Today is international women’s day, a day that commemorates the movement for women’s rights. I thought it would be fitting to write an article celebrating a number of musical theatre productions that include creative contributions, centre around and celebrate strong women.
Fun Home
Fun Home is the musical adaption of Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir of the same name. With music by Jeanine Tesori and the book and lyrics by Lisa Kron. The production centres on Bechdel during her coming of age. The story particularly focuses on Bechdel’s discovery of her own sexuality, her relationship with her father and her attempts to solve the mystery's surrounding his death. Fun Home is the first Broadway musical to have a lesbian protagonist.
With three actresses playing Alison at different stages of her life, 43 year old Alison serves as the shows narrator, 19-year-old ‘medium Alison’ is a first year college student discovering her sexuality and, 10-year-old ‘small Alison’ is struggling against her father’s expectations and demands.
After opening in April 2015, Fun Home went on to be nominated for 10 Tony awards and took home 5, including ‘best musical, ‘best book of a musical’, ‘best original score and ‘best featured actress in a musical’
Waitress
Waitress, based on the 2006 film of the same name, tells the tale of Jenna, a waitress who is stuck in an unhappy marriage to her bullying husband Earl. After unexpectedly falling pregnant Jenna, with the help of her friends and co-workers, Becky and Dawn, sets her sights on a pie contest and its grand prize as a chance to create a new life for her and her baby.
Waitress is the first Broadway musical to have an exclusively all-women’s creative team. With music and lyrics by singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles, a book by Jessie Nelson. The production was directed by Diane Paulus and choreographed by Lorin Latarro.
Waitress opened in April 2016, starring tony-award winner Jessie Mueller, who previously originated the role of Carole King in ‘Beautiful’. The show was nominated for four Tony-Awards including ‘best musical’, ‘best original score’ and ‘best performance by a leading actress in a musical’.
The Color Purple
The Color Purple, based on the 1982 novel by Alice Walker, follows the story of Celie, an African-American women in the American south from the early to mid-20th century. With music and lyrics by Brenda Russel and Allee Willis, and, a book by Marsha Norman. The original Broadway production ran from 2005 – 2008 and earned 11 Tony Award nominations in 2006.
A Broadway revival ran from 2015 – 2017 and gained four Tony-Award nominations, winning two including ‘best revival of a musical’ and ‘best actress in a musical’ The revival starred Cynthia Erivo, who won was awarded the Tony award for best actress for her portrayed of Celie. The show also starred Jennifer Hudson, who made her Broadway debut as Shug, Danielle Brooks as Sofia, and, Joaquina Kalukango as Nettie.
Gypsy
Gypsy is a story that is loosely based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, and focuses on her mother Rose who name has become greatly associated with ‘the ultimate show business mother’. The musical follows Rose’s efforts to raise her two daughters to perform onstage and gain a show business lifestyle. Gypsy has been referred to numerous times as ‘the greatest American musical’ by several writers and critics.
The production originally opened on Broadway in 1959 starring Ethel Merman and has since been revived four times with Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Bernadette Peters and Patti Lupone portraying the role of Rose. The original Broadway production received a Grammy award for ‘best musical theatre album’. Following the original Broadway production a film adaption was released in 1962.
A West End revival opened in 2015 starring Imelda Staunton. The production received numerous Olivier, Evening Standard and WhatsOnStage awards nominations with Staunton taking home four separate awards for ‘best actress in a musical.
Funny Girl
Funny Girl is a semi-autobiographic story based on the life and career of Broadway star, comedian and film actress Fanny Brice. The story focuses heavily on Brice’s stormy relationship with gambler and entrepreneur Nick Arnstein. With a book by Isobel Lennart, the original Broadway production opened in 1964, starring Barbra Streisand and was nominated for eight Tony Awards. The original Broadway cast recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2004.
A West End production opened in 2015, starring Sheridan Smith and was nominated for numerous Evening Standard, WhatsOnStage and Olivier awards. The production took home the WhatsOnStage award for ‘Best Musical Revival’.
From direction, choreography, composition and lyricism to singing, dancing and acting the amount of amazing women that have contributed the world of musical theatre since its inception has been incredible and there's no doubt that every single woman currently in the industry will only continue to inspire future generations of young girls who will go on to keep the world of musical theatre exceptionally strong.
No comments:
Post a Comment