There would be no OKLAHOMA! without SHOW BOAT. Hard stop. So why does the former get the glory of marking the beginning of modern musical theatre? Today, historian and author Thomas S. Hischak joins us to discuss the singular splash of the 1927 epic musical SHOW BOAT, and how its creators set out to make a truly American musical. Whether or not you know all the lyrics to "Ol' Man River" by heart, you'll want to after listening to this episode.

To learn more about Tom, including his award-winning books and plays, visit https://www.thomashischak.com/

Remember for this month only, you get a free year of PATREON! if you write us a nice review and send a photo of it to amusicalpodcast@gmail.com! Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. We also have our TeePublic Store with lots of fun designs, the profits of which we donate to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Most of all, thank you so much for being part of this podcasting community!