Musical Theatre and Theatre With Music

Content in this section explores the popular art form of musical theatre and theatre works that integrate music in other ways. You’ll find thoughts and conversations from artists, articles about contemporary and historical works, and performance videos. The #MusicalsWeek series is a great place to begin, as is “The Black in Black Musical Theatre” episode of the Daughters of Lorraine podcast.

The Latest

A Music Man for Deaf Audiences

Essay

A Music Man for Deaf Audiences

by Melissa Lin Sturges

6 September 2022

I Write What Comes Up in My Body: Robbie McCauley's Theatre

Podcast

I Write What Comes Up in My Body: Robbie McCauley's Theatre

by Leticia Ridley, Jordan Ealey

24 August 2022

Writing Detroit: Dominique Morisseau’s Practice of the Possible

Podcast

Writing Detroit: Dominique Morisseau’s Practice of the Possible

by Jordan Ealey, Leticia Ridley, Dominique Morisseau

10 August 2022

Eight actors dressed in costume singing together on stage.

A Music Man for Deaf Audiences

Melissa Lin

Sturges

Essay

A Music Man for Deaf Audiences

6 September 2022

Melissa Lin Sturges shares her experience attending Olney Theatre Center’s bilingual production of The Music Man, which was presented in both English and American Sign Language.

I Write What Comes Up in My Body: Robbie McCauley's Theatre

Podcast

I Write What Comes Up in My Body: Robbie McCauley's Theatre

24 August 2022

In this episode, Jordan Ealey and Leticia Ridley look at the life and legacy of playwright Robbie McCauley, who recently passed away. They discuss her work as a pioneer of solo performance as a Black woman and how she impacted the world of Black feminist theatre.

Writing Detroit: Dominique Morisseau’s Practice of the Possible

Podcast

Writing Detroit: Dominique Morisseau’s Practice of the Possible

10 August 2022

Jordan Ealey and Leticia Ridley interview award-winning and acclaimed playwright Dominique Morisseau about her recent Broadway productions of Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations and Skeleton Crew; the future of Detroit theatre and performance; and reckoning with American history. Ealey and Ridley discuss Morisseau’s practice of reparative creativity and the ability for theatre to serve as a rehearsal for true change.

A screenshot of 3 actors on Zoom performing a musical in costume.

The TikTok Revolution

Katy

Zapanta

Essay

The TikTok Revolution

9 August 2022

Katy Zapanta champions TikTok as a platform with the potential to revolutionize the theatre industry’s systemic issues.

Working Her Own Tune: Revisiting the Life, Legacy, and Work of Micki Grant

Podcast

Working Her Own Tune: Revisiting the Life, Legacy, and Work of Micki Grant

6 July 2022

This episode honors the life and work of composer, writer, and performer Micki Grant, who passed away in August 2021. Grant was the first Black woman to write and compose a musical that made it to Broadway, and she is also the subject of Jordan's dissertation.

Creating a Space for Black Theatre Audiences

Podcast

Creating a Space for Black Theatre Audiences

With Addae Moon

29 June 2022

This episode is an interview with Addae Moon, the associate artistic director at Theatrical Outfit in Atlanta, Georgia. We discuss his journey as a theatre artist; his playwright development lab, Hush Harbor Lab; and his own artistry and creativity.

Singin' a Black Girl's Song- Ntozake Shange and for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf

Podcast

Singin' a Black Girl's Song- Ntozake Shange and for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf

22 June 2022

This episode explores the recent revival of Ntozake Shange’s for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf, directed and choreographed by Camille A. Brown. Hosts Leticia Ridley and Jordan Ealey contextualize the production, its ongoing relevance and legacy, and its resonance in Black feminist theatre, dance, and performance.

On Hauling Water: Outdoor Theatre as Re-Enchantment amidst Climate Crisis

Elle

Thoni

Essay

On Hauling Water: Outdoor Theatre as Re-Enchantment amidst Climate Crisis

2 May 2022

Theatre artist Elle Thoni shares their experience working on the outdoor theatre production of a futuristic musical, Queen B, and challenges institutional ideas on how and where theatre can take place.

