Music can help to make challenging subject matter a … “It is able to turn the dark subject matter of suicide and bullying into a well crafted, entertaining and heartfelt show.”, “it explores the rise of AIDS in America in song – and it uses comedic as well as caustic moments to show the tragedy”, “The music is fairly upbeat even while death is on the table.”, “it depicted a difficult relationship between a father and daughter, the lies that the father was living by staying in the closet, and faced with making that same decision, how the daughter rejected living a lie, and yet she later wonders if her choice (and her judgment of his choice) may have influenced her father’s suicide. There is a surprisingly wide variety of songs which span many musical genres and address various social issues. The teacher will share how Broadway musicals have used the art of musical theater to address the issues of race and immigration over the past nine decades. From Bob Dylan’s “Blowin in the Wind” to Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power,” musicians have a long history of incorporating protest and social issues into their songs. The very nature of politics is, like music, rooted in conflict and harmony. Excerpts and links to the content may be used, Next to Normal: Aaron Tveit, Alice Ripley, J. Robert Spencer, Noah Hinsdale, Griffin Birney, and Sydney Lucas. Many Rogers and Hammerstein musicals raised questions about racial tension. Her Broadway career in photos and videos. Sturgill Simpson's "Call To Arms" is one of the strongest anti-war songs of the past decade. Below are some answers to this question, which I asked in a recent contest for tickets to a show, now ended, that I felt fit the bill — “Indecent.” The shows are listed alphabetically, with excerpts from the explanations. Broadway’s Most Entertaining Shows About Serious Social Issues A Black Son Confronts His Absent Father. Watch “Empty Stage.” Does it make you weep, swoon, or groan? For decades, musical theatre has been used to highlight important social issues. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Sturgill Simpson, "Call To Arms". Additionally, you are not limited to any specific era. 6 years ago. This musical was the most popular choice. And today, "Dear Evan Hansen," a musical written by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and Steven Levenson, is sparking conversations about mental illness. Hip-hop artists rapped about ending police brutality and advocated for better treatment for refugees. The six elements that define it at its best, Les Blancs Review. Jose Zambrano, brought back to life by his girlfriend. 6 years ago. Shows That Leave Me Speechless (Or, Why I Should Retire): Clippy and Ms. U. Week in NY Theater, Harold Prince’s Memoir: “Sense of Occasion” →, Watch Love Life, the lost musical by Alan Jay Lerner and Kurt Weill, Bad Dates Review. Baryshnikov in a Computer Chekhov. It deals with the rise of the Nazis, homophobia, politics…”, “I left the theater reflecting on societal injustices that are perpetuated through oblivious complicity.”. In this show, which Richard Rodgers wrote was the first musical “to deal with the facts of life,” the eponymous nightclub singer becomes the … Delejos (from afar) Review. What do you find interesting about theater which talks about social and political issues as entertainment? For a long time, when a Broadway musical expressed discomfort with racism, it was because whites felt the need to deal with it. In addition to the inherent value of any particular song, its worth as a learning tool will be amplified when used in conjunction with other classroom assignments, discussions, etc. This thesis explores the link between the musicals of the times and concurrent problems such as the world wars, economic depression and racism. A couple of people picked “Sweat” but described how spot-on it was and how much it meant to them, rather than how it entertained them. #Stageworthy News of the Week, February 2021 Theater Openings Final Week: De Shields as Frederick Douglass. Anonymous. Everything I Know I Learned from Musicals, Chris Caggiano (inactive), The Producer's Perspective, Ken Davenport. The musicals of years ago and today reflect different social and political forces, patriotism, skepticism, commercial consumption, escapism, revolt and globalization and have been put on stage for everyone to see. 3 2. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! https://www.toptenz.net/top-10-most-controversial-broadway-shows.php The song “You’ve Got to Be Taught” still resonates powerfully today.”