Musical Theater songs about "change" or "making a difference"

[JasonM12480]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 10:33pm

Getting ready to teach a musical theater course this fall, and the theme is people and ideas that have made a difference or changed the world. Ideas such as: Famous composers - Beethoven ("Beethoven Day" from You're A Good Man Charlie Brown), or Engineers - Henry Ford ("Henry Ford" from Ragtime). So I need to find songs about change, people wanting change, making a difference, fighting for something they believe in, etc.

Any ideas? All suggestions would be most helpful! Thanks.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 10:36pm

Where are you guys coming from with these questions???????? Please!

[supportivemom]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 10:39pm

"I Am Changing" from Dreamgirls. "There's Gotta be Something Better Than This" from Sweet Charity. "Corner in the Sky" from Pippin. Will think of more later.

[JasonM12480]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 10:48pm

Usually, a question comes from the brain, or central nervous system, when one thinks of one.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 10:50pm

If you can find it: "Making Good" originally in Wicked before being replaced by "The Wizard and I"- which itself is a good "change" or "making a difference song."

"I Know Where I've Been" from Hairspray
"I Don't Want To" from All Shook Up

[bwayballerina]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 10:58pm

"Louder Than Words" from Tick Tick Boom is the song that immediately comes to my mind...

[I3ella.Rosa]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 10:59pm

Not technically musical theatre, but Seize The Day from Newsies, and Make Them Hear You from Ragtime.

[teka21]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 11:04pm

How about Fiorello-
lots of songs there, but just to name a few:
On the Side of the Angels
Little Tin Box
Unfair (the strike song)

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 11:16pm

Would "A Change in Me" from BATB work? It's not exactly making a difference, but its about change...
"Purpose" from Avenue Q?
Something from Les Mis? Or Miss Saigon. I haven't listened to it much, but there should be something from there, right?

Also, "Once We Were Kings" from Billy Elliot? Updated On: 8/14/07 at 11:16 PM

[Marianne]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 11:19pm

Make Them Hear You from Ragtime.
Our Time from Merrily would work out of context.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 11:19pm

You should definitely look into CAROLINE OR CHANGE. A few songs I suggest are "I Hate the Bus," and the "Lot's Wife" sequence which includes "Sunday Morning" and "Lot's Wife."

[JRybka]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 11:21pm

Hold on from The Secret Garden always makes me think about making a difference.

[jennyish]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 11:24pm

A bunch things from Les Mis--Red and Black, Do You Hear the People Sing, One Day More.

[antz]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 11:25pm

Make Them Hear You (from Ragtime) - says to go out and make a difference
Also:
For Good (Wicked)

Being Alive (Company)
Day After That (Kiss of the Spider Woman)
Seasons of Love (Rent)
Move On (Sunday in the Park with George)
Do You Hear the People Sing (Les Miserables)
Into the Fire (Scarlet Pimpernel)
No More (Into The Woods)
Electricity (Billy Elliot - the Musical)

[LoringsGuy]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 11:37pm

Wait, can this be true? Have we really gotten this far into the thread and NO ONE has suggested "Defying Gravity"??

All kidding aside, it's definitely a song about being true to yourself, pushing boundaries, and seeing how far you can go.

Also, "Astonishing" from LITTLE WOMEN.

[Tkt2Ride]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 11:39pm

Just looked up the lyrics for this song ~

Impossible Dream - Man of La Mancha.
(My teenage mantra way back when).

Imagine - John Lennon
Updated On: 8/14/07 at 11:39 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 11:49pm

A fun one may be Amazing Gertrude from Seussical

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 11:57pm

Defying Gravity is very good, also Anything Can Happen from Mary Poppins. Oh, and Legally Blonde Remix from Legally Blonde.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 8/15/07 at 12:00am

"Legally Blonde Remix from Legally Blonde. "

Find My Way from Legally Blonde as well.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 8/15/07 at 12:01am

Has "Change" from A New Brain been mentioned???

It's PERFECT.

[joanlegorreta]

Posted: 8/15/07 at 3:16am

What about "A change in me" from Beauty and the beast

[Anon2]

Posted: 8/15/07 at 5:12am

Teamwork - Chitty
Find Your Grail - Spamalot

[sleepyguy1717]

Posted: 8/15/07 at 6:44am

A New Life from Jekyll and Hyde is a good one about personal growth and change. Just avoid the fact that she gets brutally murdered afterwords. 0.o

[ohjohnny]

Posted: 8/15/07 at 7:19am

One Person from Dear World
Open A New Window from Mame

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 8/15/07 at 8:49am

A brilliant one in Fame the musical is Bring On Tomorrow