Musical theatre is a lifestyle that sucks you in immediately. If you know one show, you can’t get enough of the rest of the genre. Whether you're onstage, backstage or in the audience, there's a magic in the air and everyone can appreciate it. It doesn't matter if you love the music, the plot, the costumes or the choreography-- Broadway is its own world and it feels wonderful to be a part of it.
My go-to road trip playlist is 80% musical theatre, and I love singing along with my friends. I have been in musicals since I was in third grade and, while I took a short hiatus when I first got to college, I recently started getting involved again with the neighboring university's theatre program. Musical theatre has helped me make so many friends over the years and develop my confidence, as well as my performing abilities.
Discovering a new musical
Becoming obsessed with the music
When it wins a Tony (or several)
Looking at you, Hamilton
When the show you're obsessed with doesn't win the Tony that you think they deserve
Newsies was amazing and it deserved all the Tonys
Finding out what show your local company is going to be putting on this year
And even if you know it by heart already, you still go back and research everything about it
Wishing you could sing like your favorite performer
Hearing a new-comer on an album and being floored by their voice
I wish Aaron Tveit could sing me to sleep every night
Reminiscing the Golden Age of Broadway music
Rodgers and Hammerstein knew what they were doing
But loving the diversity of music in Contemporary Musical Theatre
Finding someone else who loves the same obscure musical you do
When someone else introduces you to a new musical
Where has this been all my life?
Walking into an audition
When the cast list comes out
And everyone celebrates and congratulates each other, because the theatre community is the best definition of family I've ever known.
When you get the part you wanted
When you get a part you didn't want
But knowing you're going to end up falling in love with your character by the end of production
And you know the director was right to cast you in that role and not the one you wanted
When you get your absolute dream role
Learning choreography
Learning difficult harmonies
Why would someone write four-part harmony for men so high?
Memorizing lines
Working with someone new
Working with someone you’ve worked with forever
Cast bonding
When someone continually messes up one part of a song
When they finally get it right!
When someone turns one of the lines into a crude joke
Come on, we're all adults here
When a musical references another musical
Again, looking at you, Hamilton.
When someone in the cast references a show the company has done before
When the show is a mess and you open in a week
But it all magically comes together
Get out there and discover some new Broadway shows!
