Development of the concept musical (1966–1990)

1. Cabaret opens and reframes musical structure

   Nov 20, 1966Labels: Cabaret, Broadway

   • Cabaret
   • Concept musical

2. Hair brings rock and episodic storytelling to Broadway

   Apr 29, 1968Labels: Hair, Rock musical

   • History
   • Hair

3. Zorba opens; “concept” enters musical-theatre criticism

   Nov 16, 1968Labels: Zorba, Harold Prince

   • Zorba
   • Concept musical

4. Company opens and popularizes the modern concept musical

   Apr 26, 1970Labels: Company, Stephen Sondheim

   • Company
   • Concept musical

5. Follies opens with theme-first “tapestry” construction

   Apr 4, 1971Labels: Follies, Stephen Sondheim

   • Follies
   • Concept musical

6. A Chorus Line opens, built from real interviews

   Jul 25, 1975Labels: A Chorus, Michael Bennett

   • A Chorus Line
   • EBSCO

7. Pacific Overtures opens with an episodic historical pageant

   Jan 11, 1976Labels: Pacific Overtures, John Weidman

   • Pacific Overtures
   • Concept musical

8. Sweeney Todd opens, pushing concept work toward “musical thriller”

   Mar 1, 1979Labels: Sweeney Todd, Stephen Sondheim

   • Sweeney Todd
   • Concept musical

9. Cats premieres in London, signaling a shift toward spectacle-led musicals

   May 11, 1981Labels: Cats, Andrew Lloyd

   • Cats
   • Concept musical

10. Merrily We Roll Along opens and quickly closes

    Nov 16, 1981Labels: Merrily We, Stephen Sondheim

    • Merrily
    • New Yorker

11. Sunday in the Park with George opens, linking concept musical to fine art

    May 2, 1984Labels: Sunday in, Georges Seurat

    • Sunday
    • Concept musical

12. Into the Woods opens, blending fairytales into a unified moral argument

    Nov 5, 1987Labels: Into the, Stephen Sondheim

    • Into the Woods
    • Concept musical

13. A Chorus Line closes, marking the end of a major concept-era benchmark

    Apr 28, 1990Labels: A Chorus, Broadway

    • A Chorus Line
    • UPI