Broadway. First thing that comes to mind? Musicals. Singing, dancing, and a story line. A falsely conceived idea that Broadway only consists of Musicals. But there is another side to Broadway. The side between comedy and tragedy. Between classical and contemporary. Plays. The difference? Well I'm here to tell you.
When I was a kid, I thought of Broadway strictly as musicals such as Aladdin, Lion King, Wicked, and Kinky Boots. I never knew that there were plays out for the public in the theater district as well!
Musicals include singing, choreography, and acting as well. They all have such different story lines, and portray a different message across their audiences. A musical can go from bringing out your inner child, to a dark endeavor, to puppets, and so much more! Musicals bring a lightness to my heart and makes me want to jump up from my seat and sing every song.
Plays on the other hand, although missing the singing and dancing, bring a sense of wonder to the soul (depending on the play of course). Every play has it's own story. Even the plays that are brought out from the shallows are different than they once were. A version of the Glass Menagerie from 50 years ago can be completely different and new like you're watching it for the first time. Same script, different director and new ideas! That's the beauty of plays.
But what really is the difference between musicals and plays besides the obvious? To tell you the truth: Nothing. Both have their own creative way of telling a story whether it's through words, music, dance, or any other way of communicating. To be honest, everything depends on preference. I love musicals, but plays also have my heart. I don't really prefer one over the other.
The point is, theatre can be conceived in so many different ways, and there are so many experimental pieces in the works. So what does the title of this article translate to? Musicals Vs. plays. Well, I guess it's how you look at it. Is it a battle or the differences? Or maybe it's a decision you're making when ordering your next set of tickets. So I suppose the only question you're left with is, the next time you're picking up a ticket to see the next hit show on Broadway, are you going to be looking for a play, or a musical?
