Religion and musicals

On April 12, Passover begins. Easter is on the way. This week is the setting for both Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell. It's the perfect time to take a look at how religion and beliefs are portrayed in musicals. There's far too much material to cover in one hour, and there are no sweeping generalizations. But there are wonderful songs to share.

Fiddler on the Roof: If I Were a Rich Man
In the creation of Fiddler on the Roof, Zero Mostel insisted on a serious verse, where Tevye considered how life would be if he could just sit in the synagogue and pray.

Jesus Christ Superstar
This is the show everyone thinks of when you mention "God" and "Musicals" in the same sentance. "Superstar" is Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's personal take on the New Testament, with several liberties to the traditional views.
Two songs from the 2000 London recording, followed by Jerry Hadley's take on Gethsemanie.

In most epic stories about political injustice, faith in God is a central theme - usually holding on to God as an anchor. Here is a collection of prayers (or as I call it, "Bible Belting.")

The Color Purple (based on the book and subsequent film) is about personal freedom and the context of racism. Celie goes from a childlike view of God to complete disbelief to strong spirituality, while living in a strong Bible-belt community.
Sarafina is an Apartheid show (later a film with Whoopie Goldberg) about students fighting for equality. At the start of the day, they sing the Lord's Prayer.

Notre-Dame de Paris, based on The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (by Victor Hugo), takes place in the famous cathedral. At one point, the gypsy woman Esmeralda takes refuge in the church and prays to Mary.
In the Disney animated film of Notre Dame, the same moment is "God Help the Outcasts," written by Stephen Schwartz.

Speaking of Stephen Schwartz, he wrote 'that other musical about Jesus,' Godspell.
(More about Stephen Schwartz this summer when Coeur d'Alene Summer Theater presents his show Pippin)

In Victor Hugo's novel Les Miserables, religion is the core reason for Jean Valjean's redemption, as heard in this selection from the opening of the show. (By the way, this musical mentions "God" more than all the successful Broadway musicals combined.)

Mario Lanza sang the music for the film version of "The Student Prince," which includes "I'll Walk with God"

And finally, the Sabbath Prayer from Fiddler on the Roof.


Some other songs that we can't fit on the show:
- On the Deck of a Spanish Sailing Ship, a captain sailing to the New World prays for his crew and passengers. (From Songs for a New World)
- Whistle Down the Wind: Set in the American South, some kids believe an escaped convict is Jesus in the second coming.
- Randy Newman's Faust, a musical retelling of the Devil vs. God test with Faust in between. James Taylor sings the role of God, coming across as a pompous celeb (in true Randy Newman style, who by the way sings the Devil).

Old Testament stories: Just as novels are a core source material for musicals, so is the Bible.
- Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - pop songs tell the story without one mention of "God"
- Two by Two is Richard Rodgers' version of Noah and the Ark, most famous because of Danny Kaye's performance.


Sometimes instead of an anchor, the singer is wondering where God is during all this trouble.
- Lost in the Stars: 1949 Kurt Weill
- Dog Eats Dog from Les Miserables.

Two Off-Broadway musicals poke fun with respect at Catholic beliefs: Nunsense (and its various sequels) and Altar Boyz. Each have their "in" jokes that non-Catholics don't quite get, but each are good-natured fun.
- Altar Boyz takes the premise of a stereotypical pop 'boy band,' with the religious members Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan, and Abraham singing in that American Idol style. (Cheyanne Jackson isn't on the CD, but he took a turn as group leader Matthew)

Non Judeo-Christian
- In The King and I, Yul Brynner's King makes a Prayer to Buddha for preservation of the kingdom against the British. When Carousel Players present The King & I later this summer, I'll do an hour of music inspired by Asia.

A PBS program interviewed Jerry Herman on his spirituality and the songs that reflect that. Transcript is here.