Broadway Musicals Based On Historical Events
Jersey Boys, Titanic, 1776, and Other Historical Stage Shows…
Mar 20, 2009
Some events seem to be more captivating as history than as current events, and hindsight adds the advantage of focal point and angle approach to storytelling. Thus history and biography has proved a popular starting point for drama.
Of course, there have been many stage shows which use factual events as the backdrop for fictional stories, but most of the productions of these sorts of stories are based upon novels such as Ragtime.The French Revolution has proved to be perhaps the most often used historical event, which first utilized for the fictional plot of a popular novel, becomes the inspiration for a musical. Examples of such musicals include, Les Misérables, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and A Tale of Two Cities.
However, many musicals have also drawn inspiration directly from historical events and figures. For example, George M! was a musical about the life of George M. Cohan, and composer Frank Wildhorn used the bloodiest war in American history for his inspiration for the short running The Civil War.
The Unsinkable Molly Brown
This biographical musical tells some of the story of determined Colorado-girl Margaret Brown. Initially a tomboy, the nicknamed “Molly,” cleans up to start work at a saloon. Meeting Johnny Brown, who teaches her how to read at her request, Molly reluctantly falls in love and marries. The two strike it rich with a gold mine, and move to Denver to join society, as Molly desires. However, shunned by society as “newer money,” Molly and Johnny travel to Europe to become cultured. While Molly finds contentment, Johnny, missing their hometown, becomes homesick, causing the two to separate, until Molly decides to travel back to the United States to reclaim her husband, only to find herself sailing on the ill-fated RMS Titanic.
The original Broadway production ran from November 1960 to February 1962, and its star, Tammy Grimes, won the Tony Award for her performance. Debbie Reynolds played Molly Brown in the movie version by the same name.
The musical’s book was written by Richard Morris and the music and lyrics are by Meredith Willson.
1776
Recreating the events leading up to the Continental Congress signing the Declaration of Independence in 1776, it features historical figures such as John Adams, Benjamin Franklyn, and Thomas Jefferson as its main characters.
Set predominately in the single Philadelphia chamber, where congress met, the musical has a relatively small cast of characters, but many thoughts and feelings about the formation of the United States are conveyed both through the dialogue and the impressive score.
The musical was transferred to screen in 1972, starring much of the Broadway cast, including William Daniels, acclaimed for his portrayal of John Adams. The film is one of the best examples of it being possible to turn a stage musical into an equally as effective movie. It is available on DVD, but sadly, the DVD is a director’s cut which includes about half an hour extra footage rendering the film too laborious in pace, and robbing it of the impressivness it had upon original cinema release. The newly restored director’s cut is also the version now usually played on television, but it is possible to see the original movie version on VHS tape.
Originally performed on Broadway in 1969, it ran 1,217 performances, earning 5 Tony Award nominations, winning 3, including Best Musical.
The book is by Peter Stone, and the music and lyrics are by Sherman Edwards.
Titanic
As the title suggests, the musical is a staging of the story of the tragic RMS Titanic, the so-called unsinkable ship which sank on its maiden voyage in April 1912. The musical follows the abruptly ended week of the transatlantic crossing, and the cast of characters includes a combination of factual and fictional figures.
Originally playing Broadway from April 1997 to March 1999, Titanic won all five of the Tony Awards for which it was nominated, including Best Musical.
The show’s music and lyrics were by Maury Yeston, and, like 1776, the book was written by Peter Stone.
Parade
This powerful and emotive musical successfully shows the destruction of the innocent lives of both Leo Frank and Mary Phagan.
It recounts the story of a particularly dramatic 1913 murder trial in Atlanta, Georgia. Adolescent factory worker Mary Phagan was found murdered at the factory after 4th of July celebrations, including the local parade. On thin speculation, the Jewish Yankee manager, Leo Frank (craver), was put on trial for Mary’s murder, following a media circus and theatrical trial, Frank was convicted and sentenced to death, but due to the efforts of his Southern-born wife Lucille (Carmello), the conviction was eventually overturned, only to have the sentence illegally carried out by a lynch mob. However, Frank was granted posthumous exoneration, and evidence later indicated that the murderer was another factory worker.
Orginally on Broadway from December 1998 to February 1999, although it only ran for a total of 39 previews and 84 performances, it earned 9 Tony Award nominations, winning for both best book and best score.
The musical has a book written by Alfred Uhry and music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown. The original production was directed by Harold Prince and starred Brent Craver and Carolee Carmello.
Jersey BoysFollowing the story of humble boys from New Jersey as they rise and decline as successful 1960s rock 'n' roll group The Four Seasons. The smash-hit musical uses many of the actual group's songs to retell the rollercoaster ride experienced by Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito, and Nick Massi.
This "documentary-style" musical opened on Broadway in 2005, and won the 2006 Tony Award for Best Musical. Original cast members John Lloyd Young and Christian Hoff respectively won the Tony Awards for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor.
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