Musicals are the New Religion?

Released on the 1st September, the book You've Got to Have a Dream: the Message of the Musical written by Rev Ian Bradley brings out a brand new interpretation of musicals that have raged through many continents in the world. Musical theatre could have a positive impact on the world today.

Rev Bradley, a theologian from the School of Divinity, the University of St. Andrews, looked back to the origins of musicals. In fact, musicals have often focused on serious and social issues. One of the very typical examples would be Showboat in the 1920s which dealt with racial prejudice and family breakdown.

The musical version of The Wizard of Oz, filmed in the late 1930s as the US emerged from the depression, offered the message: "Believe in yourself, stick by your friends, fight for what's right and things will get better."

In addition, during the cold war, seeking something to reassure the public in the event of a nuclear attack, the BBC lined up The Sound of Music as the first film that would be broadcast after the bomb dropped.

The author Rev Ian Bradley therefore introduced the conclusion that musicals provide millions of people across the world not just with entertainment and escapism but with spiritual and theological values, a philosophy of life and an encounter with God.

Modern musicals such as the Lion King, Jesus Christ Superstar and Les Miserables are discussed in detail. Rev Bradley suggested that Churches have a great deal to learn from modern musicals and could usefully incorporate their spiritual and theological values, and the pastoral care they offer, into their worships in particular.

This is the first book to take musicals seriously from a spiritual, theological and philosophical point of view. Rev Bradley hopes to appeal to fans of musical theatre interested in probing under the surface of their favourite shows as well as students of liturgy and contemporary Christianity.

The new book is published by the UK's SCM - Canterbury Press. On 14th October, the author Rev Ian Bradley will sign the book at the Launch Party at the Dress Circle, Central London.

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