. The entertainment was in the music, the humor, the beauty of the story, the acting and the way it was told.”, “Flashy costumes, 60s style music, and big dance numbers, but it has serious moments regarding racial discrimination and body image issues.”, “I know it sounds silly but I thought “Newsies” covered some serious issues including: child labor, worker exploitation, and anti-labor practices. Considering the great diversity in America, there are issues with … Musical theater can take unique approaches to dealing with major social issues. And then there is the question of what constitutes a serious issue. When the idea for the musical first came about it was designed to have key players interact with the audience to speak about the plot and civil rights issues. The heart of music is the interplay of the physical and the mental, as the compromise between them forms a … It fixated mostly on racial issues and highlighted the trend of slave owners having sexual relations with their slaves, even men in high seats like the White House. Kidnapped boy Phillip Perry (T.J. Lowther) strikes up a friendship with his captor Butch Haynes (Kevin Costner): an escaped convict on the run from the law, while the search is headed up by honorable Texas Ranger "Red" Garrett (Clint Eastwood). Relevance. I guess I use that term as a synonym for significant social issue — something facing society at large — rather than personal issues such as ambition (“A Chorus Line”) or personal growth (“Avenue Q,” “Groundhog Day,” “Wicked”) or love …which are, Heaven knows, very serious to individuals. Social media is undeniably a great tool to be used before or after a show. Rest assured, theatre fans, this isn’t just a Broadway problem, but a global one. There are many songs from West Side Story, Rent, and Hairspray. Music theatre is rarely conceived as a politically and socially engaged art form in comparison to straight theatre, but a lot of famous musicals deliver important political and social messages and have plots based around social and cultural issues (Avenue Q deals with racism and more, Book of Mormon deals with religious stereotypes, … Godspell on a rebirth of faith. Answer Save. Le Miserables Hairspray What is le Miserables about ? I only include the choices in which a persuasive case was made for both elements — that the play or musical dealt with a serious social issue and was also entertaining. Hair on the Hippie Movement. +1. New productions of Arthur Miller’s The Price and August Wilson’s Jitney reinforced how those playwrights, working in very different but both distinctly American milieus, tackled with dignity and compassion social and moral conflicts that endure to this day. RIP Jerry Lewis. Many of these plays, without being preachy or trite, open up discussions about ethics, remaining true to yourself, friendship, love, and loss. What is your favorite show on Broadway that explores serious issues in an entertaining way? Village Song 3: Nostalgia for Ellen Stewart, Kenny’s Castaways and Bob Dylan, Contempt for Zero Irving. Lv 7. 6 years ago "You've Got To Be Taught" from South Pacific. Theatre about social issues should be available to poorer people By running a 'pay what you can' scheme my play about foster care can be seen by those affected, says Brian Daniels © Jonathan Mandell and NewYorkTheater.me, Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author is strictly prohibited. Sure, Broadway is traditionally known for its glitz and glamour, but New York audiences have never shied away from socially relevant theatre, either. Lady In The Dark is about Liza Elliot, a dissatisfied editor of a successful fashion magazine, … Broadway shows take on social and political issues, without being too controversial. 2 Showboat. “It dealt with serious issues such as suicide and abortion, and while it was certainly dark for much of the show, a lot of it was extremely entertaining, with rocking songs liked “Totally F—ed” to comedic moments such as “My Junk”. Each of these shows focus on social movements. 7. Although BoJack Horseman doesn't make it its business to tackle social issues on a per-episode basis, its handling of this one proves … Where To Get Your Theater Fix Online, Old Favorites and New Experiments, Off Broadway Spring 2020 Preview Guide: 20 Shows to See Through April, Broadway’s Longest-Running Shows and Biggest Hits, Broadway’s Most Entertaining Shows About Serious Social Issues, ← Broadway Season Preview Updated: Denzel, Etc. +2. Mark. And just like in 1963 and 1989, 2015 was no different. And yes, it was entertaining as hell.”, This musical about a troubled family was the second most popular choice.” It tackles topics like depression, drug abuse and bipolar disorder….but I was kind of shocked at how funny the show was.”, “The show weaves together stories of racism, immigration, women’s rights, capitalism and class division with gorgeous songs that make you tap your foot, then make you laugh, then make you cry.”, “It did a wonderful job at addressing issues such as AIDS…with a catchy rock score, “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s glorious musical entertains with comedy (“There is Nothing Like a Dame,” “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair”) while addressing racism, both overt and subtle, during World War II. Rent on the struggles of artists in New York. 2 0. Musicals Tackle Social and Political Issues. Lizzy. House Rules. Top 10 musicals that deal with social/political issues. The Past is The Past Review. Andréa Burns in Theresa Rebeck’s Crafty Comedy, Broadway's Most Entertaining Shows About Serious Social Issues, Blackface on Stage: The Complicated History of Minstrel Shows. The two love stories(Emile/Nellie and Lt. Cable/Liat) have both light and dark elements as they celebrate their love and confront their prejudices. