The Untold Saga: Unveiling the Surprising Reasons Behind Star Trek Musicals' Conspicuous Absence Until Strange New Worlds
Unlocking the untold melodies of Star Trek's past, this article delves into Ronald D Moore's musical pitches, Voyager's operatic endeavor, Enterprise's missed opportunity, and the musical talents of Star Trek actors Finally, discover if Strange New Worlds' long-awaited musical was worth the 57-year wait
Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 9 - "Subspace Rhapsody."
Summary
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has reached a significant milestone in the franchise's history by introducing its first-ever musical episode. This accomplishment fulfills the longstanding ambition of showrunner Akiva Goldsman and previous creators of Star Trek. Previous endeavors to create a Star Trek musical were attempted, including pitches by Ronald D. Moore for Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Both Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Enterprise explored musical elements. In Voyager, there was an episode called "Virtuoso" with an opera theme. However, it was in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds that franchise history was made. It became the first-ever Star Trek musical in the 57-year history of the franchise. This achievement did not come easily, as previous Star Trek shows had attempted musical episodes as well. One example was "Subspace Rhapsody" in which the crew of the USS Enterprise found themselves trapped in a glitzy musical due to a quantum improbability field. The episode featured original songs by Kay Hanley and Tom Polce. The fulfillment of having a musical episode was a long-held ambition for showrunner Akiva Goldsman and many others who came before him in the history of Star Trek.
From the flirtatious jam session between Lt. Commander Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and Lt. Nyota Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) in "The Man Trap," to the grand operatic aspirations of Star Trek: Voyager's EMH Doctor (Robert Picardo), music has always had a significant role in the lives of each Star Trek crew. Surprisingly, it took until 2023, 57 years after Spock and Uhura's enchanting performance, for Star Trek to finally present a full-fledged musical episode. However, the idea of a Star Trek musical had been contemplated since the 1990s, long before the revolutionary Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical, which heavily influenced the captivating "Subspace Rhapsody" episode of Strange New Worlds.
Ronald D Moore's 1990s Star Trek Musical Pitches Explained
Ronald D. Moore, a former writer and producer on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, always had a desire to create a musical episode. However, Rick Berman, who was in charge at the time, believed that Star Trek should maintain its serious and scientific tone, thus dismissing any ideas for a musical installment. Looking back on this, Moore shared in an interview with IGN that he had considered an intriguing concept for such an episode. He proposed the idea of a tech virus infecting the universal translators, compelling all characters to express themselves through songs. Interestingly, this is somewhat similar to what occurs in the musical episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. In this episode, the quantum improbability field infects communications not only within Starfleet vessels but also across the Klingon Empire.
In a 1995 issue of Star Trek Monthly, it was revealed that the Star Trek: The Next Generation offices received a spec script titled "Elvis Meets The Enterprise". This script, catered to Ronald D. Moore's interests, aimed to combine Star Trek and Elvis Presley into a musical. While little is known about the script itself, it's highly likely that there would have been singing with the King of Rock and Roll on board the Enterprise.
During a commentary on the finale of Star Trek: The Next Generation, "All Good Things", Moore also mentioned the possibility of a TNG musical episode using the holodeck. Interestingly, this idea became a reality in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine with the introduction of Vic Fontaine, a holographic lounge singer, in season 6. Portrayed by singer and actor James Darren, Vic allowed DS9 to explore the concept of a Star Trek musical. For instance, the episode "His Way" included various musical interludes, notably featuring Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor) performing "Fever" accompanied by Constable Odo (Rene Auberjonois) on the piano.
Voyager Did A Star Trek Opera In Season 6
During the brutal final stages of the Dominion War, Vic Fontaine's holographic nightclub provided solace for the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine crew. In anticipation of DS9's eight-part finale, the captivating holodeck episode "Bada-Bing-Bada-Bang" concludes with a mesmerizing duet between Captain Sisko and Vic Fontaine. These episodes, featuring Vic Fontaine, marked some of the closest endeavors towards a full-fledged Star Trek musical until the release of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds in 2023. Nonetheless, Moore's unsuccessful pitches were not the final attempts to bring a Star Trek musical to life.
Rick Berman's Star Trek era brought forth intriguing contemplation on its music, as it often mirrors his aspiration for a profound production. The amusement featured aboard the starship Enterprise in Star Trek: The Next Generation exudes exceptional quality. The crew of USS Enterprise-D partake in classical music concerts and jazz performances highlighted by the talents of Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) on the violin and Commander William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) on the trombone. It is quite probable that this is the very reason why Star Trek: Voyager presented an opera-themed episode long before the franchise delved into a musical episode.
