​
• Porgy and Bess: A Concert of Songs (1919, Frankfurt Symphony, Cape Town Opera Chorus, Soloists)--14 selections in a 48-min setting for orchestra, chorus and soloists.
• Class 3 Video Playlist