What is a Musical?

Summary

Who Smarted? - Episode Summary: "What is a Musical?"

Release Date: August 6, 2025
Host/Authors: Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media
Episode Title: What is a Musical?

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Introduction to the World of Musicals

In this engaging episode of "Who Smarted?", the Trusty Narrator meets Broadway Barry, an expert on Broadway musicals. Their lively conversation serves as the foundation for exploring the fascinating realm of musicals, making complex topics accessible and entertaining for young listeners.

Notable Quote:
Trusty Narrator [00:00]: "I'm really excited to see Wickedly Smart. It's the hottest new musical on Broadway."
Broadway Barry [00:30]: "Smarty Cats is playing two blocks away, and across the street is the Smarty King."

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Defining a Musical

The episode begins with defining what makes a musical distinct from a regular play. Broadway Barry explains that a musical combines acting, singing, and dancing to communicate the story's emotions and drive the plot forward.

Notable Quote:
Broadway Barry [04:43]: "Unlike a play, which generally has little to no music or dancing, a musical combines acting, singing, and dancing."

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The History of Musicals: From "The Black Crook" to "Oklahoma!"

Broadway Barry delves into the history of musicals, highlighting key milestones that shaped the genre:

1. The Black Crook (1866): Often considered the first musical, it integrated singing and dancing with acting, though some critics found it too whimsical compared to modern standards.

2. Showboat (1927): Marked a shift towards serious themes like racial injustice, featuring iconic songs such as "Ol' Man River."

3. Oklahoma! (1943): Recognized as the first modern musical, it perfected the integration of narrative and musical elements, setting the standard for future productions.

Notable Quotes:
Broadway Barry [07:05]: "In 1866, a show called The Black Crook came out in New York City, which a lot of people consider to be the first musical." Broadway Barry [08:47]: "In 1927, a musical called Showboat came out, which dealt with serious topics like racial injustice."

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From Small Theaters to Broadway: The Journey of a Musical

The conversation transitions to how musicals make their way to the prestigious Broadway stage. Broadway Barry outlines the typical path:

1. Workshop Productions: Many shows begin in small or workshop settings, allowing creators to refine their work.

2. Reviews and Popularity: Positive reviews and word-of-mouth can propel a show towards larger venues.

3. Investment: Attracting investors who fund Broadway productions is crucial for scaling up.

Notable Quote:
Broadway Barry [11:04]: "Pretty much every show that makes it to Broadway starts somewhere else. It can be in another city or even another country."

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Understanding Broadway, Off Broadway, and Off Off Broadway

Broadway Barry clarifies the common misconceptions about Off Broadway and Off Off Broadway theaters. The primary distinction lies in the size of the venue rather than its location relative to Broadway Street.

• Broadway Theaters: Over 500 seats.
• Off Broadway Theaters: Between 100 and 499 seats.
• Off Off Broadway Theaters: Fewer than 99 seats.

He emphasizes that size dictates categorization, and many high-quality productions thrive outside the main Broadway circuit.

Notable Quote:
Trusty Narrator [16:31]: "So Off Broadway must be in a theater that isn't on Broadway. And Off Off is a theater that's even further away from Broadway."
Broadway Barry [17:25]: "If you said B, you're right. In New York City, a Broadway theater must have over 500 seats..."

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The Anatomy of a Musical: Book, Music, and Lyrics

Exploring the structural components of a musical, Broadway Barry breaks down the essential elements found in a playbill:

1. Book: The script, including spoken dialogue and scene descriptions.
2. Music: The composition of the songs, encompassing the actual notes and melodies.
3. Lyrics: The words to the songs, which may be written by the same person as the book or by someone else.

Notable Quote:
Trusty Narrator [18:35]: "What's all that about? And who are those People."
Broadway Barry [18:42]: "If you said the script, you're right. The book also includes descriptions of what's happening in the scenes."

