Some Like It Hot

by Tami Fertig

exhibit

In American pop culture, musical theater once ranked up there with baseball and apple pie. And even though the romance and optimism typical of early musicals seem kinda naive to most modern cynics, there are still countless golden moments — Fred twirling Ginger in a gazebo during a rainstorm, for instance — that should never be forgotten. Here's what to do. Take the sometimes-cheesy plots with a grain of salt and simply enjoy the music, the dancing and the elegant gowns — starting with the "Red, Hot & Blue: A Salute to American Musicals" exhibition opening this week at Michener Art Museum in Doylestown. One of a series of traveling Smithsonian shows, it covers the development of musical theater from the 1890s to the present. Interactive kiosks designed to recapture the excitement of walking into an old-time theater will highlight the five major epochs in American musical history, ranging from vaudeville to Broadway to Hollywood. Inside, there'll be film clips and short biographies of the notables (a handful of them — including Hammerstein, Kaufman and Hart — having lived and worked in Bucks County), as well as vintage posters and photographs from The Wizard of Oz to Singin' in the Rain. Co-curator Amy Henderson points out that the abundance of multimedia will appeal to "people who aren't normal museum types." Rare footage from the Library of Congress and the Museum of Television & Radio's archives ensures that, even if you consider yourself a seasoned musical buff, you ain't seen everythin' yet.

"Red, Hot & Blue: A Salute to American Musicals," opens Sat., July 24, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., exhibition through Oct. 17, $4-$6.50, James A. Michener Art Museum, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown, 215-340-9800, www.michenerartmuseum.org.