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This 45-minute lecture explores the significance of the song "I Am What I Am" from the 1983 Broadway musical La Cage aux Folles, composed by Jerry Herman. Discover how this powerful showstopper evolved from a Broadway number into an important gay anthem during the AIDS crisis and later became a hit for Black divas including Gloria Gaynor and Shirley Bassey. Professor Dominic Broomfield-McHugh examines musicals and representation, provides context through Cole Porter's work, analyzes the adaptation process of La Cage aux Folles, and breaks down the musical and cultural significance of "I Am What I Am." Learn about the personal impact of this iconic song and how it transformed from a showtune into a cultural anthem. The lecture, recorded at Conway Hall in London, includes additional analysis of "Look Over There" and "Over The Rainbow," offering a comprehensive look at LGBTQ+ representation in musical theater.
