West End and Broadway are some of the most well-known theatre industries worldwide. West End originated in London after King Charles II ended the ban on theater in 1660, which had been imposed by the Puritans. The first Broadway musical is considered to be The Black Crook, which occurred much later in the mid 1800’s.
Since then, musicals have evolved and are now commonplace in the arts, with high schools, colleges, communities, and even professional theater businesses often hosting musical performances. Musicals cover a broad variety of topics and genres, ranging from history to comedy and romance to action. These melodic stories hold significance not only for entertainment but also for the themes and stories that they portray.
History is a well-covered topic in the world of musical theater. Popular musicals such as Hamilton and Les Misérables cover historical revolutions from the 18th century. Other musicals, such as Newsies and Cabaret, cover a more modern area of history, with Newsies being on the 1899 newsboy strike and Cabaret covering the Holocaust and World War II. These shows created catchy songs with enticing storylines while also teaching viewers about history.
This same concept goes hand in hand with the political concepts that many musicals convey. Hamilton goes over the creation of American democracy and government. Les Misérables and Newsies talk about poverty and class struggles. Additionally, other less historical musicals, such as Hadestown, also cover political concepts with a critique of capitalism, the exploitation of laborers, and the environmental harm caused by it, as shown through Hades and Persephone’s story.
Besides topics of social studies, mental health has also been covered by many musicals. Next to Normal’s main storyline is about a family and how grief and mental illness affect them. Other musicals, such as The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and Spring Awakening, cover similar topics, with both musicals talking about teenage suicide.
On another note, there are many musicals that cover more light-hearted topics of romance and humor. Something Rotten! and The Book of Mormon are often seen as humorous, while Moulin Rouge! and Little Shop of Horrors have romance as a driving theme. However, even with these romantic or comedic plots, these shows all still have something else to offer such as history or morality.
Musical theater as a whole has something to interest everyone, and so does Pippin. Pippin contains historical context as it is technically set in the Holy Roman Empire, as Pippin’s father is Emperor Charlemagne. Pippin also deals with themes of mental health, particularly suicide and depression. This musical also contains satirical content and seemingly dark humor, along with a love story.
Stroudsburg High School performed Pippin this past Friday, 4/10, Saturday, 4/11, and Sunday, 4/12.