Broadway’s Most Entertaining Shows About Serious Social Issues
August 22, 2017 Leave a comment
What is your favorite show on Broadway that explores serious issues in an entertaining way?
Below are some answers to this question, which I asked in a recent contest for tickets to a show, now ended, that I felt fit the bill — “Indecent.” The shows are listed alphabetically, with excerpts from the explanations. I only include the choices in which a persuasive case was made for both elements — that the play or musical dealt with a serious social issue and was also entertaining.
Angels in America
“Tony Kushner shows the devastating blows of the 80s HIV crisis while also exploring faith, gods, love, politics and life in a fantastical way.”
As Is
“Broadway’s first play to deal with AIDS presented its serious subject in a way that acknowledged the serious devastation but was also able to find moments of humor.”
The Book of Mormon
The show is hilarious and the writing is great, but the underlying themes of an outsider (particularly those of the white persuasion) trying to ‘save’ other cultures by imposing their will is a very serious topic, as well as a lack of understanding for ‘others’,…”
Cabaret
“The MC leads you on the journey with whimsy and fun, and then you have this realization that the moments you are laughing at really aren’t so funny. It deals with the rise of the Nazis, homophobia, politics…”
“I left the theater reflecting on societal injustices that are perpetuated through oblivious complicity.”
Dear Evan Hansen
This musical was the most popular choice.
“It is able to turn the dark subject matter of suicide and bullying into a well crafted, entertaining and heartfelt show.”
Falsettos
“it explores the rise of AIDS in America in song – and it uses comedic as well as caustic moments to show the tragedy”
“The music is fairly upbeat even while death is on the table.”
Fun Home
“it depicted a difficult relationship between a father and daughter, the lies that the father was living by staying in the closet, and faced with making that same decision, how the daughter rejected living a lie, and yet she later wonders if her choice (and her judgment of his choice) may have influenced her father’s suicide. The entertainment was in the music, the humor, the beauty of the story, the acting and the way it was told.”
Hairspray
“Flashy costumes, 60s style music, and big dance numbers, but it has serious moments regarding racial discrimination and body image issues.”
Newsies
“I know it sounds silly but I thought “Newsies” covered some serious issues including: child labor, worker exploitation, and anti-labor practices. And yes, it was entertaining as hell.”
Next to Normal
This musical about a troubled family was the second most popular choice.” It tackles topics like depression, drug abuse and bipolar disorder….but I was kind of shocked at how funny the show was.”
Ragtime
“The show weaves together stories of racism, immigration, women’s rights, capitalism and class division with gorgeous songs that make you tap your foot, then make you laugh, then make you cry.”
Rent
“It did a wonderful job at addressing issues such as AIDS…with a catchy rock score
South Pacific
“Rodgers & Hammerstein’s glorious musical entertains with comedy (“There is Nothing Like a Dame,” “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair”) while addressing racism, both overt and subtle, during World War II. The two love stories(Emile/Nellie and Lt. Cable/Liat) have both light and dark elements as they celebrate their love and confront their prejudices. The song “You’ve Got to Be Taught” still resonates powerfully today.”
Spring Awakening
“It dealt with serious issues such as suicide and abortion, and while it was certainly dark for much of the show, a lot of it was extremely entertaining, with rocking songs liked “Totally F—ed” to comedic moments such as “My Junk”,
For the purposes of this list, I made a distinction between “entertaining” and “enlightening,” “important” or “engaging,” but maybe I shouldn’t have. A couple of people picked “Sweat” but described how spot-on it was and how much it meant to them, rather than how it entertained them. And then there is the question of what constitutes a serious issue. I guess I use that term as a synonym for significant social issue — something facing society at large — rather than personal issues such as ambition (“A Chorus Line”) or personal growth (“Avenue Q,” “Groundhog Day,” “Wicked”) or love …which are, Heaven knows, very serious to individuals.
Choose the show that you are most looking forward to. The list below is for shows that have opening dates on Broadway from September 2017 to January 2018 as of this writing, and they are listed chronologically by opening date.
“I wanted to do some shows that were as personal and as intimate as possible. I chose Broadway for this project because it has the beautiful old theaters which seemed like the right setting for what I have in mind. In fact, with one or two exceptions, the 960 seats of the Walter Kerr Theatre is probably the smallest venue I’ve played in the last 40 years. My show is just me, the guitar, the piano and the words and music. Some of the show is spoken, some of it is sung. It loosely follows the arc of my life and my work.” He will read from his recently published autobiography, “Born to Run.”
Theater for a New Audience presents Adrienne Kennedy’s first new play in 9 years, He Brought Her Heart Back in a Box, Jan 17–Feb 11 2018
“It did have it’s flaws, but I thought it was a very smooth musical”
Chaplin
“the score was interesting, the performances great, costumes were wonderful, story was engrossing”
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
“It’s an incredibly flawed show… [but] has important morals that ring true today, and I appreciate these kinds of “entertaining” shows that introduce children to theatre in a way that they can relate to and understand.