Exploring Broadway: Melodies with Meaningful Messages
Course | Registration opens 6/9/2025 7:00 AM PDT
Musical theater may be stereotyped as light, frothy, romantic, even silly. But, from its earliest days, the art form has taken on serious issues within the confines of a lighter style, often making challenging subjects more palpable. From looking at racial & religious prejudice to gender roles, sexual orientation, political practices, and more, songs provide a unique approach to dealing with major social issues.
James Sokol
James K. Sokol has worked in the opera world since 1988, having begun his career under Beverly Sills at New York City Opera. He is a Founding Member and Advisor Board Member of the Singers Development Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that provides career-focused study grants to young opera singers. While pursuing an MBA at The Wharton School, Sokol worked with the Opera Company of Philadelphia on audience outreach and lectured on opera for Wharton’s Arts Enthusiasts Club. In addition, he spent several years working for San Francisco Opera and is a former Executive Director of San Francisco’s Pocket Opera. Currently, he is a regular lecturer for several organizations throughout the Bay Area.