She proves that women can both be well-dressed and feminine as well as strong and independent. Can you imagine a way to repackage that same kind of entertainment to a different audience, say your grandparents or the military or factory workers? Hello, there! If you were to tell the story of the history of American musical theater as a musical play, how would you go about it? It's about a boy and a girl who are terribly nave. The glow of nostalgia allows for a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor combined with poignancy. You're like the big sister I always wanted, but more importantly, you're my best friend. Take a peek behind the red curtain and discover the artistry and history behind the world of theater. 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, Spring Awakening with gender and identity issues) or famous historical and political events (Les Mis). We think of the church as the place we go, or don't go, on Sunday mornings. : sound, lights, special effects. We somehow failed to learn our lessons. At a dinner party, lawyer Amir and his wife Emily find themselves at odds with friends of different backgrounds. In one of the show's quieter moments, she proudly sings "I Know Where I've Been" about the Civil Rights struggle: "There's a road we've been travelin'. Musicals might be the perfect art form for exploring mental health, because theater allows audiences into characters lives through dialogue and song. This play Meitner was on the verge of a breakthrough, but was forced to flee the country because of the anti-Jewish Nazi regime. Below you will find my list of the top ten musicals (in no particular order) that explore mental health head-on. American Son: The film, American Son, tackles racism, racial profiling, and police brutality. WebPioneer Drama Service is proud to offer a wide selection of thought-provoking plays about social values, life choices, and their consequences. I know Twitter just discovered her because of 'Bird Box,' but she has a million other movies that are just as amazing (you're one step closer to being Miss Congeniality). If you wanted to perform heart surgery, fly an airplane or build a bridge there are things you know you would need to do first in order to be able to accomplish those goals. Theatre as a living art form is constantly adapting, to provide commentary on current events and society. Think of the common elements of these kinds of stories and how they have been told through musical theater in the past. This is a common complaint from patients with bipolar disorder and can lead to individuals halting their medicationagainst medical advicein order to experience their manic episodes again. , Norm Lewis as Prof. Harold Hill and the children of River City in The Music Man. (Jeremy Daniel). Artists Who Tackle Social Issues in Their Lyrics | Complex Im not the enemy; Because of Temples disability, she faced many unique difficulties growing up. While treatment is effective and vital to recovery, art can also help. In the process, it made Diahann Carroll a star, and Alvin Ailey, Carmen de Lavallade, Arthur Mitchell, Geoffrey Holder, Donald McKayle and Frederick O'Neal were in the cast. Social Issues The song at the end sung by Julie's Aunt Nettie "You'll Never Walk Alone" sums up what R&H want you to take away from this story. be more chill is a good one when it comes to anxiety. For Colored Girls: This play-turned-movie tackles the theme of personal conflict with different storylines for each character such as love, abandonment, and infidelity. Kinky Boots: Kinky Boots, a Broadway musical, teaches viewers to be compassionate and understanding of people with whom they might not usually identify. Another musical worth noting is Cabaret. Yet another Sondheim and Lapine production! Whether you're more of a Miley or a Hannah, you hit the jackpot in the celebrity-zodiac-sign-twin lottery. Both the 1992 film and the 2012 musical were inspired by the real-life Newsboys Strike of 1899 in New York City. What can studying the history of musical theater reveal about our society that say the history of politics or science or legislation might not tell us? Is it even possible to not like her? Our mindset of the church has been split into different denominations, different ways of going about things. Angels in America is a 2003 American HBO miniseries directed by Mike Nichols and based on the Pulitzer-prize winning play of the same name by Tony Kushner. Lost so many on the way. Homosexuality is no worse than continuous alcoholism, or habitual lying, gossiping, or constantly doubting Him. It teaches us that "little white lies" are okay, but homosexuality is condemned. Just about everything is interesting if you get interested in it. We're practically family at this point. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Brittany Morgan, National Writer's Society2. Disney took the musical theater formula and put it into cartoons that were generally intended for children and families. In addition to Festa, the cast also includes Kelly Felthous as Nellie, a role created by Mary Martin in the original production, Mitzi Gaynor in the film and Kelli O'Hara in the revival. Think about the kind of entertainment that you enjoy, which is probably marketed to you and your friends. The situation becomes complicated when a gang members falls in love with a rival's sister. FromThe Beggars OperatoAvenue Q., musicals have commented on social issues for as long as there has been musical theater in America. The content of these programs may have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education but does not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. It's a powerful call to action, reminding