Day Fourteen: Miss Saigon

Today's post is a musical I haven't listened to or seen in a while, and my musical is Miss Saigon!

So Miss Saigon takes place during the Vietnam War in Vietnam. Kim, a seventeen year old Vietnamese orphan, is at her first day at her new job, the sleazy Vietnamese night club called Dreamland. She is greeted by the Engineer, a French-Vietnamese sleazeball who owns the club. The U.S. Marines, knowing they're departing Vietnam soon, decide to go to the club to party with the Vietnamese prostitutes. 

Chris Scott, a Marine who wan't into the club scene and partying at all, is dragged along with his friend John Thomas. The girls are competing for who wins the title "Miss Saigon" and the winner is raffled to a marine. Kim's innocence strikes Chris. The winner of Miss Saigon, Gigi Van Trahn, begs the marine that won the raffle to take her to America, but he refuses.

John pays The Engineer for a room for Chris and Kim. Kim is reluctant and shy but eventually dances with Chris. Chris tries to pay her to leave the nightclub. The Engineer interferes, thinking Chris doesn't like Kim, but he is eventually led to the room John rented for him and Kim.

Chris, while watching Kim sleep, asks God why he had met Kim just as he was about to leave Vietnam. When Kim wakes up, Chris tries to give her money, but she refuses, saying that it was her first time she slept with a man. Chris tells Kim she doesn't need to sell herself at the club, because he wants her to stay with him.  The two pledge their love for each other. Chris tells John he's taking leave to spend time with Kim, but John warns him that the Viet Cong (North Vietnamese army) will soon take over Saigon, but eventually covers for Chris. Chris meets with The Engineer to trade for Kim, but The Engineer is trying to include an American visa into the deal. Chris holds The Engineer at gunpoint to honor the original arrangement for Kim.

The club holds a "wedding ceremony" for Chris and Kim, and Gigi toasts Kim as the "real" Miss Saigon. Thuy, Kim's cousin that she was betrothed to at age thirteen, comes to the club to take her home. He's a North Vietnamese officer and is mad that she's with Chris. The two men draw guns at each other. Kim tells Thy the arranged marriage is off because her parents are dead and she has no feelings for him. Thuy leaves angrily. Chris promises to take Kim when he leaves Vietnam. The couple dance to the same song they did on their first night.

Three years pass, and in Saigon (now named Ho Chi Minh City), a street parade is beginning to celebrate the third anniversary of the reunification of Vietnam and the fall of the Americans. Thuy, a commissar in the new government, has ordered soldiers to find the still-sleazy Engineer. Thuy orders the Engineer to find Kim and bring her to him. Kim is still in love with Chris and has been hiding ever since, in hope that he will come back to Vietnam for her. Meanwhile, Chris is asleep in his bed with his new American wife, Ellen, when he awakes from a dream, shouting Kim's name. The two women still swear that they both love Chris.

The Engineer finds Kim and brings her to Thuy. Kim refuses Thuy's marriage proposal again, then introduces him to Tam, Kim's three-year old son fathered by Chris. Thuy calls Kim a traitor and moves to kill Tam with a knife when Kim kills Thuy with Chris' gun. Kim flees with Tam and seeks help from the Engineer to escape to America. He doesn't agree at first, but when she reveals Chris is the father, the Engineer shows compassion as he see this as a ticket to America. The three head to Bangkok and set out on a ship of refugees.

In Atlanta, GA, John now works for an organization who connects Bui-Doi (children conceived during the war) to their American fathers. John tells Chris that Kim is still alive, and that she had Tam and urges him to return to Vietnam. Chris finally comes clean to his wife about Kim and Tam. In Bangkok, the Engineer works a sleazy club where Kim is a dancer. Chris, Ellen, and John arrive, searching for Kim. John finds Kim at the club and tells her that Chris is also in Bangkok. Kim is thrilled that Tam's father has come to take them to America, or so she thinks. John doesn't have the heart to tell her he remarried.

