Which uniquely American genre combines spoken dialogue and musical numbers with often spectacular staging?

The genre that combines spoken dialogue and musical numbers with often spectacular staging is the musical. Musicals are a defining aspect of American theater, showcasing a blend of singing, dancing, and acting that creates a vibrant narrative experience.

This genre is notable for its focus on character development through songs that advance the storyline or reveal emotions, making it distinct from other forms of musical expression. The staging in musicals often involves elaborate sets, choreography, and costumes that contribute to the overall spectacle, engaging the audience in a way that is both thrilling and emotionally resonant.

Opera, while also a musical form, primarily emphasizes sung dialogue and doesn't typically include the same level of spoken interaction or the broad cultural styling seen in musicals. Ballet is another performance art but is exclusively dance-based and usually does not incorporate spoken words. Jazz, on the other hand, is a music genre that focuses on instrumental performance and improvisation rather than narrative storytelling through a combination of dialogue and music.

The musical stands out as a uniquely American genre, reflecting cultural themes and blending various influences from different styles of music, making it integral to the American arts landscape.