Women in Musical Theatre

“Better than a strong female character is an interesting one. I suspect that these old stories of male domination endure partly because they give their female characters plenty of scenery to chew — in the beginning, at least, before they are refined and tamed. It’s the endings that let these women down. Sometimes all a 2019 woman needs is one final twist.”

Read the full article here: New York Times

Why we take this class:

Refocusing musical theatre’s past to feature women’s stories will support a new generation of women in musical theatre — on and off stage, and in front of and behind the table.

This inclusivity is essential for theatre to grow to create new powerful stories that are women-told and women-centered. It’s imperative that history showcases these amazing women of the past, and also highlights the stories of women on Broadway today.

Essential Questions:

• Why and how should we include women’s stories and experiences in musical theatre history?

• How can we better understand musical theatre’s past to create a more inclusive future for Broadway?

• How do we better support women on and off stage on Broadway in the future?