022 Revue program

Creator

Arkansas State University - Jonesboro

Preview

Identifier

Revue Program_Page_22

Creation Date

4-23-2021

Disciplines

Arts and Humanities | Theatre and Performance Studies

Description

DRAMATURGY - “STEAM HEAT”

In the “Golden Age’’ of Broadway musicals, The Pajama Game keeps true to the lavish and extravagant musical and choreographed elements laid down by many theatrical predecessors, such as Oklahoma! and South Pacific. Because of how well it exemplifies the fundamentals of Broadway musicals, it is still a very popular choice for high-schools and community theatres alike.

The Pajama Game first premiered on Broadway in May 13, 1954 at the St. James Theatre. This is the first of two musicals written and composed by Richard Alder and Jerry Ross, with the book created by George Abbott and Richard Bissell. The origins of the musical stemmed from Bissell’s 1953 novel 7 ½ Cents. Even though the duo managed to bring out two hit musicals, the collaboration was sadly cut short, after Ross’s death from chronic bronchiectasis in 1955.

As a major Broadway hit, The Pajama Game lasted for two years, ending with 1,063 performances during its run. The musical was the choreographic debut for Bob Fosse, whose unique style made him a very well-known choreographer. This also became the starting point for legendary actress Shirley MacLaine. The Pajama Game won three Tony Awards, as well as a film adaptation of the musical was released in 1957, with most of the original Broadway cast reprising their roles.

For context, Gladys, secretary of the garment factory, and two male ensemble members are performing for a union meeting, after the workers stage a “slow-down”, effectively stopping production. “Steam Heat” is different from the other songs in the musical, as it doesn’t focus on maintaining the story’s continuity. Rather, it was meant to be a simple performance to the union workers, not a main spectacle. The musical foundation of the song falls in line with the “Golden Age” era of Broadway. It features instrumentation similar to 50’s pop and big band, long breaks from singing (often called a dance break as a section for choreography only), and a breakdown of just clapping, mouth clacking, and hissing.

Publisher

Arkansas State University

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.