"Virtuoso" explores the profound impact of music, a theme that the holographic Doctor from Star Trek: Voyager grasps far better than the highly advanced Qomar species. While the Doctor views music as a source of power and emotion, the Qomar reduce his musical talents to algorithms and syntax, lacking the appreciation for the emotional and artistic aspects. This episode brilliantly showcases Robert Picardo's classical training as he mesmerizes the audience with his performances of two operatic ballads: "Rondine al nido" and a remarkable duet of Verdi's "Dio, che nell'alma infondere" (performed by the Doctor with himself). "Virtuoso" deviates from a purely comedic approach, which presumably receives approval from Berman. Instead, it delves into the realm of communication difficulties, embodying a classic Star Trek narrative. It is ironic how the same can be said about "Subspace Rhapsody," a more overtly comic and light episode from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
A Star Trek: Enterprise Musical Episode Was Pitched For The Cast
During the Rick Berman era of Star Trek, a final attempt was made at creating a musical episode, proposed by Linda Park, the actress who portrayed Lt. Hoshi Sato in Star Trek: Enterprise. Park, who possessed ballroom dancing skills, believed that a musical episode would be the perfect platform to showcase her talents. Additionally, she aimed to highlight the singing abilities of Scott Bakula and John Billingsley from the Star Trek cast. Park's aspiration for a musical episode was revealed in an interview released long after the cancellation of Enterprise, therefore, it remains uncertain whether she ever conveyed her idea to Berman or the Enterprise writer's room.
The Musical Careers Of Star Trek Actors Explained
Strange New Worlds was able to bring the concept of a Star Trek musical to fruition partly due to the immense musical talents possessed by the cast members. For instance, Celia Rose Gooding, renowned for her portrayal of Uhura, had previously won a Tony award for her remarkable performance in the Alanis Morrisette musical, "Jagged Little Pill." Similarly, Christina Chong, who portrays La'an Noonien-Singh, has had extensive training in musical theater and even released her first EP, titled "Twin Flames," in August. However, the connection between Star Trek actors and the music industry can be traced all the way back to the original Star Trek series and William Shatner's famed rendition of Elton John's "Rocket Man."
It is worth noting that Shatner is not the only actor from the original Star Trek series who has ventured into the realm of music production. Leonard Nimoy, for example, released the rather peculiar "The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins." Additionally, Nimoy showcased his singing abilities by performing songs as his iconic character, Spock, on the album titled "Mr. Spock's Music from Outer Space." This foreshadowed Ethan Peck's emotional rendition of "I'm the X" in Strange New Worlds' musical episode. Nichelle Nichols, the original actress for Uhura, also joined in the music scene by releasing a disco-inspired version of the Star Trek theme tune, complete with Gene Roddenberry's original lyrics.
Brent Spiner, known for his role in Star Trek: The Next Generation, released the album Ol' Yellow Eyes is Back. The album includes a cover of "It's a Sin to Tell a Lie" featuring backing vocals from Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton, and Michael Dorn, collectively known as the Sunspots. Scott Bakula and Avery Brooks, both highly talented pianists and singers, have also showcased their musical abilities. Bakula's talents were displayed in CSI: New Orleans and Quantum Leap, while Brooks portrayed legendary singer and civil rights activist Paul Robeson and sang the lead in the opera X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X during his time on DS9. Another Star Trek cast member, Anthony Rapp from Star Trek: Discovery, has found success as a Broadway star, particularly in Rent and its film adaptation. Dawnn Lewis, who portrays Captain Carole Freeman in Star Trek: Lower Decks, holds a degree in musical theater and has performed in Sister Act: The Musical. Lewis also released her own album in 2001 and has collaborated with artists such as Vanessa Williams. Given the plethora of musical talent associated with the Star Trek franchise, it was only a matter of time before the creation of "Subspace Rhapsody."
Was Strange New Worlds' Musical Worth The Wait?
With a near miss from a Star Trek: Picard musical, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' musical episode emerged as a resounding success that had been in the works for 57 years. "Subspace Rhapsody," like the finest musicals and Star Trek episodes, exudes a euphoric celebration of humanity. The brilliant script by Dana Horgan and Bill Wolkoff beautifully harmonizes with Kay Hanley and Tom Polce's music and lyrics. Complete with heartbreak, romance, and even a Klingon boy band, it stands as an impeccable commemoration of 57 years of Star Trek that fans could only dream of.
This is not to dismiss previous endeavors of a Star Trek musical, which undoubtedly shared in the celebration. Nevertheless, the modernized cinematic approach of recent Trek adaptations, combined with over two decades of musical episodes, allowed Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to deliver an extraordinary experience. Since 2001's "Once More With Feeling" in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, there have been numerous musical episodes and TV shows with varying levels of success. "Subspace Rhapsody" showcases Star Trek finally catching up with this 20-year-old format, weaving together timely and timeless themes of heartache and elation. The only setback is that crafting something even more exceptional may require Star Trek to wait another 57 years.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' season 2 finale streams Thursday, August 10th on Paramount+.
