#1
Posted: 10/6/08 at 5:06pm
sondhead
Broadway Star Joined: 10/25/06
#2re: Overtly Political Musicals
Posted: 10/6/08 at 5:17pmEvita, but in a good way... what I love about it is that it continues the whole "Eva Peron as myth and icon" thing, but that the narrator of the show is disdainful toward her. You don't often get a narrator who isn't on the protagonist's side.
#3re: Overtly Political Musicals
Posted: 10/6/08 at 5:24pm
Assassins
Pacific Overtures
Miss Saigon and Les Miserables both have heavy political subplots, even if they aren't the main focus of the story.
"Shut up! It's been 29 years!!!" --the incomparable Patti LuPone in her MUCH DESERVED Tony acceptance speech for Gypsy.
Kitzy's Avatar du Jour: Kitzy as Little Red Ridinghood in her college's production of "Into the Woods"
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#5re: Overtly Political Musicals
Posted: 10/6/08 at 7:36pm
Mr President
How To Steal An Election
#6re: Overtly Political Musicals
Posted: 10/6/08 at 8:00pmThe Fix.
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#9re: Overtly Political Musicals
Posted: 10/6/08 at 9:17pm
as mentioned.. The FIX
Bush is Bad (for the L.A. folks, and now they are doing a 2nd version, "The Alaskan Beauty Queen Edition")
Wicked
it's all about the 3 different types of people/animals and racism!
i*heart*fame
Broadway Star Joined: 9/15/04
#10re: Overtly Political Musicals
Posted: 10/6/08 at 9:20pmThe Cradle Will Rock
#11re: Overtly Political Musicals
Posted: 10/6/08 at 9:29pm
CAROLINE, OR CHANGE
HAIR
RAGTIME
regnad kcin
Leading Actor Joined: 8/26/05
#12re: Overtly Political Musicals
Posted: 10/6/08 at 9:34pm
"The Frogs"
"Show Boat"
"Hairspray"
Probably "The Civil War" but I've never seen it...
I can't help but think of "Avenue Q" even if that's not what you mean...
#13re: Overtly Political Musicals
Posted: 10/7/08 at 9:55am
Tenderloin
Mayor
Annie
I'd Rather Be Right
#15re: Overtly Political Musicals
Posted: 10/7/08 at 10:47am
Pins and Needles
Knickerbocker Holiday
Finian's Rainbow
Call Me Madam
Oh, What a Lovely War
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
In other words, Broadway used to have musicals that were about politics or hot political issues quite frequently. Only lately, not so much. Wonder why?
#16re: Overtly Political Musicals
Posted: 10/7/08 at 10:52am
Let 'Em Eat Cake
Strike Up the Band
Silk Stockings
Call Me Madam
NEWSical
Billy Elliot
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#17re: Overtly Political Musicals
Posted: 10/7/08 at 11:16amLil Abner is full of pollitical satire.
Borstalboy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/9/04
#18re: Overtly Political Musicals
Posted: 10/7/08 at 11:21amCATS
#19re: Overtly Political Musicals
Posted: 10/7/08 at 11:42amReefer Madness
"Shut up! It's been 29 years!!!" --the incomparable Patti LuPone in her MUCH DESERVED Tony acceptance speech for Gypsy.
Kitzy's Avatar du Jour: Kitzy as Little Red Ridinghood in her college's production of "Into the Woods"
kooky
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/12/05
regnad kcin
Leading Actor Joined: 8/26/05
#21re: Overtly Political Musicals
Posted: 10/7/08 at 12:40pmPaul W., some friends and I did a project relating to Broadway and political or non-political environments. We're kind of retuning to that political Depression escapism now, and mixing it wtih a little existentialism from the 70s. Sometimes, there'll be politics thrown in there but the purely joyful musical comedy is certainly in its revival
kooky
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/12/05
#23re: Overtly Political Musicals
Posted: 10/7/08 at 1:11pm
Glad to know that people are looking at this sort of thing seriously!
Just a thought--have producers been afraid of politics lately (especially the pro-liberal kind), and if so, is it because the high ticket prices tend to attract wealthier (i.e. more conservative) ticket buyers? Certainly a lot of shows have clearly liberal/bohemian views ("Rent," "Hairspray," even "Mamma Mia!), because this is NYC after all, not Salt Lake City. But you can hardly say that about "Beauty and the Beast" and "Cats." I don't think that "The Cradle Will Rock" would fly at $125 a pop.
#24re: Overtly Political Musicals
Posted: 10/7/08 at 3:29pmNot exactly political, but Seussical has a very pro-life theme. "A person's a person no matter how small."
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