Actress Tawana Montgomery playing Deborah Scott. Photo credit: Greg Mooney

Organizing History in the Alliance Theatre’s Working: A Musical

Margarita

Kompelmakher

Essay

Organizing History in the Alliance Theatre’s Working: A Musical

17 August 2021

Margarita Kompelmakher details the Alliance Theatre’s process of adapting Working into a community-engaged production that both modeled grassroots organizing and told the story of the work of organizers in the city.

Several half-naked actors with lacrosse sticks. One actor is front and center, wearing a red hat and white underwear, with his hands behind his head. The actresses on his sides are using lacrosse sticks to cover their chests.

The Island of Lost Chorus Boys: Professional Theatre’s Broken Promise to Accept Us in All Our Glorious Queerness

Kieron

Cindric

Essay

The Island of Lost Chorus Boys: Professional Theatre’s Broken Promise to Accept Us in All Our Glorious Queerness

8 July 2021

Kieron Cindric talks about how the theatre industry—and, in particular, musical theatre—has continually reinforced a narrow and harmful version of masculinity.

black background with white text taylor talks above black and white portraits of artists

Taylor Talks: HERE Resident Artists talk art & process with Taylor Mac

HERE Arts Center

Video

Taylor Talks: HERE Resident Artists talk art & process with Taylor Mac

Episode 8: Sachiyo Takahashi & gamin

Tuesday 4 May 2021

United States

HERE presented Taylor Talks: Episode 8 with Sachiyo Takahashi & gamin livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 4 May 2021 at 10 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 12 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 1 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

SEGAL TALKS with Pedja Muzijevic (United States)

Segal

Center

Video

SEGAL TALKS with Pedja Muzijevic (United States)

Join us for a conversation about curating, producing and presenting theatre and performance in the Time of Corona

Friday 16 April 2021

United States

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented SEGAL TALKS with Pedja Muzijevic (United States) livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 16 April 2021 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

zoom windows of artists performing in their homes.

Sonic Gathering In Person

CultureHub

Video

Sonic Gathering In Person

Featuring a rotating cast of dancers and musicians presenting new collaborative work of movement and sound

Wednesday 7 April 2021

United States

CultureHub presented Sonic Gathering In Person with Re-Fest livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 7 April 2021 at 3 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 5 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 6 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

portrait of gelsey and taylor against a black background with white text TAYLOR TALKS.

Taylor Talks: HERE Resident Artists talk art & process with Taylor Mac

HERE Arts Center

Video

Taylor Talks: HERE Resident Artists talk art & process with Taylor Mac

Episode 5: Gelsey Bell

Tuesday 23 March 2021

United States

HERE presented Taylor Talks: Episode 5 with Gelsey Bell livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 23 March 2021 at 10 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 12 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 1 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

Write the Software and Let the World Have It

Essay

Write the Software and Let the World Have It

Forty Years of Internet Performance

14 January 2021

In this article for the Performing the Internet series, Miller Puckette and Onyx Ashanti get together for a conversation about the changing landscape of multimedia technology in the arts, how technologically mediated performance practices have taken on new relevance in the post-COVID era, and more.

Dancehall Reggae and the Nettleford Effect

Akiba Abaka Arts

Video

Dancehall Reggae and the Nettleford Effect

10 Weeks In Jamaica: Theater Conversations from Jamaica to The World!

Sunday 29 November 2020

United States

Akiba Abaka Arts presented the conversation Dancehall Reggae and the Nettleford Effect as a part of the 10 Weeks in Jamaica series livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Sunday 29 November 2020 at 1 p.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC -8) / 3 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC -6) / 4 p.m. EST (Kingston, UTC -5).

Tropical Angels, a new musical

Musical Theatre Factory

Taipei Cultural Center in New York

Video

Tropical Angels, a new musical

The English premiere of a work written in Chinese and English exploring different possibilities to devise translated theatre.

Wednesday 11 November 2020

United States

Musical Theatre Factory presented the Tropical Angels, a new musical reading livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 11 November 2020 at 3:30 p.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC -8) / 5:30 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC -6) / 6:30 p.m. EST (New York, UTC -5).

