Musical Theatre Essay Topic Help!

[olitwist2]

Musical Theatre Essay Topic Help!#1

Posted: 5/14/10 at 1:53am

For my AP history class I would love to write my research paper on a certain musical or composer that changed the way musical theatre is today. I was thinking of writing about one of the first rock musicals like Superstar or something but am not sure if I can fill up 5 plus pages with it. Any Ideas would be greatly appreciated! :) And I don't really feel like writing about Rent. haha

Thanks so much!
Kyle

[BwayTday]

Musical Theatre Essay Topic Help!#2

Posted: 5/14/10 at 12:58pm

Even though the show isn't my favorite, Oklahoma revolutionized the modern book musical, along with Show Boat.

[Unknown User]

Musical Theatre Essay Topic Help!#2

Posted: 5/16/10 at 2:37pm

I immediately think of 'Cabaret' and how it changed musical theatre forever with it's social commentary and musical presentation style. The first real recognized 'Brechtian' musical.

[BroadwayGuy12]

Musical Theatre Essay Topic Help!#3

Posted: 5/18/10 at 3:50pm

When I took AP US History, I wrote a research paper on how American musicals reflected the shifts in American society and culture throughout the 20th century. I don't know if that's something you would be interested in, but I had a lot of fun working on that paper. The musicals I talked about were SHOWBOAT, SOUTH PACIFIC, WEST SIDE STORY, HAIR, and RENT. Good luck with your paper!

[supportivemom]

Musical Theatre Essay Topic Help!#4

Posted: 5/18/10 at 6:58pm

BroadwayGuy- that paper sounds very interesting! I would love to read something like that! I bet you made an "A"!

[zunit1234]

Musical Theatre Essay Topic Help!#5

Posted: 6/7/10 at 2:20pm

yeah BroadwayGuy that sounds like such a cool topic!!!!

Witty signature to come.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Musical Theatre Essay Topic Help!#6

Posted: 6/7/10 at 2:54pm

Definitely BroadwayGuy's idea.

Leonard Bernstein and West Side Story are both the best composer and best musical of musical theatre. Then take it's social values and add it the likes of Hair and RENT, you got yourself an essay.

[Boq101]

Musical Theatre Essay Topic Help!#7

Posted: 6/20/10 at 8:33pm

There's a million books out on Sondheim, making him easy to find sources for and you can definitely focus on him, his shows, or the recurrent themes in between them...