Greg Jenner

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.

We need to sell these tickets. No, Toto the dog was replaced by Imogen the cow. Oh, there we go. There we go. Let's talk about the development of increased visibility of these black performers, you said. Minstrelsy, obviously racist and an unfortunate problematic history, but it created perhaps a culture whereby black performers could get work.

We need to sell these tickets. No, Toto the dog was replaced by Imogen the cow. Oh, there we go. There we go. Let's talk about the development of increased visibility of these black performers, you said. Minstrelsy, obviously racist and an unfortunate problematic history, but it created perhaps a culture whereby black performers could get work.

Because this is 1903.

Because this is 1903.

They blocked traffic. We've got to fly through the 20th century.

They blocked traffic. We've got to fly through the 20th century.

In the 1920s, there was a new entertainment phenomenon that showed up. Desiree, what happened in Hollywood in 1927 that had a major impact on Broadway?

In the 1920s, there was a new entertainment phenomenon that showed up. Desiree, what happened in Hollywood in 1927 that had a major impact on Broadway?

Yeah, yeah. You've got the coming of the talkies. And it's the jazz singer, which is the first talkie, which actually really brings us back to Broadway, doesn't it? It's a musical. And this hurt the popularity of theatre simply because, I guess, cinema was offering a brand new experience, right? You could go for a much cheaper ticket to go and listen to songs, listen to dialogue.

Yeah, yeah. You've got the coming of the talkies. And it's the jazz singer, which is the first talkie, which actually really brings us back to Broadway, doesn't it? It's a musical. And this hurt the popularity of theatre simply because, I guess, cinema was offering a brand new experience, right? You could go for a much cheaper ticket to go and listen to songs, listen to dialogue.

You don't need to go to the theatre anymore.

You don't need to go to the theatre anymore.

So the 1940s is where the American economy is sort of supercharged by World War II. And by the 50s, obviously, it becomes the kind of dominant superpower. And that's also where we get the golden age, inverted commas, of the Broadway musicals. Desiree, do you know who the famous writing duo were who kind of dominated that decade?

So the 1940s is where the American economy is sort of supercharged by World War II. And by the 50s, obviously, it becomes the kind of dominant superpower. And that's also where we get the golden age, inverted commas, of the Broadway musicals. Desiree, do you know who the famous writing duo were who kind of dominated that decade?

It is, yeah, very good, yeah.

It is, yeah, very good, yeah.

And Oklahoma, I mean, 43, middle of the war, America, you know, it's sort of feel good.

And Oklahoma, I mean, 43, middle of the war, America, you know, it's sort of feel good.

Yeah. Oh, what a beautiful morning. Yeah. This is where we're getting the characters singing their feelings.