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.

George Rodosthenous is Associate Professor in Theatre Directing at the School of Performance and Cultural Industries, University of Leeds.