Instructor: Heller | TR 2:00 PM – 3:20 PM
Just as musicals include both ensemble numbers and solos, the genre tells stories of both communities and individuals. In fact, one of the common tensions at the heart of many musicals is the conflict between societies or groups of people and isolated, often alienated individuals. In this class, we will view the musical genre through the lens of this common and complex theme, addressing how the topic of communities and alienation enables musicals to address types of national, gender, sexual, racial, and class identity. Musicals we discuss will include Oklahoma!, Les Miserables, Wicked, Hamilton, and Dear Evan Hansen. Graded work will include discussion board posts and a take-home midterm and final which include both analytical essays and creative options.