I’ve grown up in a country at war, and I don’t remember when it started. I was 1 ½ years old when the Twin Towers collapsed. Not having known the world before that terrorist attack, I used to struggle to understand the emotional impact it had on society. When I was in junior high, my curiosity grew and I began watching videos of the attack; I looked at so many pictures. I could see the devastation of the event. Yet, I still had a hard time comprehending the fear, sadness, and anger of that time, until I came across the Broadway cast recording of “Come From Away.” This incredible musical is tightly based on this true story. The power of theatrical storytelling reached into my heart and helped me understand not only the negative emotions, but also the beautiful ones. It brought the people who lived the terror to life. It also brought their astonishing kindness to light. It is a celebration of humanity. Theatre provides insight into the past unlike any other medium of history. In part two of this series, I'm sharing more of the musicals that provide a look into the experiences of those who came before.
Thank you for reading! Are there any historical musicals I missed? Let me know in the comments below!
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There comes a time for genealogists when your past clicks, and you feel a connection to your ancestors. For me, this moment came when I was 13 years old, and I saw the musical Ragtime. “You’ll be able to see the whites of their eyes,” the usher said to us. Our neighbor had graciously given my sister and I his front row tickets to see Ragtime, a show I knew nothing about, at a regional theater. The lights went down, and then came back up on early 1900s New York. Immigrants, upper class families, and African Americans took the stage. We were seated so close we could feel the actors’ breath, breathing life into the past. I watched with awe as history was so masterfully presented through music, acting, set, and costume design. Suddenly the stories of my immigrant ancestors flooded my mind. This is what their life was like! I wanted to know more. Did my ancestors have enough to eat each day? Did they ever participate in a strike? Were they suffragettes? Did they ever see Harry Houdini perform? Did they like Evelyn Nesbit? What did they discuss around the dinner table? My heart was touched and my mind was spinning. To this day, Ragtime remains my favorite musical of all time. Theatre introduced me to a life outside of my own, yet it also showed me the lives that created mine. Theatre creates connection, and that’s what genealogy is all about. Yes, the stories are often fictional, but the feelings ring true. In an effort to bring similar connection to others, I put together a guide to historical Broadway musicals. Exposure to simple representations of the past are sometimes all you need to feel connected to your ancestors. A particular costume, storyline, set piece, or melody may strike a chord within you and bring your heritage to life.
Part two of this blog post will share even more musicals about different time periods, locations, and themes. Keep an eye out for it! In the meantime, please share this post with other theatre and genealogy lovers!
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AuthorHi! I’m Sydney Orton. I am 18 years old and I love genealogy! I’ve been doing it for 7 years now and love sharing my passion with others. In my free time, I enjoy musical theatre, cooking, and kayaking. Archives
October 2018
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