Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

#1

Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

Posted: 3/25/09 at 8:54am

Hey guys, i'm doing a musical theatre degree in England and im in my final year. As part of my degree i have to do an extended essay of my choice. I have decided to do my essay on musical theatre and religion, questioning whether certains shows are portrayed as blaphmous? whether they are gettin more controversial over the years. The main 3 i chose were Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar and Jerry Springer the Opera..... If any one has any opinions on this matter i would but very greatful for any feed back and opinions to add in my essay! Thankyou!!!

#2

re: Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

Posted: 3/25/09 at 8:59am

CARRIE: The Musical

#3

re: Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

Posted: 3/25/09 at 9:10am

Depending on your position: Brigham!

There is a LP available starring Harve Presnell.

About the life of Brigham Young.

#4

re: Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

Posted: 3/25/09 at 12:50pm

Martin Guerre is a pretty religious heavy musical

#5

re: Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

Posted: 3/25/09 at 1:02pm

Since there's no such thing as blasphemy, I can't really decide.

#6

re: Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

Posted: 3/25/09 at 1:03pm

Beyond the Rainbow, although it's harder to find.

Part of the plot is of a priest who talks to God, and it is this God who tells him that he wouldn't never encourage celibacy.

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Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE

Updated On: 3/25/09 at 01:03 PM

#7

re: Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

Posted: 3/25/09 at 1:09pm

Nunsense.


Any of them.

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#8

re: Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

Posted: 3/25/09 at 1:11pm

Bare: The Musical. Two gay catholic boys in high school struggle with their faith and sexuality.

#9

re: Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

Posted: 3/25/09 at 1:15pm

"Whistle Down the Wind."

#10

re: Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

Posted: 3/25/09 at 3:28pm

Oooh, I absolutely second Bare. Even if you don't use it for your assignment, it's still worth knowing in my opinion.

Parade focuses on antisemitism, which is obviously a religious issue, though I'm not sure if that's really what you're going for.

If you're talking about whether musical theatre has fallen in the gutter so to speak, there are plenty of arguments and criticisms around Rent, and some around Spring Awakening... The Wild Party is pretty raunchy too.

This sounds like a pretty interesting paper, I wouldn't mind reading it once it's done. :]

#11

re: Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

Posted: 3/25/09 at 3:39pm

JCS is a great one. I know people who find it very blasphemous.

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#12

re: Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

Posted: 3/25/09 at 3:40pm

For something on the other side of the spectrum check out "Children of Eden"

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#13

re: Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

Posted: 3/25/09 at 3:43pm

INTO THE LIGHT!!!!!!

#14

re: Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

Posted: 3/25/09 at 5:08pm

Updated On: 3/25/09 at 05:08 PM

#15

re: Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

Posted: 3/25/09 at 5:31pm

Why not?

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#16

re: Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

Posted: 3/25/09 at 6:02pm

Gantry - 1 performance - about old time evalgelists

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#17

re: Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

Posted: 3/25/09 at 6:06pm

Children of Eden is a great musical, and it's religious (obviously.)

As for the listed musicals being blasphemous, I wouldn't say that they are. They help get the word out about the Biblical stories, and educate through the use of really good music. To me, they help to make the Bible more appealing because people are being presented the stories in a more accessible way by seeing it unfolding before them on stage, and being in the story. It also adds a certain emotional attachment to the stories, and that gives them a greater impact.

#18

re: Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

Posted: 3/25/09 at 10:14pm

TEN COMMANDMENTS: THE MUSICAL. It starred Val Kilmer. Ummm, it was about the Ten Commandments. (It's available on DVD)

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"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)

#19

re: Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

Posted: 3/25/09 at 10:17pm

You may want to research this musical "Spring Awakening" it is about the values and morals of sexually active kids...

The nuns LUV it.

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#20

re: Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

Posted: 3/25/09 at 11:04pm

Ten Commandments, the musical is a TERRIBLE musical badly written and performed.

Fiddler on the Roof has a lot of religous meaning. Tevya talks a lot to God and the theme of religious TRADITION dominated the show.

SOUND OF MUSIC has a lot of religion connedted with it as does LOOK TO THE LILLIES - the musical of LILLIES OF THE FIELDS

Updated On: 3/26/09 at 11:04 PM

#21

re: Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

Posted: 3/25/09 at 11:37pm

Would HERO:The Rock Opera count?

#22

re: Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

Posted: 3/25/09 at 11:40pm

The French version of Les Dix Commandements isn't bad.

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Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost 9 PM!

#23

re: Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

Posted: 3/25/09 at 11:43pm

I think you first have to define "blasphemous". Some people consider things sacriligious that others don't.

You might want to consider revising your musical choices. The three you list were all controversial. For comparison sake, you may want to choose a musical that is more conservative. Something like "Fiddler on the Roof" "Sound of Music" "Cotton Patch Gospel" or "King David."

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#24

re: Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

Posted: 3/26/09 at 12:34pm

FAUST- musical of Doctor Faustus, only Faust is a rock star. Randy Newman is the devil, James Taylor is God. Enough said.

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#25

re: Musical theatre and Religous musicals.

Posted: 3/26/09 at 1:05pm

Judy and Me.