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Roles Behind the Scenes: Understudies and Swings

The episode also sheds light on the crucial roles that understudies and swings play in a musical's success:

• Understudy: A performer who steps in for a lead actor if they're unavailable.
• Swing: An understudy for the understudy, ensuring there's always a backup.

These roles require versatility and deep familiarity with the production, highlighting the collaborative nature of theater.

Notable Quote:
Trusty Narrator [19:58]: "I've heard the terms understudy and swing in connection to musicals, but what do they mean, smarty pants?"
Broadway Barry [20:06]: "An understudy covers for a lead actor in case they're sick or on vacation."

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The "Triple Threat": Versatile Performers

A highlight of the episode is the discussion on the coveted "triple threat" status of Broadway performers, who excel in singing, acting, and dancing. This combination makes them invaluable assets to any production, embodying the multifaceted demands of musical theater.

Notable Quote:
Trusty Narrator [20:39]: "What do you think it is, smarty pants? Are they a triple threat, the whole enchilada, or simply marvelous?"
Broadway Barry [20:56]: "Anyone you see on a Broadway musical is most definitely a triple threat."

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Conclusion: Reflecting on the Musical Journey

As the episode concludes, the Trusty Narrator reflects on the wealth of knowledge gained about musicals, expressing excitement to attend a Broadway show and appreciation for the insights provided by Broadway Barry. The episode wraps up by acknowledging the enduring popularity of long-running shows like "Smarty Cats" and the continuous evolution of musical theater.

Notable Quote:
Trusty Narrator [21:40]: "Wow. The world of musicals is super cool, Barry. But I want to know more about the parts of a musical."

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Credits and Acknowledgments

The episode credits Ms. Wong's class in Toronto, Canada, for their positive feedback, and acknowledges the creative team behind "Who Smarted?", including writers, voice actors, and producers.

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Overall, "What is a Musical?" offers a comprehensive and entertaining exploration of musical theater, combining expert insights with relatable dialogues. The episode successfully demystifies the complexities of musicals, making it an invaluable resource for curious young minds eager to learn about the enchanting world of Broadway.

Transcript

[Trusty Narrator]

And now it's time for Who Smarted? Psst. Hey, smarty pants. Give me juuuust one second. I'm right in the middle of something. Excuse me, Is this the line to get Rush tickets for Wickedly Smart?

[Broadway Barry]

Um, why, yes.

[Trusty Narrator]

Are you sure the sign over there says Smarty Cats?

[Broadway Barry]

No, no. Smarty Cats is playing two blocks away, and across the street is the Smarty King.

[Trusty Narrator]

Okay, because I'm really excited to see Wickedly Smart. It's the hottest new musical on Broadway. It's been sold out every night since it opened.

[Broadway Barry]

It sure has. Of course. Smarty Cats is one of the longest running musicals on Broadway and has been beloved for well over a decade.

[Trusty Narrator]

Right. I'll say. You sure know a lot about all these shows.

[Broadway Barry]

Um, Barry, the names Berry, of course. Everyone calls me Broadway Barry, seeing as I know pretty much everything there is to know about musicals.

[Trusty Narrator]

Oh, well, in that case, I'm doubly excited. I'll get to see Broadway's hottest new musical and get to talk to an expert on musicals.

[Broadway Barry]

Wow, you're a pretty trusting guy.

[Trusty Narrator]

Well, trust is in my name. After all, I am the trusty narrator.

[Broadway Barry]

Congratulations. So, was there something you wanted to ask me?

[Trusty Narrator]

Well, for starters, how exactly do Rush tickets for a Broadway musical work?

[Broadway Barry]

Oh, that's easy. All the theaters set aside a certain number of tickets that folks can buy the day of the performance. Hence the term rush tickets.

[Trusty Narrator]

Gotcha.

[Broadway Barry]

But get this. Not only are these tickets offered at a discounted price, sometimes they're really good seats, too. And in some cases, like with a hot new show like Wickedly Smart, which is definitely playing here and has been sold out for months, rush tickets are the only way to get tickets.

