The article examines the manifestations of William Shakespeare’s output in the American musical, both theatrical and cinematic. The author shows that almost since its very beginning, these stage forms have drawn inspiration from the famous Bard’s dramas and comedies. Using the examples of musicals inspired by his works, such as The Boys from Syracuse (1938), Swingin’ the Dream (1939), Kiss Me Kate (1953) and West Side Story (1957), the article analyzes the reasons why the subject matter undertaken by Shakespeare proves to be universal and remains relevant, thus constituting an inexhaustible source of inspiration for American authors of musicals. The author describes the manners of drawing from Shakespeare’s works, as well as forms of development and adjustment of his plays to the convention of musical.
