The Healing Power of Musical Theatre Classics, From Rodgers & Hammerstein to Stephen Sondheim

Roy Rogosin, MA has spent five decades as a professional in the performing arts. He has produced musicals both on Broadway and in London, directed hundreds of theatrical productions across the United States, has composed for television and motion pictures, and conducted major symphonies including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The London Symphony Orchestra, and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw. He has composed music for both television and motion pictures, as well as providing the scores to five musicals, three of which have received successful regional productions. He is a lifelong teacher of performing artists who have succeeded on Broadway, in film, and on the concert stage.

The productions of which he is most proud are those of his two children, Shahna, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, and Joshua, Audio Producer for NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts.

Shahna Rogosin, M.D. graduated from St. George's University School of Medicine. She did her residency at the University of Maryland Sheppard Pratt. She completed her fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Children's Hospital- Boston. After Graduation she served as the Associate Director of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Service at the University of California San Diego. She is board certified in Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatry. She has worked at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation for the past 15 years as a psychiatrist providing medication management and therapy to patients across the lifespan. She served as the Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Palo Alto Medical Foundation from 2015-2021. She was selected to Participate in the California Health Care Leadership Foundation Fellowship at University of California San Francisco which she completed in 2019. She has worked as an advisor to the Silicon Valley Employers Forum, the Santa Cruz Behavioral Health Pilot Advisory Group. Palo Alto Medical Foundation, 2014- present Peninsula Coast Region Behavioral Health Planning Committee.

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Musical Theater possesses a remarkable ability to stimulate the senses, evoke a range of emotions, and inspire the audience. Since the first production of The Black Crook in September 1866, American musicals have served as a quintessential representation of the American spirit, illuminating its character and values. The influence of musical theater extends beyond the borders of America and has enriched cultures worldwide. 

Tracing the evolution of musicals over the years can provide insight into the growth and transformation of American culture and its impact on the global community. Examining the lyrics and melodies of songs from the musical theater genre provides a window into how individuals view themselves and the world and how music conveys raw emotions.