Hauptseminar The Broadway Musical

The Broadway musical is the heart and soul of American show business. Exploring themes that Broadway popularizes, this course seeks to understand changes in American attitudes towards sex, gender, race, class, money, all of which perpetually re-define the American Dream. American myths about unsung underdog heroes and heroines, American idolization of youth, stereotypically American attitudes, among them optimism, pragmatism, and a love of breaking the rules, will be examined through the lens of the Broadway musical. Each class will be devoted to scenes from one or more musicals and to their analysis. We will attempt to give some attention to each of the following, and students are welcome to make suggestions: • The Jazz Singer (1927) • Annie Get Your Gun (1946; 1950) • The King and I (1951; 1956) • Oklahoma (1943; 1955) • On the Town (1944; 1949) • South Pacific (1949; 1958; 2001 made-for-TV) • The Music Man (1957; 1962) • West Side Story (1957; 1961 film) Leonard Bernstein • The Sound of Music (1959; 1965) • The Fantasticks (1960; 1995) Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones • Hair (1968, revived 2009; film 1979) • Chorus Line (1975; 1985) • Working (1978) • O, Calcutta (1972) • Chicago (1975-77; current) • Fiddler on the Roof (1964; 1971) • Hello, Dolly (1964; 1969) • Cabaret (1966; 1972) Anglistik Universität Duisburg-Essen WS 2013/14 alle Lehrämter, alle Lehrämter Dr. Knox Raab Melissa