readers of the implications of sexism and the role we can each play in ending it. Multiply $290 by the 52 weeks in a year, and the gross yearly income for a minimum wage worker is $15,080. Everything falls apart when Arthur's bitter, illegitimate son Mordred uses this evidence of the affair to destroy Camelot. Content Warning: These plays discuss heavy topics (murder, homophobia, suicide, rape, violence, xenophobia) that may be upsetting for some readers. Firefighters, dismayed to see a black man own a Model-T Ford, deface it, and Walker demands retribution. The Laramie Project: The Laramie Project, a play about the hate crime murder of Matthew Shepard, teaches that while some people may choose to be hateful toward others, it is never an excuse for violence. Think about these options: You may want to listen to the lectures as a large group. Could it be because people were going to the movies instead? This musical tackles discrimination, sexual abuse, and racism. Their fathers build a wall between them to get them to fall in love with each other (opposite of "Romeo and Juliet"), and the plan works. This film deals with the AIDS epidemic and homophobia in America. We love acting! Inspired by the school-to-prison pipeline that traps people of color, Morrisseau explores an inner city school through mother and high school teacher Nya. "Sunday in the Park with George" is a beautiful piece of work about the role of the artist, the importance of creating great art, and the people that sometimes get left behind in the process. The early days of the HIV-AIDS crisis in 1980s New York City is the focus of this searing HBO Films drama. All Rights Reserved. the history and metamorphosis of musical theater, musical theater as a reflection of culture, Disneys contributions to musical theater, an introduction to a musical theater field trip, for a unit on creative writing and storytelling, to find out whats on your students minds. This play-turned-movie tackles the theme of personal conflict with different storylines for each character such as love, abandonment, and infidelity. Few musicals deal with mental illness as frankly and honestly as Next to Normal. While much of the focus is on the mother and her struggle with extreme mental illness, it is also about how that touches and changes both her husband and her daughter. History can start to repeat itself. Theater has always been an outlet for creative minds to discuss the issues that plague our society, whether it's racism, income inequality, or the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community. Newsies focuses on a group of young people trying to make a difference and fight against big corporations who control everything. At its core, it is the fantastical story of Prior Walter, a gay man living with AIDS who is visited by an angel. The first song Anybody Have a Map dramatizes the rift between The musical focuses on Tracy Turnblad's desire to dance on the daily "Corny Collins Show," a local variation of "American Bandstand." The songs can be original or new lyrics written for existing popular tunes or existing popular songs which are appropriate to tell the story. The show traditionally has a two-piece orchestra, a stark set and a cast of six. As a child I didn't know what it meant, but obviously now I do.". Beyonce! In Elaborate Lives, she and her lover ( Adam Pascal) wrestle with the ways of the world and try to find solace face to face. From Laura Bates, internationally renowned feminist and founder of the Everyday Sexism Project, comes a debut novel for the #metoo era. In a film adaptation of the hit musical, West Side Follow follows a modern day Romeo and Juliet who are involved in New York street gangs. Technician/s designs any needed technical support i.e. Frida Kahlo is one of the greatest painters and feminists of the modern era. What about the big finish? Other plays have timely, topical themes such as bullying, gossip, gangs, teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse, divorce, depression, suicide, and more. The other is Florida Studio Theatre's season-opening production of the 2002 Tony Award-winning hit "Hairspray," a campy and slightly nostalgic look at life in Baltimore in the early 1960s. What this show is telling us is that this isn't a natural state. And whose story has unsettling parallels to Anna's. The idea, supported by the Rodgers and Hammerstein organization, is to create a new version that could become a new standard for smaller professional theaters. Sandra Bullock! A revered actress on the boat, Julie, is arrested for misogyny when she is found out to be half black and married to a white man. Clare Regelbrugge, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Sign in to comment to your favorite stories, participate in your community and interact with your friends. Tender yet volatile, Luz attempts to find the meeting place of corporate law practice and humanity. Victor Hugo's classic tale of pursuit and revenge in which Jean Valjean, a handsome young woodcutter, is cruelly sentenced to jail for stealing a loaf of bread he took to feed his starving family. The song describes black victims of lynchings as strange fruit hanging from the trees. However, Otto Hahn and co-collaborator Fritz Strassman took all credit for the discovery and excluded her from the publication as well as subsequent accolades including the Nobel Prize. These pieces may not be performed for the public, but are never the less healing and necessary pieces of art. But then rumors and whispers start up again. Musicals For one and half years after the murder of gay college student Matthew Shepherd, playwright Kaufman and his company interviewed residents of Laramie, Wyoming.