There is something about a Broadway show tune. One of my first memories of experiencing a musical came at my cousin's school production of Annie. It was nothing less than love at first sight. My preschool-self was blown away. How did they change so quickly? Bursting out into song at random points? Genius! I proceeded to purchase the CD, go home, and belt out Hard Knock Life, complete with my own choreography.

In first grade, I even attempted to put together my own production of Annie. Let's just say my ambitions of renting the local auditorium and charging admission were a bit out of reach. Regardless, from then on I was hooked, and not just on Annie. Every time a musical came to town, I begged for tickets. Even though I, unfortunately, was not graced with the gift of key, pitch or dance coordination, I believe wholeheartedly in the inspiring power of musicals.

Musicals seem like such a trivial element of life, but they hold a special power. Sitting in a dark theater and hearing an overture can transport us into a life that is only imaginable, or maybe one never before imagined. Musicals spark emotions within us. Hope and desperation, elation and disappointment, love and heartbreak.

The stories are so impossibly similar to our own. How is it that a lion, a 1930s orphan, a magical nanny, and a princess with a glass slipper can relate to us on such a personal level? We long to become the favored protagonists and promise ourselves we will never be reduced to the standards of the wicked villains.

Musicals do not just exist to entertain; they exist to inspire. They inspire us to be the better person, to embody the optimist, and can convince anyone that "the sun will come out tomorrow." Musicals inspire us to avoid becoming the mean, cold-hearted obstacle in the way of someone else's happiness. We are shown the best and worst of ourselves, forcing us to face the strengths and flaws showcased right in front of our eyes, uninterrupted. Unless, of course, you are that person who gets up in the middle of the production. Do not be that person.

Even better, musicals deliver their messages through song and dance. Dark choruses, lighthearted carols and melancholy ballads stick with us, even after the show ends and the magic diminishes. Whether serenading in the shower or humming at a red light, those toe-tapping tunes remind us of the initial feelings evoked in the dark theater and ingrained within us.

They are always there to brighten our day or comfort us. We are reminded that we are not alone; if these characters can relate, someone else in the world can, too. We create a personal relationship with the characters, a relationship reinstated by simply singing their songs.

Musicals can advocate for and depict important social issues in a thrilling, unrivaled way. I can still picture the stark, bare orphanage scene from my cousin's play, the bunk beds lined in rows, the orphans scrubbing the floor to the tune of Hard Knock Life. This image still sticks with me, yet I was not more than four years old when I saw the play.

Musicals transport us to a place so magical yet so real. My little mind perceived a life in a cold orphanage lacking love and safety, a thought prompted by a song and a dance. Even though I am not and have never really been an actress, and even though my window of opportunity to live my dream of playing Annie has unfortunately passedme by, I still experience the magic of the musical. And yes, I still know all of the lyrics.