ABSTRACT

In collaboration with others, Stephen Schwartz has tended in his musicals to adhere to certain basic themes and tropes of adolescent stories found in various media from literature to film. The music of “Corner of the Sky” expresses the fervency of Pippin’s desire and the excitement of his anticipation. Pippin sings “Corner of the Sky” near the beginning of the show to express his desire for autonomy and to find his place in the world. In Pocahontas, for example, his empathy with young people’s aspirations is evident in “Just Around the River Bend,” which is reminiscent of both “Corner of the Sky” and “Spark of Creation.” Wicked’s reputation as a show that is extraordinarily popular with young musical theater fans is well-established. Schwartz, a musical prodigy and something of a social outsider in his youth, has noted his attraction to stories about misfit characters.