Why do I love musicals? Let me count the ways. Or just talk about them.

 "An awful lot of people have gone, historically, to musicals to forget their troubles. 'Come on get happy.' I'm not interested in that. I'm not interested in making people unhappy, but I'm not interested in not looking at life. I don't know why I want to write it, otherwise. - Stephen Sondheim, Broadway Composer & Lyricist - Six By Sondheim 

An iconic quote from one of the most powerful and loved names in the world of Broadway. In the way only Sondheim can, he has nailed the beauty of musicals. They are not just about making people happy or to forget their troubles. They are about life - looking at life, what happens to us, what we all go through, and giving us a fresh way to look at life. In that same documentary, he goes on to say that art is making order out of chaos. And I think that is exactly what musicals do. They make order out of the chaos that is life.

Musicals are and have been one of my favorite things for as long as I can remember. 

The most obvious reason is right there in the title - Music. We all know how much I love music and what it means to my life. I also love stories and how they are told. Musicals are the best of both of those worlds. 

They are a story told through both words and music. The perfect storm for a romantic writer who thrives on both. Unlike tv and movies, the music in a musical is more than just background or a way to energize a scene. It is a part of the story, oftentimes feeling like its own character. Then there is the variety. In one musical, you can get more than one genre of music. Also, a musical can be serious or funny, dark or light, non-sensical or realistic. Many times, it is a combination of any of these. 

It is very strange that a girl growing up lower middle class in the center - literally - of Ohio managed to become so into musical theatre. I mean, I did musicals all through my years of going to church - and even a few in elementary school. But they were well known musicals or weird Christian ones made just for churches. 

The one that sticks out in my mind the clearest, is where I played a star - a literal star in the sky, not a famous person - named Astro. Astro was the runt of all the stars. She could not sing or dance and had no athletic ability, and so was constantly denied entrance into the star choir. Basically, she was the Rudolph of the Stars, without the glowing red nose. For most of the musical, I had to deliberately sing off key. I remember thinking how fun this was to play, especially for someone who is a very good singer (if I say so myself). By the end of the musical, by the grace of 'God', Astro was suddenly able to sing, just when the Star choir needed her the most. I think this one stands out because it was a difficult role to play. And, I remember everyone in the church complimenting me about how good I was and how impressed they were. But I digress ... 

Of course, everyone knew Sound of Music and Wizard of Oz because they were on tv every year. Even West Side Story, Phantom of the Opera, and Rent garnered enough attention to be known by many people. 

But not many - outside the big cities where Broadway theatre lives - knew Porgy and Bess, Carousel, Funny Girl, Cabaret, Sunday in the Park with George, Spring Awakening, or Newsies. Or knew the names of Stephen Sondheim or Jonathan Larson and what they mean to musical theatre. Hell, I even had a record - yes A RECORD - of An American in Paris. 

So how did I learn about this magical, wonderful escape while stuck in Ohio? After a school trip to see Phantom of the Opera in Columbus, I knew I needed to know more. I love to read and I loved spending time in the library at school. Naturally, I was going to read anything I could find on music. 

And, as someone who always hated liking what everyone else liked, I knew there had to be more to musicals than what we got on tv once a year. Or what we were performing in church. So I went looking. Between books and PBS and, later, cable tv - it was pretty easy. Once I knew what I was looking for. 

Musicals are such a beautiful thing to get lost in. Over the years, they really have helped me figure out myself and my life. I have found comfort in their words, their music, their message. Every single one - from the classics, like Oklahoma to newer ones like A Strange Loop - has taught me something about myself, my dreams, my life.

And Broadway is THE big reason I want to move to NYC. I have been to Broadway, before. I have walked the streets that make up the Theatre District. I have seen the lights and the colors and the excitement and the beauty. And I want that to be a part of my life every day. I want to work there. I want to write for the biggest names on the stage and the biggest producers in the business. I want to be a part of that world. I think I will fit in nicely there. 

I think this has always been my dream. A dream that I - gladly - put on hold to raise the two wonderful, amazing sons that Thor blessed me with. Two sons that are now adults and living their own lives. Freeing me up to chase my dreams. 

Originally posted on October 1, 2022

UPDATE - I still love musicals. They are still a huge part of my life. Perhaps even more so than when I originally posted this blog. And it is still my dream to make Broadway a part of my life. A dream that I get closer to every day. The big move away from this little town and to the big city, looms ever nearer. And I am so excited for this next big adventure. I know it is not going to be easy, and even scary at times. But I also know that this is the life I am meant to have and that it will all fall into place.