BroadwayMusicals.pptVIP

History on Broadway An overview of musicals that coincide with historical events High School General Music Created by: Mr. Wolff Musicals have been entertaining audiences for over a century. In that time, there have been shows that not only reflect the environment, but the times of its creation as well as the ideals and attitudes of America Sometimes musicals integrate actual events into their shows, allowing the audience to understand how life may have been during a particular era South Pacific Richard Rodgers Oscar Hammerstein II, wrote “South Pacific” in 1949, four years after World War II This musical was based on a book called “Tales of the South Pacific” by James A. Michener The plot of “South Pacific” is derived from two chapters which revolve around two love affairs while still offering lessons in human understanding South Pacific “South Pacific” went against the stereotype of most musicals by not having a choreographer Without having any choreographed songs, it enhanced the shows realism Hammerstein’s lyrics made the show racial, poetic, and tragic Michener’s stories were dramatic, real and contemporary, which portrayed life in the South Pacific during World War II The show was more about telling the story and less about the music of the show, which is why it won a Pulitzer Prize for Drama South Pacific The characters’ main problems integrate race, age and class Nellie, a nurse from Arkansas, meets Emile, an older French man ‘Some Enchanted Evening’ is sung by Emile, at the end of his first date with Nellie The song begins appropriately and poetically and is about forgetting everything, such as age and race, while being in love In the meantime, Lt. Joe Cable, who has met a native girl of his own, is on a mission to monitor the Japanese and needs help from Emile South Pacific At first, Emile declines, but when Nellie refuses to marry him, knowing that he has children of another decent, Emile decides to risk his life to hel