Twenty-First Century Musicals: From Stage to Screen

Twenty-First Century Musicals stakes a place for the musical in today’s cinematic landscape, taking a look at leading contemporary shows from their stage origins to their big-screen adaptations.

Each chapter offers a new perspective on a single musical, challenging populist narratives and exploring underlying narratives and sub-texts in-depth. Themes of migration and national identity; race, class and gender; the ‘voice’ and ‘singing live’ on film; authenticity; camp sensibilities; and the celebration of failure are addressed in a series of questions including:

• How does a film adaptation provide a different viewing experience from a stage musical?
• What new themes are highlighted by film adaptations?
• What does new casting bring to the work?
• Do camera angles dictate a different reading than a stage version?
• What is lost in the process of adaptation?

Re-interpreting the contemporary film musical as a compelling art form, Twenty-First Century Musicals is a must-read for any student or scholar keen to broaden their understanding of musical performance.