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Boise State University

Boise State University: Gilbert and Sullivan Archive

For Students 9th - 10th
The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive, hosted by the department of mathematics at Boise State University, is devoted to the operas and other works of William S. Gilbert and Arthur S. Sullivan. Content includes biographies, plot summaries,...
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Website
Other

Gilbert and Sullivan Archive: Iolanthe or the Peer and the Peri

For Students 9th - 10th
The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive provides an introduction, plot summary, art, reviews, a glossary, and lots more for the musical "Iolanthe."
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Website
Other

Gilbert and Sullivan Archive: Ruddigore

For Students 9th - 10th
The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive provides an introduction, plot summary, text, glossary, clip art, reviews, music, and more for "Ruddigore."
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Website
Other

Will Rogers Memorial Museum

For Students 9th - 10th
A museum dedicated to American actor and humorist Will Rogers, with extensive biographical information, photos, quotes, his writings, and a virtual tour of the museum.
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Website
Other

Gilbert and Sullivan Archive: The Bab Ballads by w.s. Gilbert

For Students 9th - 10th
Information about the poems that Gilbert wrote for "Fun" magazine under the pen name Bab. Links to the actual songs and poems are included.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: American Variety Stage: Vaudeville and Popular Entertainment 1870 1920

For Students 9th - 10th
This page is the front door to an extensive collection of play scripts, theater bills, motion pictures, sound recordings and photographs that document popular entertainment, especially vaudeville, from 1870 to 1920.
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Lesson Plan
Yale University

Yale New Haven Teachers Inst.: Am. Musical Theater: Making It Work in Classroom

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A great lesson plan for introducing the musical to students. Great bibliography.
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Lesson Plan
Yale University

Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: Musical Theater

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Introductory site focusing on American musical theatre and Broadway. Shows how these parts can be taught in the classroom. Useful for teachers and students working with music theater.
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Education: Musical Theater

For Students 9th - 10th
A short and concise history of musical theater with two early performers and a composer highlighted.
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Website
University of Pittsburgh

University of Pittsburgh:frequently Asked Questions About Stephen Collins Foster

For Students 9th - 10th
This website has answers to common questions about songwriter, Stephen Foster, including "Where can I get recordings of Stephen Foster's music?" and "How much money did Foster make from his songs?" Very useful for basic information about...
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Handout
Duke University

Shuffle Along Orchestra

For Students 9th - 10th
This section focuses on the people created the hit musical, "Shuffle Along," which helped to spur the Harlem Renaissance. Other information on the site about the importance of other black theater during the period.
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Article
TheatreHistory.com

Theatre History: American Musical Theatre: An Introduction

For Students 9th - 10th
A commercial website that provides a solid history of American musical theatre. Includes summaries of many musicals through history. Focus is on shows before 1960.
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Website
Other

Musicals: Ragtime

For Students 9th - 10th
Musicals.net offers a synopsis and songlist for "Ragtime," as well as a forum for comments and questions about the show. While "Ragtime" isn't strictly a black musical, the Coalhouse Walker, Jr. - Sarah storyline is so significant that...
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Article
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: The Tech: Five Moe's Amuses With Laughs, Crowd Interaction

For Students 9th - 10th
This site reviews the 1993 production of "Five Guys Named Moe" at Boston's Wilbur Theater. It gives a good summary of the musical, as well as a critique of that production.
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Website
PBS

Pbs Great Performances: Porgy and Bess an American Voice

For Students 9th - 10th
Revisit the original production of "Porgy and Bess" with interviews, photos, and stories never told. Although the site doesn't have any clips from the musical, it does provide links where you can find them.
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Handout
PBS

Pbs American Masters: Richard Rodgers

For Students 9th - 10th
This site has a comprehensive biography of the American composer. Site details Rodgers collaboration with lyricist Lorenz Hart and later work with Oscar Hammerstein. There is also the "Career Timeline" or the audio/video resources found...
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Handout
PBS

Classics for Kids: Leonard Bernstein

For Students 3rd - 8th
A short biography of Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990 CE). Click to the past radio shows to hear his music and learn more about this famous composer.
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Handout
A&E Television

Biography: Harry Houdini

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides a brief biography of Harry Houdini.
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Handout
Other

California Dept. Of Parks and Recreation: Will Rogers: America`s Favorite Cowboy

For Students 9th - 10th
From Will Rogers State Historic Park, a short profile of American actor and humorist Will Rogers, with articles and original photographs related to his ranch, his stables, and his love of horses.
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Website
John F. Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center: Andrew Lloyd Webber

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Lesson Plan
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 3: Fifties/sixties Musical Playwriting

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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, students are asked to...
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Handout
Other

Gilbert & Sullivan Archive: William S. Gilbert, Producer

For Students 9th - 10th
Chapter from the book "Gilbert & Sullivan Opera, A History and Comment" by H.M Walbrook, about William Gilbert as a producer.
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Handout
Other

The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive: The Grand Duke

For Students 9th - 10th
The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive provides the operetta theme, audio files, plot summary, text, glossary, and more for "The Grand Duke."
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Handout
Other

The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive: Patience

For Students 9th - 10th
The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive provides an introduction, plot summary, text, musical score (audio files), art, reviews, and more for "Patience."