Prohibition had a huge effect on musical theatre in the United States. This period of time, lasting from 1920 to 1933, saw a drastic change in the way that music and theatre were produced, performed, and consumed.
During this time, alcohol was illegal and this caused an increase in other forms of entertainment such as musical theatre.
Before Prohibition, Broadway was home to a variety of different types of shows including operettas and burlesque shows. However, after Prohibition began in 1920, many of these types of shows began to disappear from the stage.
This was due to the fact that alcohol was no longer allowed in public venues and thus people no longer had access to it during performances. In addition, many performers found it difficult to make ends meet without the sale of alcohol at their shows.
The lack of alcohol forced producers and writers to come up with new ways to entertain their audiences. This gave birth to a new style of musical theatre known as “revue” or “musical comedy” which focused on lighthearted songs and sketches about current events or popular culture topics. Musicals like “No No Nanette” (1925) and “Show Boat” (1927) were some of the most popular during this time period.
The Impact Of Prohibition On Musical Theatre
Prohibition had a major influence on musical theatre during this time period. The lack of alcohol meant that producers had to come up with creative ways to entertain their audiences without relying solely on the sale of drinks. This led them to create new forms of entertainment such as revues which were lighter than traditional operettas but still contained memorable music and entertaining sketches.
In addition, Prohibition also led many performers who relied on the sale of alcohol for income to leave Broadway altogether in search for other forms of employment or entertainment opportunities outside New York City.
Conclusion
Prohibition had a significant impact on musical theatre during this time period. It led producers and performers alike to create new forms of entertainment such as revues which focused more on lighthearted songs and sketches than traditional operettas or burlesque shows. In addition, it also forced many performers out of Broadway altogether in search for other forms of employment outside New York City due to their reliance on income from drink sales being gone.