Queer Musicals

Robert W. Schneider (he/him/his) has been called a “renaissance man of the theatre” by his previous bio….which he wrote himself. He is an award-winning Director, Producer, Author, Educator, and Podcast Host residing in New York City, where he is the Artistic Director of The J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Company. Despite finding every excuse imaginable not to go to classes in undergrad, including saying he had Elm Disease which apparently only trees get, it’s ironic that Robert is now one of the most notable figures in theatrical education and holds academic appointments at Pennsylvania State University, New York Film Academy, and Mount Union University. He received his MFA in Direction for the Musical Theatre Stage from Pennsylvania State University and his BA in Political Science from California Lutheran University. Robert is a proud member of SDC, AEA, AGVA, ATHE and has a box at UPS.

• Chapter 1: The Queer Musical. Chapter 2: Boy Meets Boy (1975)Chapter 3: La Cage Aux Folles (1983)Chapter 4: The Knife (1986)Chapter 5: Falsettos (1992)Chapter 6: Hedwig and the Angry Inch (1998)Chapter 7: Fun Home (2015)Chapter 8: BARE (2004)Chapter 9: The Prom (2018)Chapter 10: Jagged Little Pill (2019)Chapter 11: A Strange Loop (2022)

Robert W. Schneider has come up with a witty, informative look at the evolution of queer musicals, one that will be of interest to both ardent theatre lovers like me and to those looking for an entertaining read.