Since we will all be a little distracted tomorrow night, and since I have committed my Tuesday diary to Liveblogging Election Results for the State of Maine, I wanted to get our Showtunes in a day early! There have been many great shows with political themes including the three I have chosen for tonight's discussion. But I'm sure you have your own personal favorites. So join us for a wonderful discussion and then get some sleep! You're going to need it!
1776
This large cast musical by Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone is based on the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. With stirring songs (although none of them particularly memorable in popular musical culture) the play is certainly worthy of mention here on this historic evening, 232 Years after the birth of the nation.
Here is "Sit Down John" from the Tony Awards Show in 1998. Enjoy!
Of Thee I Sing
The Gershwin Brothers teamed up with George S. Kaufman just a couple of years before the horrible death of George Gershwin to write one of the best yet least produced musicals ever. Of Thee I Sing is funny, biting satire and relevant today, despite the fact that it was written in 1931. When John P. Wintergreen runs for President on the Love Platform, vowing to marry the winner of a beauty contest, but then falls for a homely press assistant, his presidency becomes a everything from fodder for the Tabloid trash to spawning of an international crisis with France. It was the first musical to ever win the Pulitzer for drama. It’s a beautiful thing to behold and I am totally in love with the show.
This is from somebody’s college musical I think. The show had a 2006 NYC revival, but it didn’t get much notice.
The Cradle Will Rock
The epic 1930s Mark Blitztein musical about the attempt to unionize a steel factory, made history when it was shut down by the Federal Theater Project just before opening night. When the theater was padlocked, Blitztein, Producer John Houseman and others decided to rent a nearby vacant theater and produce the show with just a piano onstage. The actors from the play stayed in the house and did not come on stage so that they could avoid breaking Actor’s Equity rules. The actors remained in the house throughout the show and the performance was noted by many as the definition of visceral live theater. Wish I could have been there. Who knows, maybe I WAS there!
Here is a very interesting history lesson on video. It’s kind of long, but very nicely done...perhaps it was somebody’s college project? Anyway, I found it fun to watch.
So haul out the old Victrola and let us know what political musical you and your loved ones are singing along with tonight.
And as for tomorrow, well, vote early, GO Obama, and Goodnight Bush!