Greg Jenner

This is under the test. Are you a fan of musical theatre? Do you go to Broadway when you're maybe back home and to the West End?

Are we about to hear something?

Are we about to hear something?

This is where I have a go at guessing what you, our lovely listener, might know about today's subject. And we've all watched a musical, haven't we? Whether it's a classic like West Side Story or My Fair Lady, a Lloyd Webber wonderpiece like Phantom of the Opera, a modern smash like Wicked or Hamilton. Most of us have seen a stage musical at some point. Plus there are the film adaptations as well.

This is where I have a go at guessing what you, our lovely listener, might know about today's subject. And we've all watched a musical, haven't we? Whether it's a classic like West Side Story or My Fair Lady, a Lloyd Webber wonderpiece like Phantom of the Opera, a modern smash like Wicked or Hamilton. Most of us have seen a stage musical at some point. Plus there are the film adaptations as well.

Catherine C. Jones in Chicago. You might have swooned over Hugh Jackman in Les Mis. What about the history of the mega popular art form that we call Broadway? How have Broadway shows changed over the years and just who was Imogen the Cow? Let's find out. But I'm going to start with the basic question. What is a Broadway musical?

Catherine C. Jones in Chicago. You might have swooned over Hugh Jackman in Les Mis. What about the history of the mega popular art form that we call Broadway? How have Broadway shows changed over the years and just who was Imogen the Cow? Let's find out. But I'm going to start with the basic question. What is a Broadway musical?

Is the West End just Broadway but in London, or is that a different thing?

Is the West End just Broadway but in London, or is that a different thing?

Oh! LAUGHTER Push down moment. Okay. This American theatrical tradition, there are words I want to chuck at you. Vaudeville, burlesque, theatre, musical, minstrel shows. Are those all the same thing?

Oh! LAUGHTER Push down moment. Okay. This American theatrical tradition, there are words I want to chuck at you. Vaudeville, burlesque, theatre, musical, minstrel shows. Are those all the same thing?

Quite literally tap in and out.

Quite literally tap in and out.

Let's get to 1902 when Broadway gets going, I think, Desiree, and one of the first productions was The Wizard of Oz. Quite an unusual musical. Do you know why?

Let's get to 1902 when Broadway gets going, I think, Desiree, and one of the first productions was The Wizard of Oz. Quite an unusual musical. Do you know why?

No songs. OK, yeah. No music. I mean, or some music, but not a score.

No songs. OK, yeah. No music. I mean, or some music, but not a score.

We won't do that bit.

We won't do that bit.

The production also changed a couple of other things about The Wizard of Oz, Desiree. They changed a major character from the book and the later film. Do you want to guess which character did not appear in 1902's... Dorothy? That would be amazing. LAUGHTER It's just some bloke called Rob.