Summer Term Schedule

Written by Freddie Mercury at the piano, "Somebody to Love" is a soul-searching piece that questions life without love. Through voice layering techniques, Queen was able to create the soulful sound of a choir from three singers: Freddie Mercury, Brian May, and Roger Taylor. Freddie Mercury's fascination and admiration for Aretha Franklin was a major influence for the creation of this song.

"WE WILL ROCK YOU" depicts a future without musical instruments, rock rebels, the Bohemians, battle the powerful Globalsoft and its leader, the Killer Queen, for freedom and individuality. Young outsiders Scaramouche and Galileo join them to discover the power of rock music. This acclaimed musical won the 2011 Laurence Audience Award and has captivated over 20 million people across 28 countries.

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  The film musical, West Side Story, (1961) is a film adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name, and the story itself is a modern adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, a timeless love story that is here placed in the contemporary setting of N.Y.C.  Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise directed the film, with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The song "Somewhere" carries a dual meaning. On one level, it represents escape and the hope for a way out. More profoundly, it embodies a belief in a transcendent love that can rise above hate and confusion, suggesting a serene place where love thrives. This belief is vividly illustrated through Tony and Maria's relationship, as they hold onto the conviction that, despite the challenges they face, there is a special place for their love.

When The Lion King premiered in 1994, it was an instant success, and a large part of that success is thanks to its memorable award-winning soundtrack. The Soundtrack earned two Academy Awards, one for John and Rice for Best Original Song and one for Zimmer for Best Original Score, marking his first of two wins. The soundtrack was so successful that it had three nominations in the Best Original Song category – “Can You Feel The Love Tonight,” “Circle of Life,” and “Hakuna Matata” – with “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” being the ultimate winner. The Lion King takes inspiration from Hamlet and is set in the Pride Lands of Africa, leading to a unique score with African sounds, lyrics, and voices.

The Baker is left to father his child alone after the death of his wife, and the entire ensemble has returned to convey the message of Children Will Listen. This song embodies the conflict of watching what you say around children, because they will hear, even if they don't understand.

The 2nd collaboration between Sondheim and Lapine, following Sunday in the Park with George (1984), Into the Woods debuted at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego in 1986 and opened on Broadway on November 5, 1987. It won 3 Tony Awards: Best Score, Book, and Best Actress in a Musical for Joanna Gleason. A Disney film adaptation directed by Rob Marshall was released in 2014, grossing over $213 million worldwide & earning three nominations at both Academy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards.