Rebel female characters in Musicals

[CorkSeashell]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 3:37pm

Wrecking my head trying to come up with a list for a theme night. So far I have (some are spurious)

• Elphaba (though technically Glinda and Nessa qualify too)
• Yentl
• Eponine
• Rizzo
• Mary Magdalene
• Matilda
• Grace O'Malley (The Pirate Queen)
• Gypsy
• Grizabella
• Calamity Jane
• Annie Oakley
• Maria (Sound of Music)
• Mrs Banks
• Little Red Riding Hood
• Wednesday Addams

Not sure about a lot of them...know I'm missing loads. Anyone think of any others with good costume potential? Thanks

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 3:51pm

Do you mean "rebellious" female characters? Because that will include most female leads, from Laurie and Ado Annie in OKLAHOMA! through Marian in THE MUSIC MAN to Little Edie in GREY GARDENS. And I'm only listing those we might not immediately think of as "rebels". Even saintly Maria von Trapp is a problem her sisters wonder "How Do You Solve...?"!

If a female lead isn't rebellious, the show probably doesn't have enough conflict to succeed.

[bwayrose7]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 4:03pm

GavestonPS said: "Do you mean "rebellious" female characters? Because that will include most female leads, from Laurie and Ado Annie in OKLAHOMA! through Marian in THE MUSIC MAN to Little Edie in GREY GARDENS. And I'm only listing those we might not immediately think of as "rebels". Even saintly Maria von Trapp is a problem her sisters wonder "How Do You Solve...?"!

If a female lead isn't rebellious, the show probably doesn't have enough conflict to succeed."

I have to agree with Gaveston here. The majority of musical theatre protagonists are rebelling or pushing against some force in order to generate conflict.

That said, if you really want to hone in on ones whose "rebellion" is one of their most prominent character traits, I'd definitely agree with Elphaba and Eponine as more modern ones, as well as Natalie from Next to Normal and Tracy Turnblad. From the R&H canon, I'd go with Ado Annie and Laurey, Maria, and Julie Jordan. Eliza Doolittle is more stubborn that "rebellious" but definitely a strong-willed young woman. Most Disney heroines are defined by their rebellion against parents/society, too: Ariel, Belle, Katherine, Aida, Jasmine.

I'm not sure what your theme night is specifically geared towards, but maybe seek out characters who aren't just "rebellious" but who have actual songs about their rebellion? The cliche of course would be "Defying Gravity" or "Part of Your World" but you get the idea. 

Updated On: 6/21/16 at 04:03 PM

[CorkSeashell]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 4:07pm

Thanks! I guess I mean characters who stand out as strong or with a rebellious streak...but would be instantly identifiable through costume. The official theme is rebels on stage but I'd rather stick to musicals as I prefer costumes that will get more than one use

[@z5]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 4:07pm

Chava from Fiddler. 

Portia from Something Rotten

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 4:25pm

The anarchist Emma Goldman.

Princess Leia.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 4:26pm

Squeaky Fromme (Assassins)
Emma Goldman (Assassins and Ragtime)
Sara Jane Moore (Assassins)
Grainne O'Malley (Pirate Queen)
Joan of Arc (Goodtime Charlie)
Celie, Shug and Sophia (The Color Purple)
Anybody's (West Side Story)
Mme. de Farge (A Tale of Two Cities)
Victoria Woodhull (Onward Victoria)
Mrs. Banks (Mary Poppins)
Tuptim (The King and I)
Charlotte Corday (Marat/Sade)
Jenny (Threepenny Opera)
Babe (Pajama Game)
Martha and Abigail (1776)
The Schuyler Sisters (Hamilton)
Flora and Charlotte (Flora, the Red Menace)
Coco (Coco)  ("The world belongs to the young!  To the young, or me?  We shall see!  We shall see!  We shall see!)
Countess Aurelia (Dear World)



 

 

Updated On: 6/22/16 at 04:26 PM

[ggersten]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 4:30pm

Rebellious as seeking to overthrow the status quo?

The Pirate Queen.

Evita.

Babe (Pajama Game)

Eve (from Bring it On)  (take over the Status quo?)

Maureen (Rent)

Althea (The Light Princess)

Fanny Brice (?) (More like break into the status quo?)

 

 

 

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 11:21pm

Diana Goodman (bucking the mental healthcare system to find healing on her own terms) 

 

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 6/22/16 at 10:38am

Ella in the new Cinderella is a little bit of an rebel. Same with Anya in Anastasia and Esmerelda in Hunchback