There are hundreds upon hundreds of musicals out in the world that range from dramas to comedies to history; the possibilities are endless. The following musicals are ones that have changed me from someone who could not care less about theater to someone who is constantly humming a tune to one of the shows. Though the tickets tend to be a little on the expensive side, the soundtracks can be easily accessed, and they will absolutely change your life just by listening to them.
1. 21 Chump Street
A fifteen-minute musical that's based on a true story, 21 Chump Street tells the story of Justin Laboy, a student who falls in love with an undercover cop who is on a drug bust. The majority of the musical uses quotes straight from an interview with Justin. This musical was only performed once, so it is free to watch on Youtube.
2. Les Miserables
Les Miserables is a musical based off of Victor Hugo's book. Set in 1789, the musical focuses on Jean Valjean, a man who had been enslaved for nineteen years after stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister's starving child. Showcasing the poverty and corruption in France during that time period, the musical emphasizes the causes of the French Revolution. The 2012 movie starring Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway includes the majority of the songs from the original soundtrack.
3. Heathers: The Musical
Heathers: The Musical is a comedy about high school. Shining a light on bullying, gun violence, teen suicide and homophobia, Heathers puts a twist on the high school experience. Though humorous, it focuses on major issues that teenagers face at school.
4: Wicked
Wicked is a musical that looks at The Wizard of Oz from a different point of view. Telling the backstory of the Wicked Witch of the West, the musical highlights how people are often afraid of anything that is different.
5. Hamilton
Hamilton is a musical that tells the story of Alexander Hamilton, one of America's founding fathers. Lin-Manuel Miranda, the director, writer and star of Hamilton, created the musical to highlight how dramatic Hamilton's life was at the time. As the show actually has dialog, listening to the soundtrack encompasses the whole story of Hamilton's life.
With personal experience both watching and listening to these musicals, I would definitely recommend them. My personal favorites, if I had to pick, would be, Heathers: The Musical or 21 Chump Street. I'm constantly humming and singing songs from these shows, driving everyone around me crazy! Watching or listening to these musicals will definitely turn you into a thespian if you're anything like me.
