Final answer:
The first musical presentation to which the public could buy tickets was 'In Dahomey' in 1903, a significant theatrical event as it was the first full-length, all-black musical on a major Broadway stage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The First Musical Presentation with Ticket Sales
When considering the history of musical theatre and the first presentations where the public could buy tickets, we must take a trip back to the performance of In Dahomey in 1903.
This production was a landmark in theatre history, as it was the first full-length, all-black musical that took center stage on a major Broadway venue.
Bert Williams and George Walker brought this comedy to life, which ran for 1,100 performances and even went on to be presented in England. In an historic visit, a truncated version was performed for the King at Buckingham Palace on June 27, 1903.
Revolutions in accessible pricing came much later, for example, with shows like RENT in the 1990s offering $20 tickets for select seats.
But the tradition of public ticket sales for musical shows began significantly earlier with barrier-breaking productions like In Dahomey.