I was looking for a blog tag a while ago that had to do with musicals, since I'm just a liiiittle bit obsessed with them lately, and I couldn't find one that was quite what I had in mind. So what did I do? I created one. It's a little weird, because it's like I'm interviewing myself, but I can't wait to see the answers from other people. Let's gooooo.
1. "I Dreamed a Dream" (your dream role)
If I weren't such a scaredy cat about singing by myself, these would all be roles I'd love to have:
1. Angelica Schuyler in "Hamilton" (because Angelica is a badass and I want to be her when I grow up)
2. Eponine in "Les Misérables" (because despite being a more minor character, she totally steals the show)
3. Roger in "Rent" (because he has the coolest songs in the entire show, and yes, yes I do realize the most obvious reason why I could never play him)
2. "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (your favorite musical, stage actor, and musical-to-movie adaptation)
Favorite musical: "Hamilton" (Did anyone not see that coming?)
Stage actor: HOW CAN I CHOOSE ONE?! Why do I come up with these difficult questions?! For now, I'll go with Adam Pascal for an actor and Reneé Elise Goldsberry for an actress, but those are subject to change on an hour-to-hour basis.
Musical-to-movie adaptation: "Rent" and "Les Misérables" were both pretty spectacular.
3. "Hard to Be the Bard" (your favorite lyricist)
Lin-Manuel Miranda!!! You can dissect his lyrics for days and still find new references, recurring themes, and intricate wordplay. It's what makes his work such a treat to revisit.
3. "Think of Me" (a song that describes you/fits you perfectly)
"Hard to Be the Bard" was the first one that came to mind, minus the more annoying/arrogant bits that Shakespeare sings. But I think most writers can empathize with these lyrics in particular:
"And you're trying to find
An opening line or a brilliant idea
And you're pacing the floor
And hoping for just a bit of divine intervention
That one little nugget that one little spark
Then Eureka! You find it you're ready to start
So now you can write, right? Wrong!
You're not even close, you remember that damn it,
Your play's gotta be in iambic pentameter!
So you write down a word but it's not the right word,
So you try a new word but you hate the new word
And you need a good word but you can't find the word
Oh where is it, what is it, what is it, where is it!
Blah-blah-blah, ha ha, ah-ha -UGHHHHHHHH!"
An opening line or a brilliant idea
And you're pacing the floor
And hoping for just a bit of divine intervention
That one little nugget that one little spark
Then Eureka! You find it you're ready to start
So now you can write, right? Wrong!
You're not even close, you remember that damn it,
Your play's gotta be in iambic pentameter!
So you write down a word but it's not the right word,
So you try a new word but you hate the new word
And you need a good word but you can't find the word
Oh where is it, what is it, what is it, where is it!
Blah-blah-blah, ha ha, ah-ha -UGHHHHHHHH!"
"Something Rotten!" is a treasure and you should all go see if it you ever get the chance.
4. "Those Were the Good Old Days" (the first musical you were
exposed to)
I don't know for sure, but I'm pretty sure it's "My Fair Lady." My parents tell me I loved it when I was little, but I don't remember that far back. "Damn Yankees" and "The Sound of Music" are both movies I remember watching pretty young, too.
I don't know for sure, but I'm pretty sure it's "My Fair Lady." My parents tell me I loved it when I was little, but I don't remember that far back. "Damn Yankees" and "The Sound of Music" are both movies I remember watching pretty young, too.
5. "Out Tonight" (musicals you’ve seen live)
Within the past couple years, I've gotten to see a few on Broadway or through touring companies that came close to where I live, and they've all been amazing experiences, each one for different reasons:
1. "Les Misérables"
2. "Something Rotten!"
3. "The Book of Mormon"
4. "Hamilton"
5. "Into the Woods"
6. "Company"
7. "Rent"
My mom and I also have tickets to see "Waitress" next week with Sara Bareilles!!!
Within the past couple years, I've gotten to see a few on Broadway or through touring companies that came close to where I live, and they've all been amazing experiences, each one for different reasons:
1. "Les Misérables"
2. "Something Rotten!"
3. "The Book of Mormon"
4. "Hamilton"
5. "Into the Woods"
6. "Company"
7. "Rent"
My mom and I also have tickets to see "Waitress" next week with Sara Bareilles!!!
6. "Sincerely, Me" (your favorite musical protagonist)
Belle from "Beauty and the Beast" would definitely be toward the top of the list. She's bookish and smart and doesn't care if she strays from the crowd to follow her heart. I also love Hamilton from "Hamilton." Even though he drives me crazy and I want to slap him during multiple parts of the show, he's an incredibly complex character who's tons of fun to watch/listen to.
Belle from "Beauty and the Beast" would definitely be toward the top of the list. She's bookish and smart and doesn't care if she strays from the crowd to follow her heart. I also love Hamilton from "Hamilton." Even though he drives me crazy and I want to slap him during multiple parts of the show, he's an incredibly complex character who's tons of fun to watch/listen to.
7. "Dancing Through Life" (a musical with great choreography)
Again, "Hamilton" was pretty amazing here, especially during songs like "Satisfied" and "My Shot" when there was so much going on. I never knew where to look because there was always something happening on different parts of the stage.
You've probably seen it already, but in case you haven't, here's a little taste of the choreography from the Tony Awards last year when the cast performed "Yorktown."
Again, "Hamilton" was pretty amazing here, especially during songs like "Satisfied" and "My Shot" when there was so much going on. I never knew where to look because there was always something happening on different parts of the stage.
You've probably seen it already, but in case you haven't, here's a little taste of the choreography from the Tony Awards last year when the cast performed "Yorktown."
8. "The Story of Tonight" (the musical soundtrack you have on repeat right now)
"Beauty and the Beast" since we're coming up on dress rehearsals for the show I'm in and the songs I'm in are the fastest/most complicated (like "Gaston" and "The Mob Song"). I also have "Waitress" and "Rent" on a lot.
"Beauty and the Beast" since we're coming up on dress rehearsals for the show I'm in and the songs I'm in are the fastest/most complicated (like "Gaston" and "The Mob Song"). I also have "Waitress" and "Rent" on a lot.
9. "What You Own" (autographs you have from Broadway actors)
I really, REALLY love the autographs I have and I fangirl over them frequently.
I really, REALLY love the autographs I have and I fangirl over them frequently.
From "Les Mis," I have an autograph from Ashley Dawn Mortensen, who played Madame Thénardier (she was great and hilarious and super nice when we went outside to meet her).
From "Something Rotten," I have one from Adam freaking Pascal, who reached over a crowd of adults to grab my program and sign it for me. I managed to somehow formulate the words "I loved you as Shakespeare and also in 'Rent!'" to which he smiled and shouted "Thank you!" back over the crazy big mob of people also trying to get autographs.
From "Hamilton," I got an autograph from Nicholas Christopher (at the bottom of the star) who played George Washington. He was super happy and great with the fans (and there were lots of them). Then I got one from Michael Luwoye (to the left of the Hamilton silhouette), who played Burr in the particular performance my family saw, and he was just as nice. He had to fix his coat and find his pen before he could sign my autograph, and in that time he complimented the Gryffindor scarf I was wearing, which just made him that much cooler.
From "Something Rotten," I have one from Adam freaking Pascal, who reached over a crowd of adults to grab my program and sign it for me. I managed to somehow formulate the words "I loved you as Shakespeare and also in 'Rent!'" to which he smiled and shouted "Thank you!" back over the crazy big mob of people also trying to get autographs.
From "Hamilton," I got an autograph from Nicholas Christopher (at the bottom of the star) who played George Washington. He was super happy and great with the fans (and there were lots of them). Then I got one from Michael Luwoye (to the left of the Hamilton silhouette), who played Burr in the particular performance my family saw, and he was just as nice. He had to fix his coat and find his pen before he could sign my autograph, and in that time he complimented the Gryffindor scarf I was wearing, which just made him that much cooler.
10. "On My Own" (a song you sing in the shower)
I usually hum whatever's in my head at that time without even realizing I'm doing it. Sometimes I go through a whole medley of songs from different musicals.
I usually hum whatever's in my head at that time without even realizing I'm doing it. Sometimes I go through a whole medley of songs from different musicals.
11. "The Mob Song" (a song you love to sing with friends)
A bunch of friends from writer's camp last summer and I sang "Non-Stop" all the way from our dorm rooms to the cafeteria for breakfast, and it was epic. Much better than me trying to sing all the parts by myself, which never ends well and usually involves me doubling over for breath at some point.
