Mother Tongues

Musical theater is concerned with words and their function, and how our frequent inability to communicate with one another can be overwhelmed by personal, heartfelt expression. It makes sense, then, that the art form should be concerned with languages. In this season finale, we'll examine the use of non-English language in Anglophone musical theater, and examine how non-English languages are sometimes "disguised" as English for the benefit of the audience.SONGS FEATURED:"Aiutami" from The Light in the Piazza"March of the Siamese Children" from The King and I"No Understand" from Do I Hear a Waltz?"Lion Dance" from Pacific Overtures"Please Hello" from Pacific Overtures"On the Street Where You Live" from My Fair Lady"On the Street Where You Live" as sung by Dean Martin"Merano" from Chess"To Life" from Fiddler on the Roof"The Park/Itgara'a" from The Band's Visit"Un Hombre Así/I Have a Love" from West Side Story (2009)"Breathe" from In the Heights"Chanson" from The Baker's Wife"Abbondanza" from The Most Happy Fella