Big topics or ideas you wish a musical would tackle

[darquegk]

Posted: 10/1/15 at 10:01pm

Musical theatre has been tackling big issues since the beginning, from racism to homophobia to class inequality. But there aren't nearly as many musicals as there are deep issues and topics. Is there something that hasn't gotten a good stage treatment yet that you think is time for its place onstage?

I had a long discussion with one of my friends today- she said that sometimes a good piece can begin with a message or a topic, and have a story serve it, while I countered that a story always needs to support its topic or issue, not the other way around, or you have an after-school special (whether it's preachy or subtle). Where do you fall?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/1/15 at 10:10pm

Is this a which comes first thing?  From a writing/cteating standpoint, I think the theme comes first, at least to start, but the writing might bring it in a different, unexpected way. 

[Pootie2]

Posted: 10/1/15 at 10:51pm

darquegk said: "I had a long discussion with one of my friends today- she said that sometimes a good piece can begin with a message or a topic, and have a story serve it, while I countered that a story always needs to support its topic or issue, not the other way around, or you have an after-school special (whether it's preachy or subtle). Where do you fall?"

 

If a piece is executed "right," the audience shouldn't be able to tell whether the story came first or the theme. In either starting situation, if the final execution isn't complete, the story or message will feel shoehorned. This is also subjective of course.

 

As for an issue that hasn't been addressed yet, I never would have thought something about the Japanese-Internment would be staged in my lifetime, so I'm looking forward to seeing how it does. I think that's a case where both the story and message seeded the creative process at the same time. Otherwise, I was going to say a musical about a Native American story but it looks like one is actually coming (wow, timing!): http://playbill.com/news/article/exclusive-native-american-musical-distant-thunder-readies-for-the-stage-see-and-hear-it-first-364692

[acekatherineplumber2]

Posted: 10/1/15 at 10:58pm

It would be cool for there to be a musical that addresses asexuality, I don't know.

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 10/1/15 at 11:32pm

I have a friend who enjoys seeing majority-black or all-black casts on Broadway. He is tired of such shows always being set in the past and always about racism or early to mid 20th century struggles of black Americans.  So one idea that would be cool is a contemporary, as in post 1990, play about black characters that isn't  A Raisin in the Sun or Fences.  

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 10/1/15 at 11:35pm

acekatherineplumber2 said: "It would be cool for there to be a musical that addresses asexuality, I don't know."

This a million times.

Having a musical with a female bisexual that's not portrayed as a slut that cheats would be nice, too. (I'm looking at you, RENT.)

[Iesha]

Posted: 10/2/15 at 7:33pm

one about the founding of america

[JoseLee_]

Posted: 10/2/15 at 7:50pm

Topic: Stress. A musical about parents are separated, there's three kids in the house all teenagers, the dad doesn't communicate with the kids ever, and mother has a boyfriend she spends all her time with. The man character is the oldest son. She never comes home... work or bf house. The kids feel/don't have any parental supervision or rules. The oldest tries to keep the house in order, and the middle child rebels, does drugs, comes home when ever. All chaos and stress. Then one day the oldest wins the lottery and leaves. For once in his life, he can "breathe".

Updated On: 10/2/15 at 07:50 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/2/15 at 7:54pm

Are you the oldest?

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/2/15 at 7:56pm

Elfuhbuh said: "Having a musical with a female bisexual that's not portrayed as a slut that cheats would be nice, too. (I'm looking at you, RENT.)"

 

So, this is such a common trope that your go-to example is from 1994?!

 

[Iesha]

Posted: 10/2/15 at 7:57pm

The problems with finding work when you a disabled . And peoples conniption of the disability pension

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/2/15 at 8:03pm

darquegk said: "I had a long discussion with one of my friends today- she said that sometimes a good piece can begin with a message or a topic, and have a story serve it, while I countered that a story always needs to support its topic or issue, not the other way around, or you have an after-school special (whether it's preachy or subtle). Where do you fall?"

 

I think there are no bad ways to start working on a piece and a million wrong ways after you start...

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 10/2/15 at 10:13pm

Aaron Frankel--who taught writing for the musical theater for decades at The New School--used to say to his students, "Forget about the 'message' of your show. Write the story honestly and your message will come through. You won't be able to help yourself."

 

But I think there's a difference between "theme" and "message". Racism is a theme; "racism is bad" is one, well-trod message in response to that theme. IMO, writing toward a message tends to lead to boring shows, but I see nothing wrong with choosing a theme and writing or adapting a story that explores that theme. (And, as Aaron used to say, if you have a message, we'll figure it out.)

 

[darquegk]

Posted: 10/2/15 at 11:29pm

That's one thing I greatly enjoyed about Urinetown- the sudden swerve in the last moments from Blitzstein-Brecht socialist allegory to Ayn Randian cynical libertarianism. It seemed to suggest to me that "this is not a message show- at least, not the kind you thought it was."

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 10/3/15 at 5:01am

haterobics said: "Elfuhbuh said: "Having a musical with a female bisexual that's not portrayed as a slut that cheats would be nice, too. (I'm looking at you, RENT.)"

So, this is such a common trope that your go-to example is from 1994?!"

It's not that common a trope, actually, which is my point. One of the only female bisexual characters I can think of in a musical is Maureen, and she's portrayed as a cheater, which is sadly a label that's tacked on to many bisexual women in the real world, making this example of representation problematic. I'm saying with shows such as Fun Home exploring female sexuality and homosexuality in women, it would be nice to take another step and have a show focusing on the struggles that come with female bisexuality, whether it's being treated like a sex object by hetero guys ("Hey, wanna have a threesome with me and my girlfriend?" "Would you and your girlfriend kiss for me?" ) or getting the "grossed out" reaction from straight girls that many lesbians also sadly receive ("You like girls?! Ew?! How do I know you won't hit on me?!" ) or being excluded by some members of the LGBT community ("How do I know you won't just leave me for a guy?" "You're not really into girls, you're just doing this to get guys' attention!" "It's a shame you're bi; I don't want to go anywhere near where a penis has been. Ew." ).

We also need more bisexual male representation, since male bisexuals tend to face similar issues and yet very different ones at the same time. ("You can't like both genders, just pick a side!" "Gross, bro, you like guys? Don't hit on me." "You're not really bi, you're just gay, but you're afraid to come out of the closet all the way." Think Phillypinto and his whole spiel about bisexuality, and you'll actually get a pretty good indicator of how several people view this topic. Philly may not be the brightest crayon in the box, but his opinions on the matter sadly aren't too far off from how several others feel.) Luckily, we're getting a bit of male bisexuality represented through shows like If/Then and Cabaret, but we could always up the game a bit.

This also goes for asexual representation, too. It would definitely be interesting to see a show where the main character expresses complete disinterest in sexual and/or emotional attraction, since we never really see much of that in musicals, either. The more representation each sexuality (or lack thereof) has, the more accepting we as a community will grow.
 

Updated On: 10/3/15 at 05:01 AM