Essay topics about Broadway?

[AnnieGables]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 2:13pm

For my AP music class, I have to write an essay. The topic is "On Broadway." That's all our teacher gave us, nothing else. I know absolutely nothing about Broadway or theater in general. Any interesting topics you guys have? Thanks!

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 2:57pm

How long is the essay to be?

"On Broadway" is the rough equivalent of "About Opera" (though Broadway music only goes back 2 centuries rather than 5).

[jetts7]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 3:20pm

You could write about the process of making a broadway show.

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 3:29pm

You can write about Cheyenne's new tattoos.

[bwayrose7]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 3:38pm

I would suggest finding a specific era, style, or theme you particularly like and focus on that. For example, I wrote a paper for a college class on the musicals of Rodgers and Hammerstein as examples of innovation for their time. I also wrote one on politics in musicals, and one on feminist themes in various musicals set in Oz. Since it's a music class, I would recommend some topic that allows you to include a little discussion of the actual music.
I took AP Music in high school, too, and had a blast! Good luck :)

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 4:21pm

nd of course, why not talk to your teacher? Is he/she just trying to find out what you know? Are you writing a thesis statement essay? I can't imagine that the assignment consisted only of the words: On B'way.

It's hard to give you guidance without knowing you. I try to always tell my students that when given a blank slate to take advantage of the freedom and truly connect to the work. What are you passionate about? History? Politics? Social Issues? ANYTHING can be found on the stage of a Bway Musical. If you are all about music, perhaps you can examine why the musical even works using Has Christian Anderson's quote, "When words fail, music speaks.

But use YOU.

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 4:37pm

Well keeping in theme with the person who said "rogers and Hammerstein," I would also suggest looking into Stephen Sondheim. Especially regarding the music there are endless details he includes in his music that you could write about. Also if you do Stephen Sondheim you should definitely get your hands on his book "finishing the hat" and its sequel "look at the hat I made." It has his specific thoughts behind many many songs that he wrote throughout his career.

[goldenboy]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 7:12pm

How about Broadway's influence on society and social change?
Think South Pacific; Book of Mormon; Avenue Q, Wicked (on monarchies, dictators and despots and how the press often get it wrong) L'il Abner (There are tons of examples.

[all that jazz]

Posted: 8/4/13 at 3:38pm

If you have the time there's a really great documentary called, Broadway the American musical, that should help you get started. Once you're more more familiar with Broadway's history, it would be easier for you to choose a particular topic.

[gstrus2]

Posted: 8/4/13 at 4:03pm

Someone in my sophomore English class wrote about "How Disney Changed Broadway".

[all that jazz]

Posted: 8/4/13 at 4:27pm

The British Invasion is also an interesting topic.

[Amalia Balash]

Posted: 8/5/13 at 10:58am

Is there a type of music you enjoy and know a lot about? You might find some Broadway musicals that have tried to incorporate that style of music and discuss how well it worked or didn't and why.

Updated On: 8/5/13 at 10:58 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/5/13 at 11:24am

Well, since it has been 2 days since the OP, I'm going to guess that she's not returning and all our good intentioned advice is all for naught.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 8/5/13 at 11:29am

Crossover: Shifting Bonds Between Stage and Popular Music

Part I Symbiosis
Part II Estrangement
Part III Coexistence

[TheaterBoy7777]

Posted: 8/5/13 at 11:33am

The Great Theatre Massacre of 1982

[senorvoce2]

Posted: 8/5/13 at 1:54pm

They say the neon lights are bright...

[dblue236]

Posted: 8/5/13 at 2:14pm

I like the idea of discussing the process of producing a Broadway show, from start to stage. Sounds like it could be a fun topic to write about!

[bwaychae5192]

Posted: 8/6/13 at 1:22am

In my AP English class, I wrote a discographic essay about sexual undertones in musical theatre. I really enjoyed writing it and ended up with one of the highest grades in the class. While that specific topic may not be up your alley, you could always look at different styles or subjects in musical theatre scores.

Like many others have said, it's definitely a good idea to ask your teacher about what he or she is looking for with the essay.

Updated On: 8/6/13 at 01:22 AM

[AnnieGables]

Posted: 8/6/13 at 12:04pm

Thanks guys! It's just we usually study more classical composers and all our essays are about things related to that, and she suddenly sprung Broadway on us, and I really know nothing about Broadway. I'll definitely check out that documentary and research some of yalls suggestions. Oh, and the essay is 550-750 words.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 8/6/13 at 7:28pm

You might look at Forest and Wright. They were a songwriting team of the 50s and 60s who used classical themes as music for Broadway shows.

They actually had sizable hits with KISMET (themes from Borodin) and SONG OF NORWAY (themes from Grieg).

I'm sure there were others, but you don't need me to google for you.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/6/13 at 9:10pm

Oh, and the essay is 550-750 words

If they asked me, I could write a book.

[J.P.3]

Posted: 12/24/15 at 7:43am

The best way to choose a topic is to do a research on broadway. And when you find something that interests you, write your paper on it. Surely, this will take more time than simply asking for advice. Still, you can check websites like http://www.pbs.org/wnet/broadway/category/essays/ or http://musicessay.org/topics/ for some tips on choosing a topic.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 12/24/15 at 8:19am

Since you are asking this community, one answer might be the impact, if any, of social media criticism on Broadway production focusing on three stages: pre-Broadway (when there is pre-Broadway) development and preview, the professional critics, and boomeranging to how social media reception changes, if it does, after professional reviews come out.   Do professionals still function as independently as they once did?  Or has word of mouth perhaps become a more significant force now that it can be mass communicated by just about anyone?  What exactly is the social networking mob's influence? 

Not sure if there is enough out there that will help you begin to answer these questions but there might be.

oh, I now see this is an old thread and that I gave you a potential thesis two years ago.  Nevermind.

 

Updated On: 12/24/15 at 08:19 AM

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 12/24/15 at 10:06am

Your topic should be: Why bootlegging a Broadway show should be allowed. 

[RaiseYouUp]

Posted: 12/24/15 at 10:09am

Is it AP music theory? If so, that's an interesting assignment for that class. If so, you could write about a specific Broadway composer and discuss how and/or why he/she strays from or conforms to voice leading conventions.