Broadway Question referencing the American Dream

[shh282]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 2:55pm

I convinced my professor to let me write my term paper on the American Dream and how Broadway interprets it in different ways, the like. She told me she wants me to be broad but specific and that I should come up with two groups that have themes in common, I was wondering if anyone could help me think of more for either group? [Preferably things that are on Broadway now- I've only seen 8 shows including the 4 mentioned before- so if you mention something on broadway I can at least go see it before my paper is due.]

Group A: Rent, In The Heights - More Happy oriented
Group B: Is He Dead?, Legally Blonde (stretch, I know) - More Success/ Money oriented

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

[StarUsher]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 5:53pm

The engineer sings a song about "The American Dream" and what he thinks it is in Miss Saigon. It would definately support any point you might make about the way other cultures view the American Dream. One could make the argument that in Hairspray, Tracy and the African American characters are fighting for an opportunity to have an equal shot at the American Dream. These are some random thoughts/ suggestions. Hope they help.

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 6:19pm

I'd also recommend the songs "A Shtetl is America," "Success," amd "Wheels of a Dream" from Ragtime.

I'd also recommend going to a library and not relying on a message board to do your homework for you

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 7:26pm

Not on Broadway now, but West Side Story, specifically "America."

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 7:34pm

Do you want just shows currently running and just musicals?

Because any discussion of how theatre interprets the American Dream is incomplete without including DEATH OF A SALESMAN.

Then of course there is Albee's THE AMERICAN DREAM. Tennesee William's THE GLASS MENAGERIE would be interesting to compare and contrast with SALESMAN, though I'm sure that's been done many times before.


As far as musicals go, one of the best examinations of the dark side of the American Dream has to be ASSASSINS.

[me2]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 7:57pm

Be sure to check out the 3-DVD series BROADWAY: THE AMERICAN MUSICAL. It discusses this topic in depth. You should be able to get it from the library.

HELLO, DOLLY! deals with the happiness aspect. Dolly does marry Vandergelder for the money, but in the end, it's more about not being alone, about rejoining the human race. Just as soem characters strive for money, she determines her own destiny in relationships. Just a thought.

Honestly, though, is most musicals you can find aspects of the American Dream.
Broadway Mouth: From the Mouth of Mary Martin: On the Writing and Selecting of Roles

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 8:37pm

You should definitely use RAGTIME

[puppetman2]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 11:49pm

I would suggest "1776". The Declaration of Independance is definitely "The American Dream" just about the basis of it.

Updated On: 4/3/08 at 11:49 PM