Final answer:
The musical that marks the end of the Golden Age of musical theatre in 1964 is The Sound of Music. The correct option is b.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 1964 musical that marks the end of the Golden Age of musical theatre is The Sound of Music. This period was marked by groundbreaking works that combined engaging storylines with memorable music, shifting the landscape of musical theatre.
The Golden Age saw classics like Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, and the innovations of Rodgers and Hammerstein with Oklahoma!. The Sound of Music, with its traditional story yet captivating music, represented the pinnacle and concluding chapter of this era.
Director Hal Prince and choreographer Bob Fosse were instrumental in transitioning musical theatre towards more socially relevant productions like Cabaret and Hair, signaling the start of a new period for Broadway shows. The correct option is b.