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Abstract
This project develops a completed first draft of the libretto and score of a work of musical theater. The Piano Hero is a semi-autobiographical high school pop-rock musical comedy that tells the story of an Asian-American classical piano kid who goes on a musical journey to break out of his nerdy stereotypes to become the coolest rockstar in his new high school. The story places a satirical lens on cliché high school tropes as a means of providing social commentary that focuses on the model minority experience and racial dynamics within the American education system. The score is rooted in the contemporary pop/rock musical theater genre with a few additional styles showcasing diegetic moments of virtuosic classical piano and shredding hard rock guitar riffs. The purpose of this piece is to inspire future generations of Asian-Americans and/or musicians to find their own voice and become their own hero.
Publication Date
7-1-2024
Campus
New York City Campus
Specialization
Writing and Production for Musical Theater
Keywords
musical theater; Asian-American identity; high school comedy; pop-rock
Recommended Citation
Pao, Lucas, "The Piano Hero" (2024). Creative Media and Technology. 14.
https://remix.berklee.edu/graduate-studies-cmat/14