Musical theater has the unfortunate reputation of being a hobby or interest reserved for the posh upper class. Many people are familiar with the annoying theatre kid and musical snob stereotypes, which inevitably evoke images of newsie-cap-donning New York natives belting “Santa Fe.” This brand of musical theater fan is often the butt of the joke in online circles. Theater kids are to the internet what band kids were to the halls of high schools.
There is a painful loss on both ends: for the medium that goes unappreciated for lack of consideration and for the potential audience member who misses out on forming a connection they might not find elsewhere.
People are often unwilling to give musical theater a shot because they believe there could not possibly be a musical they would enjoy. Musical theater has historically been inaccessible to much of the general public, which is possibly the biggest contributing factor to the medium’s poor reputation. Nevertheless, musical theater is undeniably an important part of history and culture; it has the same significance as any other medium of artistic expression. The arts and humanities reflect universal truths about the human condition, and perhaps there is no truth more universal than the human need to express ourselves through art.
I confess that I once also believed that musical theater was too snobbish for me to participate in. It was too pretentious, flamboyant and expensive of a hobby to maintain — and it’s not like I had musical talents to flaunt. My interest in music has always been limited to a brief stint of playing the clarinet in middle school band and a general inability to read sheet music. My singing voice was never particularly clear or melodic, barely able to carry a tune. But only barely.
My perspective completely changed during a trip to New York when my father took me to watch “Wicked” on Broadway. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I walked out of the theater afterward with a deep appreciation for the whole craft. The story came to life before my eyes in such a way that could never be faithfully reproduced on a screen. Later, my high school theater teacher explained why music was necessary to tell stories: sometimes words aren’t enough. And dance is also necessary because — she went on — sometimes singing isn’t enough.
The musical theater community has a simple philosophy: there is a musical for everyone. With so many different stories told across so many musical genres, it’s hard not to believe. I hope to prove this philosophy true by helping people find the musical that was meant to find them.
For Movie Buffs
Perhaps a musical adaptation of a familiar film can make the plunge into musical theater less daunting. There have been many stage adaptations of classic films (including titles such as “Heathers,” “Mean Girls,” “Beetlejuice” and “Shrek” — yes, “Shrek”), and more are sure to be released in the years to come. Nevertheless, “Legally Blonde: The Musical” has a special place in many hearts, and for a good reason. “Legally Blonde: The Musical” faithfully portrays Elle Wood’s enrollment into the Harvard law program with a fresh wash of shimmery pink paint. Fans of the movie will appreciate the lines from the film that made their way into the stage musical, many of which make for iconic callbacks. In particular, the bend and snap scene earned itself an entire song, complete with the feisty, sexy accompaniment reminiscent of the early 2000s.
For Comedy Fans
Those looking for a light-hearted show that will wet their eyes with tears of joy rather than tears of sadness need look no further than the musical, “Something Rotten.” This 2015 musical follows a pair of playwrights who live in the shadow of William Shakespeare in 16th-century London. One playwright idolizes Shakespeare and hopes to emulate him in his writing, while the other outright loathes the Bard, deeming Shakespeare an overrated writer guilty of stealing his thunder. The show employs highly clever wordplay and hilarious dialogue to create an absurd spoof of Renaissance culture.
For Fans of Tragedy
On the other hand, audience members with a preference for tragic endings may find just what they have been looking for in “Spring Awakening.” One would never guess how old the musical’s source material actually is because its angsty rock sound holds up to modern tastes. The show follows a group of German teenagers living in the 19th century. Ignorant, sheltered and very sexually repressed, these teenagers fumble blindly through their development into maturity. In the end, a bunch of kids with poor sex education make poorly educated decisions about sex, which results in utter disaster and untimely ends.
This musical is commonly associated with the Deaf West Theatre performance wherein American Sign Language (ASL) is incorporated into the show. Actors sign their lines along with the score, beautifully emphasizing the themes of communication and understanding. This musical guarantees not to leave a single dry eye in the theater.
For Skeptics
Finally, for the people who insist that they hate musicals, I recommend “The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals.” True to its title, the musical follows a man who hates musicals as he tries to survive a zombie hive-mind plague that causes people to burst into song. The show combines comedy and horror at times to tell an unexpectedly heartfelt story about a father longing to connect with his daughter. The music is full of self-aware humor explored through memorable and unique melodies. Any audience member with a similar disdain for the musical theater genre ought to identify with the protagonist’s journey and experience a similar change of heart by the end of the show. Though, hopefully, no zombie brainwashing will be necessary.
