I’m a theatre kid, or I guess a former theatre kid, but I think once it’s in your blood it never truly goes away. I was such a theatre kid in fact, that I went to college for performing arts before starting my journalism degree here at Carleton.
When I was in high school, I was cast in two musicals, Anything Goes, and FAME and although I haven’t officially graced the stage since, a musical is staged in my room about once weekly, with myself cast in all parts.
In my adult life, however, I’ve found a lot of negativity when it’s mentioned that I enjoy musical theatre as a music genre. Nothing like being greeted by another eye roll and exasperated really when you’re telling someone about one of the things that make you happiest. It’s my hope that this response is generated out of a misunderstanding of the genre, which is something I can help with, so here’s my beginner’s guide to musical theatre.
From what I’ve heard, a lot of people seem to think that showtunes lack substance, that they’re all upbeat and campy and in no way mirror what real life would ever actually be like. But, contemporary musicals have done a really good job bridging this gap, so here are my recommendations for those that looking to go on an emotional journey…
1. Dear Evan Hansen – Book by Steven Levenson, Music and Lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
2. Waitress – Book by Jessie Nelson, Music and Lyrics by Sara Bareilles
3. The Last Five Years – Written by Jason Robert Brown
If you’re somebody who enjoys when musicians cover songs and put their own spin on it, then maybe a jukebox musical is the one for you. A jukebox musical is when writers take a pre-existing catalogue of music and create a narrative incorporating the themes and feel of the music. My recommendations for jukebox musicals…
1. Mamma Mia – Book by Catherine Johnson, Music and Lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus *this one probably sounds familiar as it has since been turned into a major motion picture featuring legends like Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Amanda Seyfried.*
2. Motown: The Musical – Book by Barry Gordy, Music and Lyrics by Various Artists
Now if you’re into rock music as a genre, there have been some amazing rock-inspired musicals that have graced the stages of Broadway. My picks for best rock-musicals…
1. Rent – Book, Music and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson
2. Spring Awakening – Book and Lyrics by Steven Sater, Music by Duncan Sheik
If hip hop or rap music is a genre you enjoy, then musical theatre has something for you too. Although the hip hop musical is fairly new on the scene, spearheaded by the works of writers like Lin-Manuel Miranda, there are a couple of options for you…
1. Hamilton – Music, Lyrics and Book by Lin-Manuel Miranda
2. In the Heights – Book by Quiara Alegría Hudes, Music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda
Finally, if you’ve ever wondered what your favourite movie might be like if everyone broke out into song randomly, film to stage adaptations have been tearing up the Broadway box office for years. Here are some of my favourites…
1. Legally Blonde: The Musical – Book by Heather Hach, Music and Lyrics by Nell Benjamin and Laurence O’Keefe
2. Billy Elliot: The Musical – Book and Lyrics by Lee Hall, Music by Elton John
3. Once – Book by Enda Walsh, Music and Lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová
I hope I’ve done something to broaden your musical theatre horizons, the categories chosen above are really just a small part of the diverse landscape of musicals. So maybe next time before telling someone you hate musical theatre, give listening to a musical a try. It’s still ok to hate it — I hate things that I try all the time.