Hello! If you’re reading this you’ve decided that you love musicals so much that you want to go back and read the old Musicals Threads. That’s great! Feel free to comment and join us each Tuesday to discuss all things musical!
It’s Week Two of the Musicals Thread! Welcome back to all those who participated last week and an enthusiastic hello to any and all newcomers! The purpose of this thread is to talk about all things related to the wonderful world of musical theatre. Each week (more or less) I will post a thread with a topic/question for everyone to respond to. This is also a great place to mention any new musicals you’ve discovered and/or general recommendations for other musical lovers.
Last week I got things started by talking about The Drowsy Chaperone as a way to explain my love for musicals. This transitions perfectly to this week’s question: Is there a musical (or musicals) that you turn to when you’re feeling blue? Has a musical ever helped you get through a tough time? If not, feel free to discuss anything else related to musical theatre.
To answer my own question, I’d like to take a moment to highlight Little Shop of Horrors. I’m sure that many of you are familiar with this show, so I’ll just say that it is very fun and very cheesy at times, but it is also gruesome, and you might find yourself on the verge of tears from time to time. It’s a true journey. If you haven’t listened to this show before, I highly recommend giving it a try. It’s very accessible for those of you who may not be huge musical fans. So, you may be wondering how the heck a musical about a human-eating plant helped me get through a tough time? Well, I’ll tell you! My first year of college I attended a very large university. For me, it was a nightmare. I’m not a very social person today, but when I was younger I was even worse. I was incredibly shy and had a fun habit of getting horrible stomach aches every year when school started because of the anxiety caused by new people, new teachers, and new classes. Needless to say, starting college in a new city was terrifying to me, but I had always looked forward to college and I wanted to go to a “good” school. That year I was living in the cheapest dorm on campus (right next to the football stadium) and sitting in classes that were so big I almost never even spoke to my professors (they certainly had no idea who I was). It was incredibly isolating and lonely. So, I would walk around campus and listen to “Skid Row (Downtown)” and beg someone to get me out of that place. As I was transported into the world of the musical I would feel like I wasn’t alone, and that I could totally get out of there if I just forced myself. And I did! I transferred to a smaller school and the rest is history.
If you’re feeling trapped or just want to listen to a good song, here’s “Skid Row (Downtown)”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDh94SEGBQA
