Nothing captures America's optimism, inventiveness, and gusto greater than the American Musical. From Plymouth Rock to Rock Operas, our past is riddled with unforgettable, uplifting song. Even in today's technological, fast-paced environment, the musical is still king of Broadway, beckoning millions of tourists to Manhattan every year.
By the 1940's film brought the music to every town with a movie theater. The Wizard of Oz, On the Town, and Singin' in the Rain had mom and dad tapping their toes, while Dreamgirls, Hairspray, and Sweeney Todd have pulled in today's optimistic movie audiences. When Astaire and Rogers dance, or Gene Kelly celebrates joy with perfect timing and masculine grace, they keep the candle lit for all of us trying to be extraordinary in our ordinary world.
Wicked's weekly box office gross is routinely record-breaking, raking in well over a million dollars a week. The American Musical has survived wars, depression, recessions, ridicule, scandals, and scars. Broadway and Hollywood have sung America through her hardest times. Like washing troubles out of your hair in South Pacific, a great musical opens us up to the simple joy and magic waiting to be savored and celebrated in our lives.
Miles Kreuger founded The Institute of the American Musical Inc., in 1972. He's developed a not-for-profit 501c3 library containing books, photos, original scores, recordings and every kind of memorabilia imaginable from every era and aspect of the American Musical, both on the stage and screen. The collection has outgrown its simple, sometimes dysfunctional but always loving home; now it needs to be afforded the respect of the next generation.
The crown jewel of the Institute's collection lives hidden away in a coat closet. There, constantly succumbing to time and silver nitrate decay, lie boxes of film: The Ray Knight films. These films were made when Ray would sneak a large but portable1932 movie camera into a playhouse to film a musical's biggest, loudest show-stoppers. The quieter moments Ray could never capture because the clackety-clack of the movie camera would have disturbed the actors and had Ray booted out of the auditorium. But there on the shelves are untold, never duplicated gems like Merman in Gypsy and Annie Get your Gun. There are also priceless glimpses of the original productions of Oklahoma, Guys and Dolls, and even The Fantasticks.
As America looks towards the post-Bush era, and we face the challenges of rebuilding our America, it's important to learn from the most idealistic marvels of our past. The American dream that has fallen away was once up there on Broadway's stage, inspiring audiences every night. We must preserve it in our hearts, in our ideals, and finally, fortunately, on Miles' dusty, well-worn, overflowing shelves.