Shared notes for this session:
https://goo.gl/Hw4sgW Every culture in the world has its own methods and traditions of expressing the human experience through music, drama, and dance, which together, comprise musical theater. Some of these culturally diverse genres of musical theater have developed only within the past 50 years, while others have been esablished for centuries. The speakers in this session will engage in a global exploration of a sampling of these culturally diverse genres of musical theater, from East Asia to Western Europe to Latin America and the United States.
Dramatic expression in musical theater within certain cultures is characterized by components which have been codified and regulated with little or no allowance for variation, and thus, they have become unique traditions in themselves. Musical theater in other cultures offers a more varied approach in the dramatic presentation of established stage works, while still other genres embrace and encourage innovation. However, no matter how traditional or how innovative the genres may be, they often contain, within themselves, additional diverse elements which cross over traditional boundary lines: gender lines (male actors as female characters, female actors as male characters, transvestitism/impersonation), sexual orientation lines (including heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender), and ethnic lines (in the form of disguises), etc. Furthermore, since the year 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the New York Stonewall Riots, which initiated the Gay Rights Movement in the U.S., it is appropriate to acknowledge this anniversary by including a presentation on the topic of gay musical theater in the U.S. Thus, the ethnic, cultural, and artistic diversity addressed by each of the speakers will demonstrate the colorful and abundant richness of musical theater on a global scale.
The genres of musical theater which will be presented are: Kabuki and Noh of Japan, Zarzuela of Spain and Latin America, American Gay Musical Theatre in the United States. The three presentations will be followed by a general discussion forum for audience members to ask questions and to discuss points and issues raised in the presentations.
Music librarians are given the responsibility not only of keeping up-to-date with developments in the library profession, but they also have the additional responsibility of maintaining a working knowledge of music and musical performance as found in existing and developing formats and diverse manifestations. Those librarians who are charged with building collections and providing services that must address the ever-widening cultural needs of their patrons and communities will find this session to be engaging and informative for providing a better understanding of these diverse genres of musical theater and providing a forum for discussion.
Zarzuelas, revistas y cine: Lyric Theater as Cultural Spectacle in Latin America The zarzuela served as a popular conduit not just for musical entertainment, but also as a pulse point for cultural developments, events, and/or processes at a given moment in history. This paper explores the cultural functions and meanings of the zarzuela as it transitions from the stage to the silver screen.
Stonewall and the American Musical Theatre: A Retrospective Look at LGBT Musicals, 1969-2019Beginning with the first openly gay character in an American musical show, and looking at the first openly gay show and a few other "firsts," this paper examines the development of LGBT musical theatre in America from Stonewall, through the AIDS crisis, and into the present. This presentation will also look at a few of the conventions of traditional musical theatre and how they were adapted to the LGBT stage.
What to Noh about Kabuki: Traditional Musical Theatre Forms in Japan
Japan is a place that embraces old and new. While Pokémon and cosplay have become internationally known among younger generations of the world, the traditional performing arts such as Noh and Kabuki still enjoy enduring popularity among a wide range of audiences in Japan. This presentation will introduce their unique history and characteristic differences between Noh and Kabuki while offering practical information help audiences enjoy these styles as intended.
