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Broadway bodies : a critical history of conformity /

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Broadway has body issues. What is a Broadway Body? Broadway has long preserved the ideology of the "Broadway Body," the hyper-fit, exceptionally able, triple-threat performer who represents how Broadway musicals favor certain kinds of bodies. Casting is always a political act, situated wit...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Donovan, Ryan (Author)
Format: Book
Language:English
Published: New York : Oxford University Press, [2023].
Subjects:
Musicals > Casting.
Musicals > Auditions.
Physical-appearance-based bias.
Musicals > Political aspects.
Broadway (New York, N.Y.) > History > 20th century.
Broadway (New York, N.Y.) > History > 21st century.
Musicals > New York (State) > New York > 20th century > History and criticism.
Musicals > New York (State) > New York > 21st century > History and criticism.
Table of Contents:
  • Part I : Broadway bodies. Introduction : the Broadway body ; "I saw what they were hiring" : casting and recasting A chorus line
  • Part II : Size. Dreamgirls, size, and the body politics of padding ; "Must be heavyset" : casting fat women in Broadway musicals
  • Part III : Sexuality. La Cage aux folles and playing gay ; "Keeping it gay" on the great white way
  • Part IV : Ability. Deaf West's awakening of Broadway ; Musicals, physical difference, and disability ; Epilogue : recasting Broadway.