One Minute With... David Bell

The music theatre professor at NU and director who has been nominated for 34 Jefferson Awards shares what he views as the most important musicals — those that most altered the form after they premiered.

1. Show Boat, Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Kern, 1927
A triumph of the operetta form, Show Boat boldly announced the coming of the integrated musical, dealing with issues of race that were way ahead of its time.

2. South Pacific, Oscar Hammerstein and Richard Rodgers, 1949
The impressive musicals Oklahoma and Carousel preceded the premiere of South Pacific — both daring, innovative and influential. However, it was with South Pacific that the most important music theatre writing team in history really hit its stride.

3. Company, Stephen Sondheim and George Furth, 1970
A troubled look at relationships and marriage are offered in this concept musical created with NU alum George Furth. Company altered what was considered appropriate musical material forever.

Every NU student should see… Jersey Boys, Bob Gaudio, 2005
Although it recycles music from the Four Seasons, it pulsates with an energy and a truth that one would not expect from a jukebox musical.

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