The lights, the music, the choreography, the atmosphere. There's nothing quite like sitting in a theatre watching a production come to life before your eyes or sitting in the comfort of your home watching 10 minutes of a black screen because someone is filming inside the theater for that matter. I've always found something magical in musical theatre. It makes you want to laugh, cry, and learn all the parts to all the songs, so you can pretend to be all the characters at once. All the time, energy, and thought that go into a musical production shouldn't go unnoticed. Therefore, I thought it was time to pay homage to some of my favorite musicals to date. Maybe someday my friend, Rebekah, and I's unfinished musicals will find there way on to someone's list, but until then here are my 7 favorite musicals. They're in no particular order because let's be honest just picking 7 was difficult enough.
1. WICKED
No one mourns the wicked. Well, the lyricist had that part wrong. If you've just witnessed the final curtain then you're definitely mourning Wicked. From start to finish this musical is captivating. The set design, the music, Fiyero's pants, and of course the twist on a classic tale all help this musical masterpiece come together. Wicked is all about what happens when the Wicked Witch of the West turns out to be not be so wicked after all. Whether you find yourself rooting for Ga-linda or Elphaba, I think you'll find yourself on both of their sides before the musical is over because friendship can be more important than popularity and getting the guy. Wicked exemplifies that even though dancing through life may seem like the easy option that it's not always the right option. It's fun. It's light, but it's also dark and gut wrenching. It'll have you coming back time and time again. (I've seen it live twice and multiple times via YouTube.) Don't let the lions and tigers and bears and flying monkeys scare you away from this production. Who knows, you might even find yourself longing to attend Dear Old Shiz or having One Short Day in the Emerald City. Maybe even Defying Gravity if you're lucky.
2. HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL
Well the demon queen of high school has decreed it; Heathers: The Musical is a phenomenal hit. Even if you're not one of the Heathers or a Veronica Sawyer, this cult classic turned musical is very relatable. I don't want to spoil too much about the musical, if you haven't at least seen the movie, so I'll just say that it's not like you're typical 80's high school movie. Yes, it is about wanting to have a place where you belong and where people notice you, including going to college parties and freezing your brain with a good ole slushy, but this underlying theme leads to there being so much more than "acceptance" actually unfolding. Stick around past the number Dead Girl Walking to know exactly what I'm talking about. If you have seen the movie though, don't fret, the musical keeps all your favorite lines. Seriously though how could they not use the line "f me gently with a chainsaw." So sit back, relax, and leave the brain tumor at the door. Whether you're watching the movie or the musical courtesy of youtube, be sure to step into the candy store and ask the Heathers what their damage is.
3. FUN HOME
"Not too bad if I say so myself." I'm not gonna lie; I haven't been able to actually see Fun Home. However, I have lost track of the number of times I've listened to the soundtrack and watched all the clips available from the performance. This musical - the story it tells - it makes you feel something powerful. It's about adult Allison working to create her graphic novel and as she draws, memories begin to unfold before her eyes. She remembers growing up in the "Fun Home," her years at Oberlin College, and her relationship with her father and her sexuality. It's a heartfelt musical about coming into who you are and coming to terms with the secrets about those in your life. So whether you catch yourself noticing rings of keys or changing your major to Joan, this musical is worth falling in love with.
While I might not be Jaime's shiksa goddess, which in all honesty is probably a good thing, this musical is still worth climbing up hill to see. The Last 5 Years is ingenious for Cathy's killer songs and Jaime's all too few lovable moments, but especially for its unique way of telling the story of their relationship. It opens with post breakup Cathy. Jaime is gone, and Cathy's left to pick up the pieces of her life. A strange (really incredible) thing happens then. Jaime appears all aflutter from finally finding the perfect non-Hebrew School girl who is bound to make his grandfather roll in his grave. That's right! The musical is written in alternating timelines! Cathy's story plays out in reverse while Jaime's story goes forward. You get to see Cathy and Jaime's relationship go from bad to good and good to bad. It's truly heartbreaking because you know the end result of this relationship and the toll it takes on Cathy as you watch her get happier and Jaime make stupid decisions. The two person production will leave you feeling like you have just seen a fifty person production. You won't be able to look away. This musical is like nothing you've ever seen before, and you definitely won't leave wondering if you can do better than that.
5. NEXT TO NORMAL
It's just another day for another normal family or at least it's normal for the Goodman Family. There's Diana, the mom, who's trying to keep her life in tact. She's struggling to make it to recitals and swim meets, but she's honestly doing the best she can. (Diana might also have a thing going on with her psychopharmacologist.) Then there's Dan, the dad, who's trying unlike Diana to keep the family together. He's focusing all of his time and energy on his wife and kids in what is probably a really unhealthy way of living or for that matter forgetting for him. Next up is Gabe. The original Gabe, Aaron Tveit, says it best, "He feels the need to, you know, kinda mess with his mom a little bit. He's at odds with his dad. He likes to pick on his younger sister. He just thinks he's pretty big for himself." Right Tveit because that's ALL you need to know about Gabe. Finally, there's Natalie. I think it's fitting she's placed last because she takes the backseat in everything and is essentially the invisible girl. She has hopes of getting out and doing big things for herself, but she's afraid of becoming her mother. Next to Normal is really just this brilliant tale of a family who is just like the rest of us in that they're trying to get by when they always feel like they're falling. This musical will leave you singing the song of forgetting your life before it graced your screen. I promise it's gonna be good; you'll see.
6. LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL
Let's get serious. Legally Blonde: The Musical will have you whipped into shape in no time! This movie turned musical takes you on the emotional roller coaster that is Elle Woods' life. Out out with her old way of life and in in with the new (leaving out the shampoo and conditioner in one of course). You'll see her coming into who she's had the potential to be all along. She's fierce. She's chic. She's everything you could and should aspire to be. Elle Woods proves you don't have to wear black when nobody is dead to get the job done and get the guy. With her Greek Chorus, her hair stylist Paulette (who is her own version of fabulous), and benevolent Emmett, Elle takes Harvard and her ex-"Warner" by storm! She's got a chip on her shoulder and she's not taking no for an answer. Elle might be from the rich, romantic planet of Malibu, but don't let that fool you! She could easily call you out on your bluff and your fashion faux pas. If you're in dire need of a musical pick me up or a refresher on your lawyer jargon then get in the car and just go to a production of this asap!
7. A VERY POTTER MUSICAL
Welcome hotties, nerds, and tools. If you've gotta get back to Hogwarts whether it be because everyone there thinks you're cool, or you still haven't found the hidden swimming pool then you're in luck! A Very Potter Musical or AVPM for short is your ticket back! With dragons, a Zefron poster, a little bit of granger danger, and a Quarrel/Voldy bromance this musical has all the basics of Harry Potter with a fresh musical take on the series. Not to mention Draco rolls around on stage the whole time. Talk about a TOTALLY AWESOME musical! AVPM and the other Starkid musicals go to show the brilliance that can come about when a group of college students get together to create something! If you end up loving AVPM as much as I do and don't have a rocket ship to get to Pigfarts then A Very Potter Sequel (AVPS) and A Very Potter Senior Year (AVPSY) are just a few clicks away! Whether you find yourself coming back to Harry Potter by page, screen, or stage, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.
A SPECIAL SHOUTOUT: HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH
Darren Criss just finished his 12 week run as Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Broadway! Although I was unable to make it to one of his shows, I'm sure he was fantastic and looked incredible in the process! I'll just leave these gifs here.