Secret time: I am a huge fan of show tunes. Classic musicals, modern, rap, I don't care. If it's a musical soundtrack, I listen to it. I watch the Tony Awards (Think Grammy Awards for theatre) every single year, and my go to stress music is usually that year's Best Musical soundtrack. However, this addiction comes with quite the unique set of problems:
1) No one ever knows what songs you're singing.
"Oh, is that the latest *insert chart topper here*? I love that song!" "Um, no... it's from a Fun Home..." "Oh, never mind then."
2) No one understands your fangirling.
"Oh my gosh, my roommate and I watched Ghost last night! The music is amazing!" "I know, right?! That key change in 'Here Right Now' is on freaking point." "Wait, that's not in the movie." "Your'e not talking about the musical... Okay, bye."
3) No one knows your actor crushes, because they're not famous.
I mean, Steve Kazee, Aaron Tviet, Richard Fleeshman? All of them are attractive... and they can sing. But somehow, you're the only one with eyes on them. Even my mom forgets that I named my car after Sutton Foster, a Broadway actress.
4) You can rap, but only to the Hamilton soundtrack...
This one might actually be a worldwide struggle.
5) When you listen to them out loud, people think you're weird.
"Wait, why are you listening to music in Czech?" "It's from this really great musical!" "In Czech?"
6) No one understands why the Tony Awards are a ritual for you.
*First Sunday in June rolls around* "Sorry, I can't hang out, I'm watching the Tony Awards." "But it's only 3..."
7) When you watch musical based shows on TV, you're the only one interested.
Anyone else remember Smash? No, it's just me? Okay.
8) Two words: musical adaptations
"Don't you just love Aladdin?" "Do you mean the movie or the musical?"
9) No one gets when you talk about sets as if they were great works of art
"Guys! Did you see how they build that scaffolding for the Newsies musical? It's amazing!"
10) You talk about dancing and vocal skills like people talk about celebrities' hair, makeup, and clothing.
"That kick was amazing! I wish I could hit a high G like that!"
In any circumstance, I might be the only the only theatre fanatic in the room. But I don't care. Don't hate on my happiness, because everyone has something that makes them happy. Maybe it's because I dabbled in theatre when I was in middle school and high school, but it's a love that has stuck. It's a hobby. Some people watch football, I listen to musicals.
