Broadway's Most Entertaining Show About a Serious Social Issue? — Page 2

The Book of Mormon manages to absolutely ridicule the intellectual absurdity of certain false beliefs while also being wildly hilarious.

Updated On: 9/6/23 at 08:25 AM

Carousel deals with some very serious issues that are still relevant today: alcoholism, blue collar unemployment, domestic violence ...

Spring Awakening is entertaining, but hardly actually addresses any social issues. I would have to go with Memphis, Newsies, or Billy Elliot.

Cabaret or South Pacific

leighmiserables said: "I think it's just a syntax issue, really. When I personally hear 'social issue' I think of anything that can be a 'cause' or something that can finish the phrase "we're raising awareness for ______." Plus, if there's stigma/prejudice against something, I think that immediately qualifies it as a social issue. There's plenty of stigma towards mental health. "

Good points. Also, I'm not trying to say a show isn't worth anything if it's not inherently political. Shows that have strong characters facing real-life issues are typically my favorites, and politicization can get in the way of that. But sometimes it just works.

I just think by such a broad standard, any show could be about a social issue. By that standard, Legally Blonde is about "social issues" because it fights the stigma that blonde girls can't be smart. Hello Dolly is about "social issues" because it's about a woman fighting to get what she wants (a rich husband). Come From Away is about "social issues" because it's about accepting newcomers. But... let's be honest, Legally Blonde is about cotton candy. Hello Dolly is a romance. Come From Away is about relationships formed during tragedy. They're all great shows (Well, not so much for Legally Blonde...) but they're not about social issues. "

Updated On: 8/24/17 at 11:42 AM

As a mental health professional, I don't think that Next to Normal handles its subject matter well at all. But I guess you could still argue it fits because it is about a serious social issue, even if it mishandles it, and it's entertaining.

Does Dogfight count, even though it's off Broadway? IMO it does a better job with portraying a mental health diagnosis than Dear Evan Hansen and N2N.

But, of course, my votes would always go to Cabaret and Ragtime. I might also throw in Once On This Island - isn't colorism a major issue, and one that's still very relevant?

Updated On: 2/13/23 at 09:39 AM

I realize the post above about Spring Awakening “hardly addressing any social issues” is from 2017 but I strongly disagree. The show demonstrates the importance of our modern day suicide outreach and prevention programs, the necessity of sex education in school curriculum, and safe and legal access to health care for women which is unfortunately all the more relevant in 2023.

Recency bias, but surprised no one has mentioned Take Me Out or Ain't No Mo'. Or to go off-Broadway, Soft Power had a lot of issues but I think it was wildly entertaining while also touching on a lot of social issues.

qolbinau said: "The Book of Mormon manages to absolutely ridicule the intellectual absurdity of certain false beliefswhile alsobeing wildly hilarious. I'm waiting for the sequel they are working on, I believe it's calledThe Koran."

If they ridiculed Muslim like they do Mormonism, they may well be charged with a hate crime and terminated the next day. Or they might have to flee to Finland for their lives. I fail to see the distinction between the two religions. Except that one is .small and powerful, and the other is almost asleep.

asimplegal2 said: "Spring Awakening is entertaining, but hardly actually addresses any social issues. I would have to go with Memphis, Newsies, or Billy Elliot."

Spring Awakening was written over 100 years old but still feels relevant today. It touches on sex education, book banning, teen mental health, and abortion access, all pretty relevant social issues today.

Updated On: 2/15/23 at 08:10 AM

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Hair. When I saw the revival, the ending absolutely devastated me. I always think what it would have been like if all of my friends had been drafted, if you never knew who was going to be shipped overseas to fight and maybe die. It's an incredibly entertaining musical about mortality and the ethics of war (and who is sent to fight in those wars).

I know this question is six years old, but I'll answer anyway. Chicago. Ahead of its time, it predicted the future so accurately. OJ Simpson. The worship of fame. The razzle dazzle and illusion of the justice system.

I would genuinely hope as a culture we can find a way in future to have a sense of humour and poke fun at all religions, especially when they continue to have negative social effects for oppressed groups across the world (especially the LGBT community). However, 5 years has past now since that earlier post and I've come to accept that there are some topics that are too serious for too many people and can only be dealt with in a very serious way. I kind of love that all these years later The Book of Mormon remains resilient because I do think it was more socially acceptable to make fun of these issues back in 2011, and watching it today I think it is more shocking and powerful than ever. That remains the most entertaining musical that deals with serious social issues to me.

Otherwise, of course next to normal, RENT, Spring Awakening etc. are all up there. I don't know why people tried to narrow the definition of 'social issue' so much. I think we can probably add A STRANGE LOOP to the mix now, too.

Updated On: 9/6/23 at 04:44 PM