I never really considered myself a theater enthusiast before about a year ago, but with my sister being involved in the theater program at her high school, I’ve become interested in some popular musicals and their respective movies. Here is a quick list of some of my favorites that you should definitely check out, even if you are completely new to the world of musical theater:
Cats
Cats is definitely a very enigmatic and either debatably bad or debatably good musical. I’ve come to appreciate the individualistic whimsical, dramatic characters, and the fact that “Cats” is as variable and confusing as actual cats, which I have great appreciation for. Also, the performance of “Memory” is one of the best songs of all time in a Broadway performance.
The Phantom of the Opera
Obviously a classic, this one caught my interest because of the moving soundtrack and iconic character developments. Apart from the creepy, stalker-ish undertones of the Phantom himself, this musical is guaranteed to make you feel something.
Heathers
This musical is even more moody than the cult classic with Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, and I love it. A gritty teen drama, this musical will have you wanting to chain smoke a pack, be angsty as all hell, and then get a Slushie.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Okay, I’ve only seen the movie version of this one. With the iconic duo of Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, it’s pretty much automatically iconic. I love the dark, gothic scenery and plot of this movie, and there were so many twists that I didn’t see coming (Don’t eat the meat pies).
Chicago
Murder. Fame. Cell Block Tango. That’s all you need to know.