Just like so many others, I recently saw La La Land. And just like everyone else, I absolutely loved it. In case you didn't know, the story follows Mia, an aspiring actress, and Sebastian, a jazz pianist, while they navigate their lives as artists in Hollywood. The creators filmed it in a way that was very reminiscent of old Hollywood musicals, with huge dance numbers, colorful costumes, and a beautiful soundtrack.
Discovering musicals was honestly one of the best things to happen to me. I remember that the first time I watched something related to Broadway was in 2010, when Les Mis had its anniversary concert. The love of my tweenage life, Nick Jonas, starred as Marius, and the rest is history. I now constantly listen to Broadway soundtracks and I've starred in at least six musicals since elementary school.
I think that people are so drawn to musicals because they transport us to another world, even if that other world is in New York. And even if we're watching a story set in the land of Oz, we can see ourselves in the characters, and learn really valuable life lessons from the way they handle different things. We see our struggles in what they deal with, and musicals somehow manage to romanticize life situations that are anything but romantic. The most beautiful ballads in recent Broadway history include a woman's account in the aftermath of her husband's affair becoming public, a woman realizing that she doesn't know who she is anymore as she sits trapped in an abusive marriage, and a woman hoping that she dies before the man she loves because she can't imagine living without him. Even though many of these stories are fictional, their composition often moves us to tears. Musicals have helped me realize that I can be brave, I can grow into a better person than I am now, love is so, so, so important, and that even though being an artist is incredibly difficult, it's worth it. And I've walked away from a musical before wondering what the score to my own life would sound like. (I imagine the soundtrack would be very upbeat, optimistic, with a little bit of magic and melodrama - all mixed into one.)
La La Land did a fantastic job of translating the life of an artist in an idyllic yet realistic way. Mia and Seb face difficulty and must make conscious decisions to change their lives. It's a film about following your dreams, and having integrity. It shows that you have the power to fulfill your ambitions, and that you have to work for them. From our favorite shows, we theatre nerds have learned that life is exciting, and scary, and discouraging. But because of the little moments - sunrises in the spring, baking cookies, the taste of honeysuckle - it's oh so beautiful, and oh so worth it. So, I recommend watching a musical. You won't be disappointed.
