The Gospel of Musical Theatre

1.2 Oklahoma!

This week, we launch our Season 1 tour through some of the major musicals of Richard Rodgers (1902-79) and Oscar Hammerstein II (1865-1965), who are often credited with pioneering the “integrated musical” that largely defined the great musicals of the mid-20th century.
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In Oklahoma! (1943), we talk about:
Definitions of “the land” and who occupies it
The cultural impact that Oklahoma! had, and how it reinvented the Broadway musical
The hidden history of Oklahoma, “Indian Territory,” and the queerer, darker history of what lies underneath the surface of a deliberately white-washed world
Rene Girard, James Allison, and the theological underpinnings of the scapegoating narrative
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Never miss an episode! Sign up for our email list to get updates when new episodes are released, info about upcoming special events, and more.
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Check out some of our all-time favorites!
Phantom of the Opera
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Jesus Christ Superstar!
Schmigadoon! (Season 1 / Season 2)
West Side Story!
Yentl!
Frozen!
Barbie!
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Continue the conversation with us on Instagram (@gospelofmt).

1.1 What is The Gospel of Musical Theatre?

And we're off! It's the very first episode of The Gospel of Musical Theatre, with your favorite cathedral deans and musical theatre queens, Nathan LeRud and Peter Elliott!
Peter and Nathan are Anglican priests (which basically means they can have sex & swear) and cathedral deans in the Pacific Northwest with a deep and geeky love of musicals – and a love for pulling them apart and looking at them from a spiritual perspective.
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In this introductory episode, we define terms: what does “Gospel” mean when applied to a work of art? What is “musical theatre?" And how can the musical theatre tradition act as secular scripture - helping us grapple with our North American culture, and the values and ideas we inherit from the past?
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We talk about:
Liturgy & Art: The intersection of liturgy (“a public work for the common good”) and art.
Finding good news in the Gospel beyond traditions of guilt and sin.
Keeping A Critical Eye: What it means to develop a critical lens in regards to literature (including the Bible) and works of art, particularly when it comes to questions of gender, sexuality, and race.
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You’ll hear:
Julie Andrews singing “I Could Have Danced All Night” (My Fair Lady Original London Cast Recording, 1958)
“I Could Have Danced All Night,” as recorded by André Previn (piano), Leroy Vinnegar (bass) and Shelly Manne (drums) from Modern Jazz Performances of Songs from My Fair Lady (1956)
________________________________
Never miss an episode! Sign up for our email list to get updates when new episodes are released, info about upcoming special events, and more.
________________________________
Check out some of our all-time favorites!
Phantom of the Opera
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Jesus Christ Superstar!
Schmigadoon! (Season 1 / Season 2)
West Side Story!
Yentl!
Frozen!
Barbie!
________________________________
Continue the conversation with us on Instagram (@gospelofmt).