Which Musical Brought Broadway Into the Golden Age of Musical Theatre?

Musical Theatre|Theater

The 1950s saw a revolutionary change in the way musicals were written and composed. It was during this time that the golden age of musical theatre began, and it was a show called My Fair Lady that truly brought Broadway into the golden age.

My Fair Lady is adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion, and is set in Edwardian London. The musical tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl, who is taught by Professor Henry Higgins to speak with an upper-class accent and transform her into a proper lady. The show had opened on Broadway in 1956 and ran for over six years, making it one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history.

The success of My Fair Lady was largely due to its fantastic score composed by Frederick Loewe and lyrics written by Alan Jay Lerner. The show’s music was incredibly popular, with songs such as “I Could Have Danced All Night” and “On the Street Where You Live” becoming instant classics.

The success of My Fair Lady also helped to usher in a new era of musical theatre. Shows such as West Side Story, The Sound of Music, Hello Dolly!, Cabaret and Fiddler on the Roof all owe their existence to My Fair Lady as they all followed its lead in terms of tone, style and content.

The success of My Fair Lady ushered in a new era for musical theatre that would last until the 1970s when rock musicals began to dominate Broadway. This golden age saw some of the greatest musicals ever written being produced on Broadway and My Fair Lady was at its very heart.

Conclusion:

My Fair Lady was instrumental in bringing Broadway into its golden age, with its memorable score and timeless story being hugely influential on future generations of musical theatre writers. From West Side Story to Fiddler on the Roof, we owe much to this classic show for setting the standard for what would become some of Broadway’s most iconic productions.