20th Annual Student Research Conference
Fine Arts
Angst: A Modern Musical
Joshua A. Baum♦*, Michelle Foard, and Jason Qualls
Dr. Warren Gooch and Dr. Jacqueline Collett, Faculty Mentors
The American musical was originally presented to the public as an artistic expression upholding the idea of the American Dream. This was especially apparent in the musicals of Rodgers and Hammerstein and Lerner and Loewe. The outlook presented by the typical American musical changed significantly with the work of Stephen Sondheim. No longer did the musical uphold the idea of the American Dream, but instead addressed the disintegration of that dream. Currently, this shift in outlook is best observed in the musicals of Jason Robert Brown, especially in his The Last Five Years. The change in emphasis of the musical towards a more realistic, less idealistic, outlook on life is reflected in the musical Angst, with book, libretto, and music by Joshua Baum. In this presentation, the composer will discuss the process involved in the creation of this musical. Selected songs from this work-in-progress will also be performed.
Keywords: Music, Theatre, Broadway, Musical, American Musical, Composition, Play, libretto
Topic(s):Music
Presentation Type: Performance Art
Session: 34-2
Location: OP 1393 (Performance Hall)
Time: 1:30 pm
♦ Indicates Truman Graduate Student