Much like Kenna, and many of you, I chose my topic because I have a deep personal connection to Musicals. I saw my first musical at eight, an off-broadway production of The Sound of Music. Julie Andrews Edwards, or some of you may know her as Mary Poppins, became my idol. I was going to become her. But when I was young I often lost my voice due to nodules on my vocal chords. When Julie Andrews lost her voice for what some thought would be for good I knew I could do it too. Now it was obvious to me that the two of us were somehow kindred spirits.
She wrote a book in 1989 that convinced me that an actress could do anything. I still believe in the power of theater, and good writing to transform us. I read scripts voraciously and memorize show tunes for fun, I have been to the west side and lived a story, I know a phantom who needs me, and I go to the hills of Austria every time I hear the sound of music.
I think one of the draws of musicals is their themes, the theme must be based so much on human emotion that it is worthy to sing about. For the project portion of my research I think a video where the words of songs from musicals written on the screen and background music sets a mood for that particular song. This would bring across the message of the words even though they are out of their original song.
This project is to convince non- musical lovers that musicals have a purpose and a power.
I realize that this all sounds idealistic but we're English majors so don't even get me started on that. But! I also realize that in order for this paper and this argument to work I can't keep talking with my head in the clouds. I need some support. So I thought I'd get that from other people.
Here are some options for my project. Let me know what you think.
I've thought of doing a video where I quote a powerful line from a musical and play a bit of the song and then talk about the theme that the piece expresses and how it enstills awe in the listener.
or
Doing a conglomeration of testimonials to get people hooked on my topic. I know people might think it's cheesy. But we're dealing with musicals here so you kind of need to be over the top to show being over the top.
I talked to Dr. Burton about being entranced by language and that's my focus here. I want to stress that musicals are an artistically communal way of connecting to something beyond ourselves. The first song in a musical destroys the similitude of everyday talking and has every audience member astutely listening. People don't just start singing in real life so it is startling when it happens in a musical. Even if you are familiar with the genre, you come to a musical waiting for the dialogue to be broken.
Many people come into a theater and feel awe when someone sings the first song.
Here's a few examples of testimonials I might find to engage people in my topic. It will be people talking to people about people (actors and actresses portraying people). So cool!
These are about the musical, "Wicked" and how it changed these people for good:
"I went to see WICKED for the first time with my best friend of 20 years. We have both been through everything together, dating, break ups, husbands, weddings, showers, 6 boys between us, and being thousands of miles apart. Being able to see the show with her and watching the beautiful friendship moved us both to tears. It changed me for good because all I have to do is start singing a song from the show and I'm instantly happy."
- MIRANDA P. / LONDON, UK
"During the final scene in act one when Elphaba rises while singing Defying Gravity, my teenage daughter reached over and grabbed my hand. The scene ended and the lights came up and I could see she had been crying. When I asked if she was OK, she reached over and hugged me tight and said "I will NEVER ever forget this moment, Mom!" Elphaba flew and so did my daughter's heart."- MARY M. / DETROIT, MICHIGAN
"My surprise 40th birthday gift from my husband was a trip that included 3rd row, center orchestra seats. He does not like musicals and had resigned himself to a miserable experience. In addition to WICKED making me cry (in the best way), I also cried to see my husband, who was the first one out of his seat to clap and whistle as he participated in the standing ovation."- PAM M. / CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE
http://www.wickedthemusical.com/changed-for-good
Go to the web address above for a video like the one I think I'll do. Well sort of... but with more people.
I think I'll do one that's more along the lines of every person saying why they love musicals. My plan is to go to the HFAC and then post it on Facebook. I think this could really be a driving force and great support for my topic.
Any thoughts?
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