Musicals That Expressing Thoughts On Issues

Musicals are an art form that often takes the political views from the person who writes the book or lyrics. They can mirror modern issues or issues from the past.

Fiddler on the Roof is a musicals based in Russia in 1905. It centers around the Jewish customs of the time. Tevye is the poor milkman of his town of Anatevka. It has many undertones about the Jewish being forced away from their homes and the violence inflicted on them by the Russians. It also has themes of religion and the world as they know it changing. The "Fiddler" is a metaphor to the Jewish having to balance their lives and one slip might end everything.

But on a different note, Kiss Me Kate a musical by Cole Porter had themes about woman's rights especially shown in the song "I Hate Men" and "I Am Ashamed The Women Are So Simple".

Also on a similar but different note, West Side Story takes on the idea of racism and equality. This is shown by the hated of the love between Tony and Maria. It also tackles the idea of when girls become women with the song "I Feel Pretty". Also with the song "America" it takes the idea that some people are happy with immigration and others are not. Also this show shows gang violence and police brutality. Ending the murder of three young men in the show, it shows the consequences of the gang life they all thought was "fun".

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street shows the evils of men that can happen when something bad happens to them. It also shows Benjamin Barkers (who is now using the name Sweeney Todd) as his quest to get revenge.