My employer's son is working on his big Research Paper this semester. Has to come up with a topic, for the paper, that interests him and is fairly relevant in today's age.
The boy can't think of anything good but knows he wants to do something about Broadway or "the arts" or theatre. His dad asked me if I could help come up with a list (since he knows I'm involved in the arts).
I've come up with a few but I'm not a huge fan of those few. Could someone please throw out some good topics??
Details...what kind of class is the paper for? (That would vary greatly what the topic could be) What are his interests? Why did he choose the arts? Is this a HS class? College course?
And...isn't coming up with his topic rather HIS responsibility?
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
The effect on employee morale when the boss is a pain in the *ss. Compare and contrast "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying", "Promises, Promises" "9 to 5" "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" and "Working".
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
Broadway during America's Bicentennial: How shows like Chicago, Pacific Overtures, and A Chorus Line each reflected a different view of the American Dream.
You might want to check out the thread, "Nothing really important on Broadway these past 35 years?" There are some interesting comments on theatre developments in recent history that could lead to a research topic.
I always thought that it would be fun to contrast American musical theatre (or musical movies, if it's a more relevant comparison) with Bollywood, see the similarities and differences.
Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost 9 PM!
The WPA Theater during the Great Depression interests me these days, ever since I bought a copy of the movie "Cradle Will Rock" last week and just can't stop watching it. It's all about how a play was censored by the government in the 1930's, among quite a few subplots.
"Omigod, it's the Queen of Rumania!" --from "Mame"
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The point was made before that it would help to know what kind of class, what leve, what subject.
For a music class, for example, it might be interesting to compare and contrast the musical structure of classic Broadway musicals with contemporary ones. But that might not work as a topic if it's an English class or a drama class or a business class.
I mentioned in another thread about how Andrew LLoyd Webber has influenced bringing musical Theatre into the mainstream of modern culture. Also, it might be interesting to compare the pulse, so to speak, of Broadway in the last century (OK, maybe "half" century, to make it shorter, or even the last 30 years). In other words, trace the financial success, audience attendance numbers, and actual amount of shows (number of shows through the years). It might prove for very interesting research.
I did a paper on Jerry Herman and how he is considered not as good as Sondheim because his shows are hits and more popular than Sondheims shows so he is not considered as good.
the.hard.part. -- that DOES sound like a fun paper. What other superstitions did you cover?
Likewise: a paper on theatrical traditions would be likewise fun.
Still....OP...you never responded to either the level of the class/student or the specific class the paper is for. That makes a HUGE difference.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Wishing Good Luck, touched on the Belasco ghost in the blue dress and the appeasing of her by having someone in the cast in a blue dress, giving opening night gifts before the show as opposed to after, whistling backstage, a bad dress rehearsal is a sign of a good opening night and several other superstitions
Research Paper is such a broad topic--it could be expository, persuasive, etc. Some ideas . . .
The history and future of Disney on Broadway The work of Stephen Sondheim (expository) The work of Frank Loesser The work of Loerner and Lowe The work of Jason Robert Brown (catch a trend here?) The success of film adaptations on Broadway The career of Ethel Merman (again, pick any big star here--Mary Martin, Bernadette Peters, Kristin Chenoweth) Broadway 1998 vs 2008 (a big change)
I once had to do a paper on the similarities between the writing of Tennessee Williams and F. Scott Fitzgerald. It was especially easy seeing as how Williams wrote the play "Clothes for a Summer Hotel" about Zelda and F. Scott. Also, many of the themes in their writing were the same. Almost everyone has read/seen a Williams play and read the Great Gatsby. It also compares two artistic mediums (novels vs theatre) which I find professors love.