From West to East, How Musical Theatre has Transformed?

Musical Theatre Factory

Taipei Cultural Center in New York

Video

From West to East, How Musical Theatre has Transformed?

A discussion on musical theatre in Taiwan and Korea.

Tuesday 10 November 2020

United States

Musical Theatre Factory presented the panel From West to East, How Musical Theatre has Transformed? livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 10 November 2020 at 3:30 p.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC -8) / 5:30 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC -6) / 6:30 p.m. EST (New York, UTC -5).

Psalm's Salons at Studio

Studio Theatre

Video

Psalm's Salons at Studio

A virtual dance party with conversation in collaboration with theatre-maker and emcee Psalmayene 24

Thursday 22 October 2020

United States

Studio Theatre presented Psalm's Salons at Studio livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 22 October at 2 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 4 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 5 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

The Black in Black Musical Theatre

Podcast

The Black in Black Musical Theatre

Daughters of Lorraine Podcast Episode #8

23 September 2020

In this episode of the Daughters of Lorraine Podcast, hosts Jordan Ealey and Leticia Ridley discuss "What is a Black musical?" using James Baldwin's Amen Corner and Angelica Chéri's Gun and Powder.

MUSICAL METAMORPHOSIS (Live-captioned)

Playwrights' Center

Video

MUSICAL METAMORPHOSIS (Live-captioned)

A Songwriter’s Journey into Musicals

Tuesday 25 August 2020

Minneapolis MN United States

Playwrights' Center presented MUSICAL METAMORPHOSIS livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 25 August 2020 at 5 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 6 p.m. MDT (Denver, UTC -6) / 7 p.m. CDT (Minneapolis, UTC -5) / 8 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

text: jeannette, or how to make a musical in a pandemic. six headshots of the event participants.

Arts + Activism: Jeannette and Making Political Musical Theatre

Lauren

Gunderson

Video

Arts + Activism: Jeannette and Making Political Musical Theatre

with Ari Afsar, Erin Ortman, Martha Nichols, Jen Bender, and Regina Victor

Thursday 6 August 2020

United States

Playwright Lauren Gunderson presented Arts + Activism: Jeannette and Making Political Musical Theatre livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 6 August 2020 at 12 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 2:00 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 3:00 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

Group of people posing under the text "Contested Homes: Migrant liberation movement suite"

Contested Homes: a Migrant Liberation Movement Suite

UW Division of the Arts

The Afro Yaqui Music Collective

Video

Contested Homes: a Migrant Liberation Movement Suite

A new free jazz opera that combines jazz, hip-hop, spoken word, dance, and visual art animated and illustrated by students and guest artists

Tuesday 30 June 2020

Madison, WI United States

The Afro Yaqui Music Collective, in collaboration with UW-Madison Jazz Studies presented Contested Homes: a Migrant Liberation Movement Suite livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 30 June 2020 at 7:30 p.m. CDT (Madison, UTC -5) / 2:30 p.m. HST (Honolulu, UTC -10) / 4:30 p.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC -8) / 5:30 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 6:30 pm.m MDT (Denver, UTC -6) / 8:30 p.m. EDT (New York City, UTC -4)

overhead view of a large group both seated, standing, and moving about outside

The Marriage of Music and Story

Karishma

Bhagani

Essay

The Marriage of Music and Story

Redefining Kenyan Identity Through Musical Theatre

29 June 2020

Karishma Bhagani asks: “How do we, the Kenyan artist community, choose to understand our place in this contemporary, independent nation? And how do we use our art to express the realities of our contemporary experience in Kenya?”

BronX BandA featuring Arturo O’Farrill

Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education

Video

BronX BandA featuring Arturo O’Farrill

Bronx based jazz ensemble collaborates with large scale puppet theater amplifying the sounds and stories of our community

Friday 12 June 2020

Bronx NY, USA

Livestreamed BronX BandA featuring Arturo O’Farrill on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 12 June 2020 at at 11 a.m. HST (Honolulu, UTC-10) / 1 p.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC-8) / 2 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 4 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 5 p.m. EDT.