Musical theatre is a form of art that has been around for centuries, and like any form of art, it has its own unique themes. Common themes in musical theatre include love, redemption, justice, self-discovery, struggle, and hope.
Love is one of the most common themes in musical theatre. From Romeo and Juliet to The Sound of Music and many other shows, love-related stories have been featured prominently on stage. Whether it’s romantic love or familial love, the powerful emotions that come with it are often explored in musicals.
Redemption is another popular theme in musical theatre. It can be seen in shows such as Les Miserables and Aida, which feature characters trying to overcome their past mistakes and find redemption for their actions. In some cases, the character’s redemption can only come from within themselves once they have accepted what they have done wrong.
Justice is another theme that appears often in musicals. Characters may fight for justice against a corrupt system or seek justice for a wronged individual or group of people. Shows such as Hamilton and The Color Purple explore this theme in depth through characters who seek to challenge unjust systems or fight for equality.
Self-discovery is also a common theme in musical theatre. In shows such as Wicked and Next to Normal, characters go through personal journeys that lead them to discover more about themselves and their place in the world. These stories often involve characters realizing their full potential while finding inner strength within themselves they didn’t know they had before embarking on their journey of self-discovery.
Struggle is another frequent theme seen throughout many musicals. This can be seen in shows such as Rent and Newsies which feature characters struggling against difficult circumstances or oppressive systems while striving to overcome adversity to achieve their goals. Often these struggles come with triumphs that inspire audiences with hope for the future despite the struggles faced by the characters along the way.
Hope is a final common theme found throughout musical theatre productions. Even when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds or tragedy striking close to home, many musicals will end on an optimistic note with hope for a better future ahead despite any hardships faced along the way by its characters. This can be seen in shows such as Dreamgirls and Avenue Q which offer audiences a glimmer of hope even when all seems lost during their stories’ climaxes.
Conclusion:
What Are Common Themes in Musical Theatre? Common themes found throughout many musical theatre productions include love, redemption, justice, self-discovery, struggle, and hope; though each show may explore these themes differently depending on its story and genre focus.