BUM BUMBUMBUM BUM. BUM. DA NA NA NA NAAAAA... And I bet all of you started singing along. You may still be singing now. As a devoted piece of Hamiltrash, I found it hard to move on from this musical. Who could? No one wants to end with just "who tells your story..." There may not be a "Hamilton" sequel, but here are the top five musicals to listen to if you're pining for the dulcet tones of a certain long-haired Puerto Rican.
1. Dear Evan Hanson
Honestly, it's one of my personal favorites. This is the story of a sweet boy with social anxiety tasked with helping a family pull through their drug addicted son's suicide.
This musical is 25 percent strings, 50 percent acoustic guitar and 25 percent every other instrument, but it does it beautifully. It spirals between happy, sad and just plain hilarious, such as the helpless "Anybody Have a Map?" in which mothers from parallel families attempt to connect with their children. "Sincerely, Me" has never failed to make me smile, and every time I listen to it, I end up attempting to sing all three parts at once in the shower. "So Big/So Small" is sure to make you want to hug your family, and the main song that keeps popping up throughout, "Waving Through a Window," has made everyone I know pause. Whenever I have someone listen to it, they always look at me and say they have felt just like Evan, thinking that no one would care if they went away forever. Songs like that stay with you, and it can mean the world just to know someone out there can put your feelings in words.
2. The Phantom of the Opera
An oldie but a goodie. No matter how many times you watch this, you will always jump when that crystal chandelier comes down. The first time I listened to the entirety of "Down Once More" I cried. HARD. The loneliness that you realize the Phantom has just hits you like a truck.
Wanna know a fact that will make you cry? The Phantom doesn't have a name! This means that his entire life he was either known as an ugly monster or a terrifying ghost. While in some versions he is called Erik, he explains he gave himself his name. Sorry, I'm always hung up on that part. While this play isn't especially comedic, watching it on stage always made me laugh whenever Carlotta came strutting through like the queen of the world. The beautiful strings of soundtrack make up for it. Every time I hear "Overture" I have to resist the urge to dance.
3. Heathers
Oh boy, where do I begin?
This little lovely gem of a musical is about a senior girl who becomes popular, but is immediately (accidentally) catapulted into a relationship with a serial killer, helping with quite a few of the murders herself. This isn't a musical for the faint of heart by any means. Murder, sex and the battle to become popular. But my favorite thing is that it's so relatable. Maybe not all of it, however. Neither I nor anyone I know has killed three people and then forged a suicide note for them. But when I hear "Beautiful," I always stop and sigh, thinking about how much schools haven't changed. And I know too many people with attitudes identical to Heather Chandler's in "Candy Store." The less relatable songs are just as fun. "Dead Girl Walking" makes me smile, feeling the energy in loud, ripping guitar chords, as similar with "Blue." And "Kindergarten Boyfriend?" Let's just say it never fails to strike me in the heart.
4. Waitress
A Broadway show with an undeserving bad reputation.
While many people dislike this play, I can't fathom why. With its smooth mix of Southern music and classic rock, it seems like an instant hit. BUT EVIDENTLY NOT.
While "Bad Idea" is often seen as a discount "Say No To This," — the song from Hamilton during which Alex cheats on Eliza — I like "Bad Idea" more, because "Say No To This, " although beautiful, makes you nervous whereas "Bad Idea" makes you excited (as an affair would, if I may add). Besides this, "Never Getting Rid Of Me" makes me laugh and also look for someone like Ogie. "Soft Place To Land" makes me close my eyes, swaying softly to the melancholy yet hopeful tune.
5. In The Heights
Don't even call yourself a Hamilfan if you don't know this one.
As the first play written by dear old Lin-Manuel Miranda, it feels like a test drive compared to Hamilton, but it is, nevertheless, lovely. The first song, "In the Heights," could also be titled "Exposition," but it sounds beautiful. "Alabanza" resonates loudly with anyone who has lost someone. And "Blackout...." sounds like a mess. But a beautiful, adrenaline filled mess.
While nothing can replace what is the masterpiece known as Hamilton, these musicals are 100 percent certain to fill the hole in your heart, at least a little.