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Social Commentary and Musical Theater. 0 0. Click UP or DOWN to vote on entries! Hairspray started as a movie written by John waters in 1988 Hairspray later became a musicla in 2002 Story line:“Based in the 1960’s Baltimore Tracy Turnblad is a Trump’s Artists RESIST. With director Harold Prince at the helm, "Cabaret" is the boldest of the shows that came out of these efforts, experimenting successfully with multi-layer storytelling and sharp social commentary. America from West Side Story. 5 Answers. L is for Lea Salonga. Social Issues in America. 2016 has been a mental and emotional rollercoaster for numerous groups of people. In the 1960s, musical-theater practitioners began to look for ways to break with that tradition and move on to something new. 4 3. What is immersive theater? From The Beggar’s Opera to Avenue Q., musicals have commented on social issues for as long as there has been musical theater in America.. People have always gone to the theater expecting to be entertained. Top 10 Teen Movies That Deal With Serious Issues, Top 10 Modern Musicals You NEED to Check Out, Top 5 Things You Didn't Know About Tom Holland, Top 10 Movie Musicals That Became Broadway Musicals, Everything We Know About the Dear Evan Hansen Movie So Far, Top 10 Movie & TV Musicals We Wish Existed, Top 10 Maddening Things About The Social Dilemma, on 01-03-2019 Before Fiddler. For the purposes of this list, I made a distinction between “entertaining” and “enlightening,” “important” or “engaging,” but maybe I shouldn’t have. Show Boat brought serious racial issues, and a fully integrated cast, to Broadway in 1927, followed by shows like Bloomer Girl, Finian's Rainbow and Lost in the Stars. Social issues reflected in musicals What is Hairspray about? In this paper I analyse the development of musical theatre through the social issues which pervaded society before and which continue to influence our society today. Anyone who wants to watch social and political issues being tackled in a lighthearted way, should watch a musical. Celebrating Iconic African American Performers. With the timing right, J. Cole took it in his own hands to give his two cents in … “Tony Kushner shows the devastating blows of the 80s HIV crisis while also exploring faith, gods, love, politics and life in a fantastical way.”, “Broadway’s first play to deal with AIDS presented its serious subject in a way that acknowledged the serious devastation but was also able to find moments of humor.”, The show is hilarious and the writing is great, but the underlying themes of an outsider (particularly those of the white persuasion) trying to ‘save’ other cultures by imposing their will is a very serious topic, as well as a lack of understanding for ‘others’,…”, “The MC leads you on the journey with whimsy and fun, and then you have this realization that the moments you are laughing at really aren’t so funny. However, surfing social media and the internet during a performance has recently become far too regular. Political and Social Implications in Musicals. 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Lorraine Hansberry’s final play, about reckoning and resistance in Africa, NY Pops Up, but Online Theater Connects. "Cabaret" discussed the Holocaust. A New Labyrinth Play Every Day. Social Awareness Plays Pioneer Drama Service is proud to offer a wide selection of thought-provoking plays about social values, life choices, and their consequences. Aim of the Research The aim of this research is to analyse how social issues have influenced Broadway musicals over the time. The teacher will also share the common practice of blackface in minstrels prior to the modern day musical. Which songs from musicals deal with social issues? 1. 1 Billy Elliot. Women’s issues, such as equality of rights, privileges, and pay-packages similar to those of men, are some of the gender-specific social issues which are faced by American women. The majority of musicals will engage you in the story, without being too biased or insensitive. Musical performance - Musical performance - The 20th century and beyond: The major performing institutions of the 19th century have continued into the 21st century with only minimum structural change, except for a rather belated movement toward unionization of personnel; this development has of course improved the performers’ lot greatly, while …
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