[Trusty Narrator]

Hmm. Are you sure this is the line for Wickedly Smart? There doesn't seem to be a lot of people here. And isn't that a sign for Smarty Cats?

[Broadway Barry]

I think someone just stuck a poster on the wall. Besides, don't you want to learn more about bridge, Broadway and musicals?

[Trusty Narrator]

I sure do. Broadway Barry. I want to learn things like what makes a musical a musical, what was the first ever musical, and how does a musical make it to Broadway?

[Broadway Barry]

No problem. I know all that stuff. They don't call me Broadway Barry for nothing. Did you know I've seen smarty cats 412 times? Times. Meow.

[Trusty Narrator]

That's great. Anyway, it's time to get the show on the road as we take a musical whiff of science and history on who's smarted, who's smarted, who's smart, Is it you? Is it me? Is it science or history? Listen up, everyone. We make smarting lots of fun, but who's smart and smart? Who Smarted is sponsored by BetterHelp, trusty narrator here. With all the parenting advice and wellness trends out there. Cold plunges, gratitude journals, screen detoxes. It is overwhelming trying to figure out what actually works for you and your family. That's where talking to a real therapist makes all the difference. They help you cut through the noise and find strategies that'll genuinely help you and help your family thrive. Now, I've personally made some real breakthroughs in therapy, honestly, just becoming a better version of myself for me and everyone in my life. And a big part of that was BetterHelp. BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform with over 30,000 therapists and a 4.9 out of 5 App Store rating. Now, with BetterHelp, you can fit therapy into your busy parenting life with the click of a button. And you can switch therapists anytime if needed. As the largest online therapy provider in the world, BetterHelp can provide access to mental health professionals with a diverse variety of expertise. Talk it out with BetterHelp. Our listeners get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com WhoSmarted that's BetterHelp. H-E-L-P.com WhoSmarted okay, Broadway. Barry, when it comes to musicals, where do we begin?

[Broadway Barry]

Let's start with the basics. How would you define a musical?

[Trusty Narrator]

Great question. What do you think, smarty pants? How would you define a musical? Is it just like a play, only with music?

[Broadway Barry]

Yeah, there's a bit more to it than that. Unlike a play, which generally has little to no music or dancing, a musical combines acting, singing, and dancing. Oh, it's just too thrilling.

[Trusty Narrator]

Oh, I have to agree with you there, Barry. Musicals can be pretty exciting to watch.

[Broadway Barry]

But it's not just that they're plays with music plus dancing. Another important fact is that the singing, dancing, and acting must all communicate the emotion of the story while also driving the plot forward.

[Trusty Narrator]

I see. Can you give me an example?

[Broadway Barry]

Sure. Let's take the musical Les Miserables. It's only one of my favorites. It's about a group of people in France in the 1800s engaging in revolution. There's a big important song about how they're all fed up, and it goes like this. Do you hear the people sing singing the song of angry men? It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again.

[Trusty Narrator]

Wow. Bravo, Barry. Maybe you should be on Broadway. Instead of just waiting online. But also. I see what you mean. They're talking about their struggle in the story through the song.

[Broadway Barry]

Exactly. And telling the story through song and dance happens to be throughout the whole musical.

[Trusty Narrator]

So, Barry, when was the first ever musical created? Smartypants? Care to take a guess? Was it a in 1866, b in 1927, or c in 1943? Barry, what's the answer?

[Broadway Barry]

The answer is A. Kind of all three.

[Trusty Narrator]

Huh? How could there have been three first musicals? Maybe I shouldn't have trusted this random guy online in front of me.

[Broadway Barry]

Hang on, hang on. The reason why there's three potential answers is simple. It's because people didn't totally agree on what makes a musical a musical. Remember how I said that the singing, dancing, and acting have to be combined together and communicate the emotion of the story and. And drive the plot forward?

[Trusty Narrator]

Well, yeah, you just said it a minute ago.

[Broadway Barry]

Well, a long time ago, there were these things called musical plays, which were really popular, but the singing, dancing, and acting were all kind of separate. Like, sometimes a show would start with a big dance number, and then there'd be some scenes that were acted out.

