1950's: In the 1950s, Broadway musicals were a major part of American popular culture. Musicals of this era followed the "Rodgers & Hammerstein formula"; examples include The Sound of Music and Oklahoma!.

1960's and 1970's: The late 1960's marked a time of cultural upheaval. There was a shift in how musicals were composed and produced. Famous examples include Bye Bye Birdie and Jesus Christ Superstar. This time period also saw a decline in the amount of people viewing Broadway musicals because of the rise of television.

1980's: The 80's introduced the "Save the Theatre" campaign which aimed to protect Broadway. Famous musicals from this 80's include Cats and The Phantom of the Opera.

1990's: There was a huge revival of Broadway in the 1990's. Some of the most famous musicals in the world came from this era, including Rent, The Lion King, Chicago, Grease and Into The Woods.