10 Best Musicals About The Immigrant Experience

10 Best Musicals About The Immigrant Experience

The immigrant story is one that’s often told, whether it be in books or on film. Musicals are also the perfect medium and these are the 10 best.

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Leaving one’s home and moving to a new country or environment is a common subject seen in both reality and fiction. The search for something better is an element of the human condition that will never cease to be relatable, and nowhere is this better represented than on the stage.

There are plenty of plays and musicals that put immigrant characters in the limelight, and they all have tremendous tales to tell. Whether it’s a matter of expressing the desire for a new life in a new land or adapting to a world that already makes them feel like strangers, the stories these musicals tell are undeniably powerful.

10 The Hunchback Of Notre Dame

It might not seem like this musical should count, but consider the fact that many of the characters in The Hunchback of Notre Dame are Romani citizens living in hiding from Frollo’s persecution in Paris. Not only that, but Esmerelda is one of Disney’s best leading ladies, and yet she still doesn’t get nearly enough recognition.

The plight of her people is heavily addressed in the song, “God Help The Outcasts,” and it makes for one of the most emotional moments in the entire production.

9 The Immigrant

Based on Mark Harelik’s play of the same name, The Immigrant concerns a Russian-Jewish immigrant leaving his homeland and finding refuge in the Christian community of Hamilton, Texas, in 1909. It’s a familiar fish-out-of-water story, but one that lends itself up to a unique musical interpretation.

Haskel Harelik’s interactions with the Perry Family during their time in America frame a story of communication, compassion, and understanding. This is easily one of the most underrated productions out there.

8 Rags

Immigrants arriving at Ellis Island is a moment in American history that has played a key role in many stories, and it’s definitely one that has been on stage more than a few times. Rags tells the story of a group of Russian immigrants making their way to New York City in the hopes of finding better lives.

The main plot concerns Rebecca Hershkowitz and her son David searching for Rebecca’s husband after his arrival in America, years prior. Throw in political turmoil, social drama, and lyrics by the phenomenal Stephen Schwartz, and it’s an impressive concept.

7 Allegiance

A powerful production, Allegiance tells the story of a Japanese-American family forced to live in an American internment camp after the bombing of Pearl Harbor at the dawn of WWII. Sammy Kimura and his family are plucked from their safe and secure lives on their farm and dropped into an isolated and unfamiliar environment, and issues of loyalty, identity, and of course allegiance are brought into play.

The play sheds light on one of America’s darkest moments in history, making it one of the most unique musicals on this list.

6 Cabaret

Cabaret is a Broadway classic that blends the intoxicating allure of a Berlin nightclub against the shadowy figure of the Third Reich on the rise. But there’s a B plot outside the Kit Kat Klub in the original musical that begs for some serious recognition.

Frauline Schneider and Herr Schultz are an elderly couple whose romantic relationship becomes strained as she is a German in love with a Jewish fruit vendor. The two are so endearing and delightful and it’s utterly devastating when the war tears them apart.

5 In The Heights

With an upcoming movie well on the way, it would be amiss to not mention Lin Manuel Miranda’s In The Heights. A Latin-American cast of characters brings to life their own intertwining stories set against the backdrop of Washington Heights in New York City.

There’s romance, drama, and a hip-hop soundtrack worthy of Miranda’s pedigree, is it any wonder it’s gotten such acclaim? Either way, the film is one of the most hotly anticipated of the year.

4 Ragtime

Based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow, Ragtime’s plot centers around three families living in early 19th-century America, along with famous historical icons, such as Harry Houdini and Booker T. Washington. One of the main players is Teteh, a Jewish-Latvian immigrant who arrives at Ellis Island and starts his journey in a new country.

Once again, the Ellis Island motif shows up again and becomes a familiar setpiece for Teteh and his origins. Along with the other characters, his new life in America is thrown for a loop with the changing culture of the era.

3 Fiddler On The Roof

Another classic saga of Broadway takes center stage with Fiddler On The Roof, a timeless tale of faith, family, and tradition set in the Jewish village of Anatevka. Tevye and his village are the key players in this culture-clashing narrative between the Jewish community and changing Russian regime.

Both the stage version and the film adaptation offer different perspectives on the changes in the community, whether it’s a matter of religion, traditions, or political turmoil. It truly is a standout entry on the list.

2 West Side Story

The upcoming Speilberg remake might better capture the vision Sondheim had for his Shakespeare-inspired saga, but the original musical perfectly used the tensions between the Jets and the Sharks to turn Tony and Maria into a “modern” Romeo and Juliet.

The white Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks set the stage with their turf war, but the relationship between the two leads offers a beacon of hope that their feud cannot diminish. The Bard himself would certainly buy a front-row seat.

1 Hamilton

Was there ever any doubt that this one wouldn’t get top billing? With characters like Lafayette and Alexander Hamilton himself at the forefront, and a multicultural cast, Hamilton is certainly a triumph of the medium.

The immigrant characters are given an ample spotlight in this unique take on American history, and the musical praises the foundation of the United States and the different individuals that helped build the nation.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/best-musicals-about-immigrant-experience/

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