[Trusty Narrator]

Hark, is there someone at the door?

[Broadway Barry]

And then maybe a couple of songs, but it didn't exactly fit together.

[Trusty Narrator]

I see. So what happened in 1866?

[Broadway Barry]

In 1866, a show came out in New York City called the Black Crook, which a lot of people consider to be the first musical because it wasn't just dancers dancing and the singers singing for the first time. The actors actually sang and danced, too.

[Trusty Narrator]

Aha. And the modern musical was born.

[Broadway Barry]

No, not really. Some folks don't think that show was anything like today's musicals because it was too silly. And today's modern musicals often deal with serious subjects. So in 1927, a musical called Showboat came out, which dealt with serious topics like racial injustice, justice, and featured a song called Old man river that has since become super famous.

[Trusty Narrator]

Aha. And then the modern musical was born.

[Broadway Barry]

Mmm. We're getting closer. It wasn't until the 1940s, the Golden Age of musicals, that one show came out which was considered a game changer. The first. First modern musical.

[Trusty Narrator]

Hey, smarty pants, if any of you are big musical fans out there, do you know what big, important show came out in 1943? Was it a, South Pacific B, Oklahoma, or C, the King and I? Here's a hint.

[Broadway Barry]

If you said, oh, Oklahoma, you're right.

[Trusty Narrator]

Aha. So what made Oklahoma. The first modern musical, Barry?

[Broadway Barry]

Well, it did a few things for the first time ever that many musicals still do today. For example, when the show first starts, instead of the curtain going up on a big opening dance number, as a lot of old shows used to do, it opens up on a simple real life scene. In this case, a lady churning butter on a farm.

[Trusty Narrator]

I see. But it's not the butter.

[Broadway Barry]

No, it was also the dancing. The choreography incorporated movements and gestures you'd see in everyday real life. Oklahoma Essentially perfected what makes a musical.

[Trusty Narrator]

A musical, because the singing, dancing, and acting all communicated the emotion of the story and drove the plot forward. And the modern musical was born.

[Broadway Barry]

It sure was. And the musical genre or category became a huge hit. Today, New York City's Broadway, near Times Square, or London's West End are the hubs of the biggest, brightest, and best musicals in the world.

[Trusty Narrator]

So, Barry, how does a musical make it to Broadway? Like Wickedly Smart or Smarty Cats? Someone somewhere had to write all the lines and all the songs. But who decided it's good enough to get to Broadway or the West End?

[Broadway Barry]

Great question. Pretty much every show that makes it to Broadway starts somewhere else. It can be in another city or even another country. It can start in a big theater, but usually it starts in a small theater. And basically, if it gets really good reviews in these other places and a lot of people are talking about it, it has a chance of making it to Broadway.

[Trusty Narrator]

Oh, so shows don't just start on Broadway?

[Broadway Barry]

Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. In fact, a lot of shows start as small workshop productions.

[Trusty Narrator]

Hey, smartypants, what's a workshop production? Is it A, a show about Santa's Workshop, B, a show with lots of elaborate sets, or C, when a brand new show is being developed and the song lines and choreography can still be rewritten or changed? If you said, see? Great job.

[Broadway Barry]

Lots of musicals start as workshop productions before coming to Broadway. And a lot of changes happen to make the musical attractive to investors. An investor is someone who puts their own money into a show, hoping the show does very well and makes even more money back.

[Trusty Narrator]

Right. Because even though musicals are art, they're also business. There's also a lot more to musicals than I realized.

[Broadway Barry]

For sure, musicals are big, exciting, complicated things, but they don't have to make it to Broadway to be really good. There's lots of great musicals off Broadway or even off off Broadway.

