Special Interest Day report by Nigel (Gin) Balchin: Musicals & Their Hit Songs with John Snelson, November 2025

This was another memorable Study Day from The Arts Society Henley (TASH) brought vividly to life by the storytelling, detailed knowledge, and musicianship of our superb lecturer, John Snelson, who was in great form. John structured his fascinating and entertaining day into three distinct sessions.

SESSION 1: "I Know it so Well" - The first session walked us through 130 years of the musical genre, charting its evolution from the rise of musical comedy—typically a romantic farce with popular songs—to the dominating shows on the London and Broadway scenes today.

John began with George Edwardes' "The Shop Girl" (1890s) as his first 'recognisable' musical comedy. It featured the memorable song "Our Miss Gibbs," sung by Gerty Miller, which typified the "take-home number"—the song from a show that became a "popular standard."  He continued through the years, introducing Jerome Kern and the Princess Theatre Shows, which featured lyricist P.G. Wodehouse. Hits like "Tea for Two" from No, No, Nanette and "Spread a Little Happiness" became widely known. This was followed by operetta-style shows from composers like Sigmund Romberg and Rudolf Friml, leading to the all-time classic "Ol' Man River" from Show Boat, sung by Paul Robeson.

The 1930s brought shows like Girl Crazy, which featured Ethel Merman and introduced the Gershwin classic "Embraceable You." The latter became famously associated with film stars Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney.  Oklahoma! introduced the innovation of the original cast album as a record, allowing audiences to listen to shows at home for the first time. This era produced an avalanche of popular and enduring classic tunes, such as "Get Me to the Church on Time" from My Fair Lady.  This success was further elevated by film adaptations, including The Sound of Music, Guys and Dolls, My Fair Lady, and West Side Story.

John then covered the impact of pop and rock on musicals, marked by an explosion of youth energy, exemplified by: Expresso Bongo (starring Paul Scofield and Millicent Martin), Joel Grey's Cabaret, and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar.  The advent of MTV promoted stage music into the commercial music video market. This led to a reworking of the original show style to fit the modern, popular culture, inverting the flow where pop songs now often form the backbone of musical shows.

SESSION 2: "The Song's the Thing" - John's second session explored the key elements that shape the enduring success and inescapable nature of classic musical songs. He highlighted four critical components:  

[1] Hooks: These comprise the song structure, repetition, and a dynamic rhythm. 

[2] Lyrics: This involves the placing of the words and the strategic use of commonly-used language.  

[3] Message: This involves characterisation and the inspiration audiences leave with, sometimes featuring a moral undertone, like "You Will Be Found" from the musical Dear Evan Hansen by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.  

[4] Movement: This component involves simple, repeatable dances that energise and engage audiences.  For example, "The Time Warp" from The Rocky Horror Show by Richard O'Brien.

SESSION 3: "The World Beyond the Musical" - John's third session considered how songs transcend the context of the stage. He highlighted five typical transitions that enable musical theatre songs to achieve life outside the show:

[1] As Cabaret Ballads for Soloists, like "As Long as He Needs Me" from Oliver! by Lionel Bart, and immortalised by Shirley Bassey at the Royal Variety Performance.

[2] As Jazz Standards: This often involves altering the harmony or altering the tune.  An example of the former being "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music, immortalised by John Coltrane, and an example of the latter being "The Lambeth Walk" from Me and My Girl, immortalised by Lupino Lane and used in satirical clips against the Nazis.

[3] As Containers for 'Money Notes': Specifically, high notes used to convey high emotion.  John's example here was "Memory" from Cats, immortalised by Elaine Paige.

[4] As Aspirational Goals: Songs used to inspire, like "The Impossible Dream" from Man of La Mancha, covered by Jack Jones and Matt Monro, and famously used in a Honda TV/Cinema advert.

[5] As Moments in Concert Halls, like "I Got Rhythm" from Girl Crazy by George Gershwin.