Twenty-First Century Musicals

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 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 the film adaptation provide a different viewing experience from the stage version?

• What themes are highlighted in the film adaptation?

• What does the new casting bring to the work?

• Do camera angles dictate a different reading from the stage version?

• What is lost/gained in the process of adaptation to film?

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.