Playing God
Book Description
When sacred scripture meets the bright lights of Broadway, a fascinating tension emerges between reverence and entertainment, faith and commerce. Henry Carl Bial explores this compelling intersection in his examination of how biblical narratives have been transformed for the American stage.
Drawing from over a century of theatrical productions, this scholarly work investigates more than one hundred Broadway plays and musicals inspired by biblical texts. From the grand spectacle of Ben-Hur in 1899 to beloved modern productions like Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar, Bial traces the evolution of sacred storytelling in commercial theater.
Through careful analysis of eleven successful productions alongside notable failures, the author reveals the delicate balance required when adapting humanity's most revered texts for popular audiences. His research combines detailed script analysis with archival investigation into the actual production processes and audience responses that shaped these theatrical works.
Bial identifies four key elements that determine success in biblical theater adaptations: spectacle, authenticity, sincerity, and irony. These analytical frameworks illuminate why certain productions resonate deeply with audiences while others struggle to find their footing on the commercial stage.
This 260-page exploration offers readers insight into how religious narratives continue to influence contemporary culture, demonstrating the ongoing power of ancient wisdom to speak to modern hearts through the transformative medium of live performance.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~7 hours)
📄 Length: 260 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore History and criticism
- ✓ Explore American drama, hispanic american authors
- ✓ Explore In literature
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects
- ✓ Explore Theater
- ✓ Explore Theater, united states, history
- ✓ Explore Literature
- ✓ Explore Theater, religious aspects
