Olio (musical number)

An olio, in the context of musical theatre and vaudeville, refers to a segment of a performance, typically following a main act, that features a medley of unrelated short acts, songs, jokes, and dances. It often served as a "filler" or a transition while stagehands prepared for the next major act. The olio was a common feature in minstrel shows and early 20th-century vaudeville productions. It allowed for a wide variety of performers to showcase their talents and provided a fast-paced, entertaining diversion for the audience. The acts within an olio were usually unrelated thematically.