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The 100 Most Important People in Musical Theatre

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The 100 Most Important People in Musical Theatre

by Jennifer Jo Fay

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Language	:	English
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Musical theatre is a unique and powerful art form that combines music, drama, and dance to tell stories and entertain audiences. It has a long and rich history, dating back to the ancient Greeks. Over the centuries, many talented people have contributed to the development of musical theatre, from composers and lyricists to directors and producers. Here is a list of the 100 most important people in musical theatre:

Composers

Andrew Lloyd Webber (b. 1948): British composer known for his musicals Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, and Evita.
Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990): American composer known for his musicals West Side Story and Candide.
Stephen Sondheim (b. 1930): American composer and lyricist known for his musicals Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, and Sunday in the Park with George.
Richard Rodgers (1902-1979): American composer known for his musicals Oklahoma!, South Pacific, and The Sound of Music.
Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960): American lyricist and librettist known for his collaborations with Richard Rodgers on Oklahoma!, South Pacific, and The Sound of Music.
Cole Porter (1891-1964): American composer and lyricist known for his musicals Anything Goes, Kiss Me, Kate, and Can-Can.
George Gershwin (1898-1937): American composer known for his musicals Porgy and Bess and An American in Paris.
Irving Berlin (1888-1989): American composer and lyricist known for his songs "God Bless America" and "White Christmas." He also wrote the musicals Annie Get Your Gun and Call Me Madam.
Jerome Kern (1885-1945): American composer known for his musicals Show Boat, Sally, and Very Good Eddie.
Kurt Weill (1900-1950): German composer known for his musicals The Threepenny Opera and Lady in the Dark.

Lyricists

Stephen Sondheim (b. 1930): American composer and lyricist known for his musicals Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, and Sunday in the Park with George.
Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960): American lyricist and librettist known for his collaborations with Richard Rodgers on Oklahoma!, South Pacific, and The Sound of Music.
Cole Porter (1891-1964): American composer and lyricist known for his musicals Anything Goes, Kiss Me, Kate, and Can-Can.
Irving Berlin (1888-1989): American composer and lyricist known for his songs "God Bless America" and "White Christmas." He also wrote the musicals Annie Get Your Gun and Call Me Madam.
E.Y. Harburg (1896-1981): American lyricist known for his collaborations with Harold Arlen on The Wizard of Oz and Bloomer Girl.
Alan Jay Lerner (1918-1986): American lyricist known for his collaborations with Frederick Loewe on My Fair Lady and Camelot.
Betty Comden (1919-2019) and Adolph Green (1914-2002): American lyricists and librettists known for their collaborations on On the Town, Singin' in the Rain, and Wonderful Town.
Dorothy Fields (1905-1974): American lyricist known for her collaborations with Jerome Kern on Show Boat and Very Good Eddie.
Howard Ashman (1950-1991): American lyricist known for his collaborations with Alan Menken on The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin.
Tim Rice (b. 1944): British lyricist known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber on Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, and The Phantom of the Opera.

Directors

George Abbott (1887-1995): American director known for his work on Broadway musicals such as The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees, and Fiorello!
Jerome Robbins (1918-1998): American director and choreographer known for his work on Broadway musicals such as West Side Story, The King and I, and Fiddler on the Roof.
Harold Prince (b. 1928): American director and producer known for his work on Broadway musicals such as The Phantom of the Opera, Evita, and Sweeney Todd.
Michael Bennett (1943-1987): American director and choreographer known for his work on Broadway musicals such as A Chorus Line and Dreamgirls.
Tommy Tune (b. 1939): American director, choreographer, and dancer known for his work on Broadway musicals such as Nine, Grand Hotel, and The Will Rogers Follies.
Trevor Nunn (b. 1940): British director known for his work on musicals such as Les Misérables, Cats, and Sunset Boulevard.
Richard Eyre (b. 1943): British director known for his work on musicals such as Mary Poppins, Billy Elliot, and The National Theatre's production of Carousel.
Bartlett Sher (b. 1956): American director known for his work on Broadway musicals such as South Pacific, The King and I, and My Fair Lady.
Marianne Elliott (b. 1966): British director known for her work on musicals such as War Horse, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and Angels in America.
Phyllida Lloyd (b. 1957): British director known for her work on musicals such as Mamma Mia!, The Iron Lady, and Macbeth.

Producers

Cameron Mackintosh (b. 1946): British producer known for his work on musicals such as Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, and Les Misérables.
Ziegfeld Follies (1869-1932): American producer known for his lavish Broadway revues.
Shubert Organization: American theatre company founded in 1900, which has produced many Broadway musicals, including The Music Man, Hello, Dolly!, and A Chorus Line.
RKO Pictures: American film studio that produced a number of musicals in the 1930s and 1940s, including Top Hat, Swing Time, and The Wizard of Oz.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer: American film studio that produced a number of musicals in the 1940s and 1950s, including An American in Paris, Singin' in the Rain, and Gigi.
Disney Theatrical Productions: American theatre company founded in 1994, which has produced a number of Broadway musicals, including The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin.
Jeffrey Seller (b. 1950): American producer known for his work on Broadway musicals such as Rent, Avenue Q, and Hamilton.
Kevin McCollum (b. 1955): American producer known for his work on Broadway musicals such as The Book of Mormon, Avenue Q, and Rent.
Scott Rudin (b. 1958