What popular theatrical form gave rise to the modern-day variety show?

The modern-day variety show traces its roots primarily to vaudeville, which was a theatrical variety show popular from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. Vaudeville is characterized by a diverse array of performances, featuring acts such as comedians, musicians, dancers, and other entertainers, all presented in a series of short segments. This format allowed for a wide variety of entertainment and introduced many theatrical elements and performance styles that are still evident in today's variety shows.

Vaudeville's influence can be recognized in the structure of contemporary variety shows, where multiple acts are often presented in succession, allowing for a mix of styles and genres in a single performance. The emphasis on entertainment diversity and the inclusion of various forms of comedy and music in vaudeville laid the groundwork for the variety shows that resonate with audiences today.

Other theatrical forms like minstrel shows, burlesque, and cabaret contributed uniquely to the entertainment landscape but do not encapsulate the variety and structure of acts in the same way that vaudeville does. Hence, vaudeville stands out as the formative genre that directly shaped the concept of the modern variety show.