Overview
Synopsis
Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death is a narrative about the comings-and-goings of a poor Black neighborhood and explores every aspect of the ghetto existence. It is a pointillist portrait of a community using no drama save its residents’ daily lives, no antagonist save a general malaise called "the man." In a series of musical monologues, the junkies, whores, pimps, lesbians, drag queens, sweating workers, crooked cops, prisoners, lovers, and dreamers sing their fears, frustrations, criminations, recriminations, and regrets - all blending together into a unified cry of pain.
Show Information
- Music
- Melvin Van Peebles
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- Genres
- Ideal For
- All-Male Cast, All-Female Cast, Small Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
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Quizzes
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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