[Trusty Narrator]

Oh, smarty pants. Do you know what off or off off Broadway means? Well, we'll have the answer right after this quick break and a word from our sponsors. Hey, smarty pants, trusty here. What if your watch could call your parents, text your friends, play games, and still help you ace the school day? Say hi to Pinwheel, the smartwatch that's built just for kids. Whether you're walking to school, riding your bike, or hanging out with friends, Pinwheel lets you stay in touch with the people that you care about and blocks everyone else. No junk, no spam, just the good stuff. You can pick your favorite color band, play fun games, and even chat with a super cool kid. Safe AI if your grown ups turn it on. And when it's time to focus, your watch knows. Thanks to custom schedules that your parents set, right now you can get awesome deals on watches for back to school, plus free shipping and returns. Check it out at pinwheel.com smarted that's P-I N W H E-E-L.com smarted and gear up with the coolest watch made just for you. Whosmarted is brought to you by Squarespace. Now, you know I'm good about creating new adventures and episodes of WhoSmarted, but you don't know that I procrastinate on other stuff, like a website for one of our new projects. Oops. When the website builder Squarespace reached out about sponsoring who Smarted, I decided to test it out. And now I feel silly for putting off building that website. Squarespace's blueprint AI thing literally built me a custom website in minutes. I just told it a few details about the project and boom. It generated everything. And everything you need is right there. I can schedule guest interviews, so send email campaigns, even sell merch, all from one dashboard. Now it's your turn to stop procrastinating and start building. You can use Squarespace to launch that business site or any site that you've been dreaming about. But putting off today, there's no excuse anymore. Especially since you can head to squarespace.com smarted for a free trial. And when you're ready to launch, you can use Code smarted to save 10% on your first purchase of a website or domain. That's squarespace.com smarted code smarted smarty parents trusty here. And I have to tell you about IXL because our whole team is absolutely obsessed with it. My niece and nephew use it, my colleagues kids are on it daily. And honestly, every homeschool parent I know has become a total fan. IXL is an award winning online learning platform that covers math, language arts, science and social studies that adapts to each child's level. It fits perfectly into homeschool routines, even summertime ones, and it keeps kids motivated and confident. And IXL isn't just a sponsor. They've actually become part of our team's lives. And here's why. Instead of spending hours hunting down worksheets, IXL organizes everything by grade and topic. My 9 year old nephew works on multiplication, while my colleague's 12 year old tackles algebra. Same program, totally personalized. When kids get something wrong, IXL explains the mistake and walks them through the right approach in an easy and fun way. Plus, detailed reports show where they're crushing it. Over 15 million students use IXL. WhoSmarted listeners get 20% [e-mail] smarted with code whosmarted that's ixl.com smarted with code Whosmarted now back to who smarted okay, I think a lot of smarty pants are familiar with Broadway musicals. But what are off or Off Off Broadway shows?

[Broadway Barry]

Well, in case anyone doesn't know, Broadway is a famous street in New York City, and a lot of the theaters where you might see a musical in NYC are located on or around Broadway.

[Trusty Narrator]

Ah, so Off Broadway must be in a theater that isn't on Broadway. And off off is a theater that's even further away from Broadway.

[Broadway Barry]

Great guess, Trusty, but totally wrong.

[Trusty Narrator]

Wait, what? Really?

[Broadway Barry]

Yep. But don't worry, that's what most people think.

[Trusty Narrator]

Okay, smarty pants, let's try again. What defines Off Broadway or Off Off Broadway theaters? Is it a they're less fancy than Broadway theaters, b they have fewer seats for the audience than Broadway theaters, or C they're probably haunted?

[Broadway Barry]

If you said B, you're right. In New York City, a Broadway theater must have over 500 seats, an Off Broadway theater has between 100 and 499 seats, and an Off Off Broadway theater is even smaller with fewer than 99 seats.

[Trusty Narrator]

Huh. So it's just the size.

[Broadway Barry]

Size matters, and not how near or far away from Broadway, the streets the theater is. And as I was saying before, those small theaters can have some super great musicals, Trusty and some of those musicals might eventually move to a really big Broadway theater if they become extremely popular. But many times they stay in an Off Broadway theater and do really, really well.

