"Stormy Weather" released 1943

Stormy Weather, the comedy musical featuring Lena Horne, Cab Calloway, the Nicholas Brothers, Fats Waller, and Bill Robinson, was released into theaters July 21, 1943.  Lean Horne's iconic performance of the title song is performed about an hour into the film.  Fats Waller performs Ain't Misbehavin'. Cab Calloway and his orchestra performed Jumpin' Jive while the Nicholas Brothers danced. 

Stormy Weather was selected by the Library of Congress for the National Film Registry in 2001.

Lena Horne sings Stormy Weather 

"Hairspray" released 2007

 

Adam Shankman's adaptation (or remake) of the Broadway musical Hairspray was released to wide release in US July 20, 2007. The Broadway musical was adapted from John Water's original cult classic Hairspray, released in 1988.

The 2007 release starred John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah, James Marsden, and Allison Janney. It opened to positive reviews and set a record for the biggest box office opening for a musical until Mama Mia! in 2008.

Shankman's version won numerous awards and was nominated for three Golden Globes and a Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album.

Hairspray trailer

"Oklahoma!" wins two Academy Awards 1956

The movie adaption of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical Oklahoma! won two Academy Awards at the 28th annual ceremony on March 21, 1956.  It won the awards for Best Sound Recording for Fred Hynes, and Best Scoring of a Musical Picture for Robert Russell Bennett, Jay Blackton, and Adolph Deutsch.

This was the first of five Academy Awards for Hynes, who would win awards for South Pacific and The Sound of Music. It was the only Oscar for Bennett and Blackton, but the first of three for Deutsch.

It was also nominated for Best Cinematography, Color and Best Film Editing, did not win either.  It was one of five movies to win two or more Oscars that evening!

"Oklahoma!" released nation-wide 1956

The movie adaptation of  Rodgers and Hammerstein's wildly successful Broadway musical Oklahoma! opened in theaters across the US, November 16, 1956, the forty-ninth birthday of the state.  It had premiered in Los Angeles and Chicago the previous year. 

It starred Gordon MacRae as Curly and Shirley Jones as Laurey.  Eddie Albert, James Whitmore, and Rod Steiger also appeared.

Oklahoma! was nominated for four Academy Awards and won two: Best Sound Recording and Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture.  The two other nominations were for Best Cinematography, Color and Best Film Editing. 

On the centennial birthday of Oklahoma, November 16, 2007, the movie was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. 

"The Rocky Horror Picture Show" released 1975

The king of cult movies, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, was released into US theaters September 26, 1975, after opening in the UK the month prior.  Written by Jim Sharman and Richard O'Brien, who played Riff-Raff, the movie is based on the 1973 musical stage production about an engaged couple whose car breaks down near a spooky castle.  They go there to call for help and strange antics ensue.

The movie starred Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, and Meat Loaf. It was a failure when it was initially released, but over the years has grown into one of the largest movie franchises.  It is still shown around the country at midnight showings, making it the longest theatrical release in history.

In 2005, it was selected for preservation in the US National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

Celebrating Black History Month: "In Dahomey" first African-American musical opens on Broadway 1903

In Dahomey, the first full-length musical to be written, played, and performed by African-Americans, opened on Broadway February 18, 1903.  It featured music by Will Marion Cook, book by Jesse A. Shipp, and lyrics by Paul Laurence Dunbar.  

It starred George Walker and Bert Williams who were popular vaudeville entertainers at the time.  It ran for 53 performances, then toured twice in the US and once in the UK. In Dahomey became one of the most successful musical comedies of that time.

"The Music Man" debuts on Broadway 1957

Meredith Willson's musical The Music Man made its debut on Broadway December 19, 1957 at the Majestic Theater.  It is the story of a con-man who bamboozles the residents of a backwater Iowa town into investing in instruments and uniforms for a boys band. 

The Music Man won five Tonys in 1958: Best Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Male in a Musical for Robert Preston, Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for Barbara Cook, Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical for David Burns, Best Conductor and Musical Director for Herbert Greene.

Iggie Wolfington was also nominated for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical. The Music Man was also nominated for Best Choreography, Best Direction of a Musical, and Best Stage Technician.

"Fiddler On The Roof" debuts on Broadway 1964

Fiddler on the Roof, a musical by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, made its Broadway debut September 22, 1964. It is based on Tevye and his Daughters and other tales by Sholem Aleichem.  

It was the first musical to surpass 3,000 performances and held the record for the longest-running Broadway musical for 10 years until Grease surpassed it. It was nominated for 10 Tony Awards and won 9.

Zero Mostel played Tevye and Bea Arthur appeared as the matchmaker Yente.

"The Sound of Music" released 1965

One of the most successful movies of all time, The Sound of Music, was released April 1, 1965.  It starred Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, in the story of the Von Trapp family in the days before WWII.

It won 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture, and two Golden Globes, for Best Picture and Best Actress for Julie Andrews.