Top 10 Dark Truths About Broadway Musicals
#10: The Working Conditions of the New York Newsies
“Newsies”
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Disney had a bonafide hit on their hands when they adapted their movie musical "Newsies" for the Broadway stage in 2012. However, for the real-life children of the Newsboys' strike of 1899, it was anything but toe-tapping. Protesting unfair wages, New York City newsboys halted the distribution of Joseph Pulitzer's New York World and William Randolph Hearst's New York Journal. While the musical covers the challenges of the event, it washes over the violence that took place. Anyone caught reading one of the publications would face physical consequences at the hands of the young newsies. Of course, "Newsies" is a "Disney-fied" version of the event, but at its core, it's about child labor, which is pretty unsettling.
#9: Hamilton’s Past
“Hamilton”
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"Hamilton" is one of those rare musical theatre phenomenons that takes on a life of its own. The mega-musical broke records and created a frenzy that led it to a filmed version for Disney+ in 2020. After its streaming debut, many viewers called out the show's lack of historical accuracy, particularly how it handled the topic of slavery. Real-life figures, like Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, who enslaved people, are left off the hook in the musical. Then there's Alexander Hamilton, who is referred to as an "abolitionist," but many scholars argue over the truth of that title. Plus, there's evidence suggesting he traded enslaved people for his wife, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton's, family. The musical creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda, welcomed the feedback, calling the criticism "valid."
#8: Bonnie & Clyde’s Crimes
“Bonnie & Clyde”
Produced for the stage in 2009, "Bonnie & Clyde" made its Broadway debut in 2011. The musical covered the tale of infamous robbers and couple Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. The show heavily focuses on their love story, often painting the two as dreamers. However, it would be hard to sympathize with them in real life. The couple committed many robberies against places like banks and funeral homes and killed eleven people over two years. Their reign of crime sparked a massive manhunt that ended with the pair being ambushed, shot, and killed by Texas Rangers. No matter how you look at it, Bonnie and Clyde's story is a bleak one.
#7: Sweeney Todd's Penny Dreadful Origins
“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
Before Sweeney Todd was haunting the Great White Way, he terrorized readers in 19th-century England. The Demon Barber of Fleet Street was introduced to the world through penny dreadfuls. Costing only a penny, the booklets featured gothic and macabre tales and were published on a weekly basis. Todd made his literary debut in a dreadful called "The String of Pearls." From then on, the tale of the vengeful barber was adapted into plays, films, and dance. In the 70s, Stephen Sondheim created the music for a musical version, making it arguably the most well-known adaptation of the eerie tale.
#6: Emma Goldman’s Radical Social Justice
“Ragtime”
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The 1998 musical "Ragtime" is a portrait of a turning point in American history and culture. The musical melds the stories of several characters from different races, classes, nationalities, and religions. Many historical figures are also depicted, including Emma Goldman. Born in Russia, Goldman was an activist and anarchist who came to America in 1885. Shortly after, she became heavily involved in political activism and fought for many things, including women's rights and freedom of speech. She protested World War I and was jailed for promoting birth control. In 1919, she was deported. One of the greatest lectures in history, Goldman's radical and inspiring approach to social justice is something that should never be forgotten.
#5: The Story of Andrew Jackson
“Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson”
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Years before "Hamilton'' popularized American history through modern music, there was "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson." Set to rock score, the musical told the story of the seventh president of the United States. However, the show doesn't make its subject out to be a hero. It delves into Jackson's imperialistic political approach. Moreover, it also portrays the barbaric way he treated Indigenous people. That being said, the satirical show isn't without its faults. Several productions came under fire after the Indigenous theatre companies and organizations raised concerns over the subject matter, resulting in canceled performances and an ongoing discourse about musical theatre and its depictions of history.
#4: The Internment of Japanese-Americans in the 1940s
“Allegiance”
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In 2015, actor George Takei brought his family's history to Broadway. "Allegiance" follows the story of a family living in California. After Pearl Harbor, around 120,000 Japanese residents of the United States were forced to attend internment camps including the Heart Mountain War Relocation Center in Wyoming. The show's protagonist, Sam, volunteers to join the military to prove his patriotism and loyalty to America, while his sister, Kei, joins the resistance. "Allegiance" is a rare depiction of a part of American history that hasn't received the attention it deserves.
#3: The Real-Life Murders of “Chicago”
“Chicago”
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Although "Chicago" might appear a flashy and fun musical, its origins are pretty dark. The material is inspired by a play written by Maurine Dallas Watkins; a reporter turned playwright. Watkins covered crimes for the Chicago Tribune, including the cases of Beulah Annan (uh-NON) and Belva Gaertner. The Windy City became captivated by women who were separately accused of murdering their lovers in 1924. The two became the basis for the musical's merry murderesses, Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly. "Chicago" might serve plenty of razzle-dazzle, but it's also a dark tale of love gone wrong.
#2: The Story of Leo Frank
“Parade”
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"Parade" is a musical about an American tragedy that needs broader attention. In 1913, a Jewish New Yorker living in Atlanta named Leo Frank was a factory manager accused of murdering Mary Phagan. Found guilty, antisemitism, racial tensions, and lack of evidence played a significant role in the case. A judge re-opened it. However, a mob of angered civilians kidnapped Frank from jail and lynched him. Decades later, there's still major doubt. Star witness Jim Conley also became a suspect after a 1982 statement came from another one of Frank's employees. In 2019, a council based in Fulton County District was organized to determine whether the case should be examined again. This heart-wrenching musical planned a return to Broadway with Ben Platt in 2023.
#1: The Scottsboro Boys Case
“The Scottsboro Boys”
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The final collaboration between John Kander and Fred Ebb, "The Scottsboro Boys" covers one of the biggest cases of injustice ever. In 1931 in Alabama, nine Black men and boys went to trial after two white women accused them of crimes. There was no evidence to prove the assaults happened and the trial featured a white jury. Eight defendants were found guilty and sentenced to death but ultimately were spared and released from prison years later. The case was a defining moment in the steps leading toward the civil rights movement. The musical, framed as a ministerial show featuring blackface, was met with protest. People like Whoopi Goldberg came to the show's defense, citing that the artistic choices were not to offend but rather to educate.