[Trusty Narrator]

Wow, the world of musicals is super cool, Barry. But I want to know more about the parts of a musical. For example, if you open up a playbill, which is the little booklet you get telling you about the player musical, the first page usually has a person's name next to the words, book, music and lyrics. What's all that about? And who are those People.

[Broadway Barry]

Well, the book of a musical is actually.

[Trusty Narrator]

What? What do you think, smarty pants? What is the book?

[Broadway Barry]

If you said the script, you're right. And by script, I'm talking all the parts spoken by the actors, but not sung. The book also includes descriptions of what's happening in the scenes.

[Trusty Narrator]

Gotcha. And then the lyrics are. What, smarty pants? Did you say the words to the songs? If so, great job.

[Broadway Barry]

The lyrics are sometimes written by someone else, but in some cases, the book and lyrics are written by the same person.

[Trusty Narrator]

Whoa. That is one talented person.

[Broadway Barry]

Absolutely.

[Trusty Narrator]

And then what about the music?

[Broadway Barry]

The music credit in a playbill refers to the composition of the songs, as in the actual notes. In the case of the musical Hamilton, for example, the book, music, and lyrics were all written by one guy, Mr. Lin Manuel Miranda.

[Trusty Narrator]

Wow. Also, we are almost at the front of the line. I am so excited to see the hottest new show on Broadway.

[Broadway Barry]

New shows are fun, but it's also fun making memories with an old favorite.

[Trusty Narrator]

Right? Anyway, before I see the show, I do have another question.

[Broadway Barry]

Lay it on me.

[Trusty Narrator]

I've heard the terms understudy and swing in connection to musicals, but what do they mean, smarty pants? Do you know?

[Broadway Barry]

Well, an understudy covers for a lead actor in case they're sick or on vacation. They must know the lead actor's role inside and out and be able to step in at the last minute.

[Trusty Narrator]

No pressure.

[Broadway Barry]

And a swing is an understudy covering for the lead actor who also has a smaller role of their own. And if the understudy covers the lead, the swing steps in to understudy the understudy.

[Trusty Narrator]

Wow. And the people on stage really have to do it all. Sing, act and dance. And they've got to do all three really well.

[Broadway Barry]

Broadway musicals are so famous for folks who can do all three. There's even a term for it.

[Trusty Narrator]

What do you think it is, smarty pants? Are they a triple threat, the whole enchilada, or simply marvelous? If you said a triple threat, you're right.

[Broadway Barry]

Anyone you see on a Broadway musical is most definitely a triple threat.

[Trusty Narrator]

Wow. I sure learned a lot. But that's New York. You never know who you're gonna meet online. Especially the line for the hot new Broadway musical. Next one for wickedly smart at 2:30, please. Wickedly smart? This is the line for Smarty Cats, the longest running musical on Broadway. What? Barry, you were wrong.

[Broadway Barry]

Whoops. They both have smart in the title.

[Trusty Narrator]

That's okay. Smarty Cats is a legendary show. Plus, I know a lot more about musicals now. In fact, make it two tickets. One for me and one for my new friend.

[Broadway Barry]

You don't have to do that. I insist.

[Trusty Narrator]

And please don't give me a whole song and dance talking me out of it.

[Broadway Barry]

I mean, you don't have to buy me a ticket. I'm in the show. I'm the understudy. See you inside.

[Trusty Narrator]

Maybe I need to be a little less trusting. A big shout out to Ms. Wong's class in Toronto, Canada. Ms. Wong reached out to let us know that her class just loves listening to whosmarted. According to Ms. Wong, her students are super curious, great learners and have been working very hard. That's terrific. It sounds like you have a great group of students, Ms. Wong. And you know what? It sounds like your students also have a great teacher. This episode musicals was written by Broadway Phil Jeremy and voiced by Taya Great White Way Garland Kim, Diva Davis and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design by Josh. Hold your applause, Han. Our associate producer is Max Music Man Kamasky. The theme song is by Brian Standing Room Only Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam tkts Davis who Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production Too Smart and.