A bunch of friends from writer's camp last summer and I sang "Non-Stop" all the way from our dorm rooms to the cafeteria for breakfast, and it was epic. Much better than me trying to sing all the parts by myself, which never ends well and usually involves me doubling over for breath at some point.
12. "It Only Takes a Taste" (a musical you fell in love with from the very first song you heard)
I'd love to say "Hamilton," but the first time I listened to it I was in the middle of doing schoolwork and only halfway paying attention, so by the time I got to "The Schuyler Sisters," I was mostly confused and had no idea what was going on. Technically I'd heard the first song during the Grammy Awards, but at that point, my only thought was "this is pretty cool, I could get on board with whatever it is they're doing."
However, after becoming a Lin-Manuel Miranda fan, I fell in love with "In the Heights" from the first few notes. I was so glad to have something else by him to listen to.
I'd love to say "Hamilton," but the first time I listened to it I was in the middle of doing schoolwork and only halfway paying attention, so by the time I got to "The Schuyler Sisters," I was mostly confused and had no idea what was going on. Technically I'd heard the first song during the Grammy Awards, but at that point, my only thought was "this is pretty cool, I could get on board with whatever it is they're doing."
However, after becoming a Lin-Manuel Miranda fan, I fell in love with "In the Heights" from the first few notes. I was so glad to have something else by him to listen to.
13. "Right Hand Man" (your favorite supporting musical character)
I think we've already established Angelica Schuyler as being amazing.
I think we've already established Angelica Schuyler as being amazing.
14. "Words Fail" (lyrics you misheard)
In "Alexander Hamilton," I heard "took up a collection just to send him to the mainland" as "took a book collection just to send him to the mainland," which I always thought was kind of weird, but never thought too much about it until I read the lyrics. I guess I figured Hamilton read and wrote a lot, so maybe he brought a bunch of books with him to America?
In "Alexander Hamilton," I heard "took up a collection just to send him to the mainland" as "took a book collection just to send him to the mainland," which I always thought was kind of weird, but never thought too much about it until I read the lyrics. I guess I figured Hamilton read and wrote a lot, so maybe he brought a bunch of books with him to America?
15. "Turn It Off" (your least favorite musical)
"The Wiz." Oh so cheesy. Oh such terrible lyrics. Oh what a drag of a movie.
"The Wiz." Oh so cheesy. Oh such terrible lyrics. Oh what a drag of a movie.
16. "It Takes Two" (your favorite onstage couple)
Collins and Angel from "Rent" and Nigel and Portia from "Something Rotten!" Both couples are super sweet and adorable together.
Collins and Angel from "Rent" and Nigel and Portia from "Something Rotten!" Both couples are super sweet and adorable together.
17. "Never Ever Getting Rid of Me" (a song that always gets stuck in your head)
It's hard to pick just one, because I think every musical has at least one earworm on their soundtrack, but "I Know Things Now" from "Into the Woods" was in my head for weeks after seeing the performance, and trust me, that song gets annoying fast if it's on repeat in your mind.
It's hard to pick just one, because I think every musical has at least one earworm on their soundtrack, but "I Know Things Now" from "Into the Woods" was in my head for weeks after seeing the performance, and trust me, that song gets annoying fast if it's on repeat in your mind.
18. "One Song Glory" (your favorite powerful solo song)
Depending on my mood, "Burn," "On My Own," and "One Song Glory" are all on my list.
Depending on my mood, "Burn," "On My Own," and "One Song Glory" are all on my list.
19. "Popular" (a musical everyone else likes that you're underwhelmed by)
Ironically, "Wicked." I like it well enough, but I'm not obsessed with it like a lot of my friends are.
Ironically, "Wicked." I like it well enough, but I'm not obsessed with it like a lot of my friends are.
20. "Left Behind" (a character death you're still not over)
Spoilers for "Les Mis":
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CAN WE TALK ABOUT GAVROCHE.
Spoilers for "Les Mis":
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CAN WE TALK ABOUT GAVROCHE.
21. "Blow Us All Away" (a live performance from an actor that blew you away)
John Owen-Jones as Jean Valjean, Adam Pascal as Shakespeare, and basically the entire cast of both "Hamilton" and "Rent" were phenomenal.
Tag, you're it!
John Owen-Jones as Jean Valjean, Adam Pascal as Shakespeare, and basically the entire cast of both "Hamilton" and "Rent" were phenomenal.
Tag, you're it!
