The history of musical theatre from the recorded beginnings of music and drama in Italy (c.1600) through the American musical comedies of Rodgers & Hart (c.1940). Genres explored will include opera, operetta, burlesque, pantomime, vaudeville, tin pan alley, the minstrel show, revue, and musical comedy. Major figures discussed will include composers, lyricists (including librettists/book-writers), producers, directors, choreographers, performers, and conductors. The literature will be explored within a social-historical context. Offered in the spring semester each year.