The first musical theatre production is widely believed to be the Greek tragedy, Oedipus Rex. The ancient Greeks were the first to combine music with storytelling in dramatic plays, and this form of theatre is considered by many to be the origin of modern musical theatre. Oedipus Rex, written by Sophocles in 429BC, was a tragic play about a man who unknowingly kills his father and marries his mother.
The story is believed to have been presented with songs and dances as part of the performance. The play was written in verse form, which allowed for the incorporation of music and lyrics into the dialogue. The use of music made it easier for the audience to follow along with the story and understand its meanings.
Musical theatre underwent a great transformation during the Renaissance period, when Italian opera composers such as Claudio Monteverdi began to incorporate more elaborate music into their works. Opera became popular in Europe during this time, and it featured large orchestras and elaborate costumes, sets and effects. It was during this period that musical theatre began to become more formalized, with composers writing specific scores for each scene or act in a production.
The development of musical theatre continued through the 18th century with works such as Gilbert & Sullivan’s comic operas and operettas becoming popular throughout Europe. These works combined elements of traditional opera with comedic dialogue and featured larger casts than earlier productions.
The 19th century saw musical theatre continue to evolve, with some of its most famous works being created during this period. These include The Phantom of the Opera (1909) by Andrew Lloyd Webber, West Side Story (1957) by Leonard Bernstein, A Chorus Line (1975) by Marvin Hamlisch, Les Misérables (1980) by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Rent (1996) by Jonathan Larson.
Today’s musicals are often based on existing stories or novels from popular culture but incorporate original songs into the plotline in order to further develop characters or tell their story in a unique way. Musical theatre continues to be one of Broadway’s most popular forms of entertainment today, drawing millions of viewers each year from around the world.
In conclusion, while there is no definitive answer as to what was the first musical theatre production ever staged, it is widely believed that Oedipus Rex by Sophocles was an early example of combining music with storytelling on stage that led to modern day musicals as we know them today.