Broadway, the Media, and Framing Theory

Abstract

This paper examines the growing relationship between Broadway and media, with a focus on the way media framing is used to portray historical Broadway shows that include difficult topics. Using reviews from internal and external publications of shows, this paper analyzes the specific media frames portrayed for each show. It also analyzes emerging trends and the future of the relationship between Broadway and the media.

All publications cited were selected for their geographical relevance to Broadway, and history of covering Broadway shows up to the relevant review. Newspapers include The New York Times, Variety, Playbill, New York Magazine, Dance Magazine, and The Washington Post and Times Herald. Reviews were largely pulled from the database Newspapers.Com, and were published within the first month following the show’s debut. This paper specifically covers the shows West Side Story, Hair, Rent, and The Colour Purple.