Modern Musical Tropes : Men's Roles

Yesterday I looked at female tropes in modern musicals. Today I’ll take a look at the leading men. Once again I’m starting with musicals written between 2000 and2015.

ROMANCE

If the leading man is just there to be the leading ladies love interest he’s “The Boyfriend.”

• Grey Gardens (2006) - Matt Cavenaugh played two feckless love interests. There’s also a part for a disapproving father.
• The Light in the Piazza (2005)
• The Little Mermaid (2008)
• Little Women (2008)
• Wicked (2003)

If the leading lady is torn between two men they are often polar opposites. “Good Boy / Bad Boy.”

• Marguerite (2008)
• The Pirate Queen (2007)
• Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002)
• Violet (2014)

If the leading man is the focus and his pursuit of the leading lady is the main plot we get the “Romantic Lead.”

• Aladdin (2014)
• Amour (2002)
• Honeymoon in Vegas (2015)
• Shrek (2008)

CAREER MEN and ACTIVISTS

Some leading men want to succeed in show business.

• A Class Act (2001)
• Billy Elliot (2008)
• Chaplin (2012)
• Curtains (2007)
• The Full Monty (2000)
• The Glorious Ones (2007)
• A Man of No Importance (2002)
• Title of Show (2008)
• White Christmas (2008)

Some are chasing another career goal, a crown, or a vague sense of “purpose”

• Avenue Q (2003)
• Kinky Boots (2013)
• The Last Ship (2014)
• Rocky (2014)
• Spamalot (2005)

Some are protesting injustice:

• Newsies (2012)
• The Scottsboro Boys (2010)
• Spring Awakening (2006)
• Urinetown (2001)
• The Visit (2015)

VILLAINS and ANTI-HEROES

Here’s where we find the juicy stuff. A surprising number of leading men are homicidal. They kill for love, money or revenge.

• The Adding Machine (2008)
• Bonnie and Clyde (2012)
• Dance of the Vampires (2004)
• Death Takes a Holiday (2011)
• Dracula (2004)
• A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder (2013)
• Love Never Dies (2010)
• Sweet Smell of Success (2002)
• Both Wild Parties (2000)

Others settle for being loveable con men.

• Catch Me If You Can (2011)
• Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (2005)
• Leap of Faith (2012)
• The Producers (2001)

Some female centric shows make the leading man a villain for the ladies to overcome.

• The Color Purple (2005)
• Nine to Five (2009)
• Sister Act (2011)
• The Witches of Eastwick (2000)
• The Woman in White (2005)
• Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (2011)

FAMILY AND FRIENDS

• Male friendship was explored in The Thing About Men (2003), A Year With Frog and Toad (2004) and The Story of My Life (2009). One could argue that this is also a focus of The Book of Mormon (2011).
• Fathers feel rarer than mothers in musical theater but still come into focus in The Addams Family (2010), Big Fish (2013), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (2005), Elf (2010), Fun Home (2015).

What are some tropes I’ve missed?

What are some differences you’ve noticed between male and female tropes in musical theater?