Overview

While most discussions of race in American theater emphasize the representation of race mainly in terms of character, plot, and action, Race in American Musical Theater highlights elements of theatrical production and reception that are particular to musical theater. Examining how race functions through the recurrence of particular racial stereotypes and storylines, this introductory volume also looks at casting practices, the history of the chorus line, and the popularity of recent shows such as Hamilton. Moving from key examples such as Show Boat! and South Pacific through to all-Black musicals such as Dreamgirls, Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk, and Jelly’s Last Jam, this concise study serves as a critical survey of how race is presented in the American musical theater canon. Providing readers with historical background, a range of case studies and models of critical analysis, this foundational book prompts questions from how stereotypes persist to “who tells your story?”

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9781350248212

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Reviews

Highlights the ways in which the genre has variously reflected, explored, combated, and even exacerbated the processes and effects of marginalization ... Highly useful in courses designed to examine the sociopolitical dimensions of musical theatre and to those performing dramaturgical work on specific musicals dealing with race … Well-rounded and informative. [The volume] will spur the beginning or intermediate musical theatre student or aficionado, or theatre practitioner, to deeper exploration and, perhaps, to new understanding. -- Dennis Sloan * Theatre Topics *

Author Information

Josephine Lee is Professor of English and Asian American Studies at the University of Minnesota, USA, and the editor in chief of the Oxford Encyclopedia of Asian American Literature and Culture. Her other books include The Japan of Pure Invention: Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado and Performing Asian America: Race and Ethnicity on the Contemporary Stage.

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