The Engineer tells Kim to find Chris herself because he doubted that Chris would come looking for her. Kim is haunted by the ghost of Thuy, who says that Chris will betray her as he did three years ago. Kim suffers a horrible flashback to that night. 

In the flashback, Kim sees the Viet Cong approaching Saigon. The city becomes chaotic and hectic, and Chris is called to the embassy, so he leaves his gun with Kim and tells her to go pack. When Chris enters the embassy, the gates close, and orders from Washington advise the place to evacuate any of the remaining Americans. The Ambassador orders that no Vietnamese are allowed in. Kim reaches the gates of the Embassy only to find a crowd of terrified Vietnamese trying to get in. 

Chris tries to leave the Embassy to get her, but his friend John had to punch him to get him to stay inside.Chris is put into the last helicopter, leaving Saigon and Kim, who still pledges her love to him.

Back to the current age, Kim dresses in her wedding clothes and leaves the Engineer to watch Tam while she's gone. Kim goes to Chris' hotel room and finds Ellen. She thinks she's John's wife, but Ellen reveals she's Chris' wife. Kim refuses to believe Ellen and Ellen asks if Chris is the father of Tam, which she confirms. Kim says she doesn't want Tam to live on the streets like a rat, but Ellen assures Kim they will send whatever money to support him. Kim begs Ellen to take Tam to America, but Ellen refuses, saying Tam should be with his mother and that her and Chris will have children of their own.

Kim runs out of the room. Ellen feels bad for Kim, but is still determined to keep Chris. Chris and John return with no luck finding Kim. Ellen tells them that Kim came by the room and Ellen had to be the one to tell her everything. Chris and John blame themselves for being gone from Vietnam too long. Ellen also tells Chris Kim wants him to go to her place, and that she tried to give Tam to them. John realizes Kim wants Tam to be "an American boy." 

Ellen then gives Chris an ultimatum to Chris: stay with Ellen or go with Kim. Chris assures Ellen he loves her. 

Chris plans to leave Tam in Bangkok but will offer monetary support from America. John warns him that Kim won't like having Tam stay in Thailand. Back at the club, Kim lies to the Engineer that they are going to America.The Engineer imagines the fancy live he'll have there. Chris, John and Ellen find the Engineer, who takes them to Kim and Tam.

In her room, Kim tells Tam he should be happy because he has a father. She tells him she can't go with him but she'll watch over him. Chris, Ellen, John and the Engineer arrive outside of her room. The Engineer comes into the room to take Tam to see his American father. While this happens, Kim steps behind a curtain and shoots herself. 

She falls to the floor as everyone runs into the room after hearing the gunshot. Kim is found mortally wounded. Chris holds Kim in his arms as she's dying, and asks why she did this, and she explains that the gods have guided him to his son. Chris begs her not to die as she asks Chris to hold her one last time. After one final kiss, Kim speaks her last words to Chris ("How in one night have we come so far?") and dies in his arms.

The ending of the show always depresses me every time I read it, but it has a good story line, I must say! We're doing this show next year and I really want to be Ellen! (Just hoping)

This song, "Sun And Moon," is one of my favorites of the whole show. And I love Lea Salonga! She has a perfect voice!

Day Thirteen: Grease

So I said I would post two yesterday. I lied, and I can't post two tonight, I barely type this one! I was honestly planning on blowing tonight's post off but I like you guys too much so I won't do it!

Today's post is a musical I loved from hearing the first note, and that is the classic Grease.

Do I really need to give a synopsis for this show? I mean, don't people know it by now?

Quick description: Boy and girl dated, boy and girl depart, boy and girl meet again, but boy ignores girl. Boy and girl constantly tease the other's affections, boy and girl end up together again. The end.

I would normally do the song "Mooning" (yes it is about the act of Mooning and it's how two of the characters bond together), but I just have always liked the song "Those Magic Changes" and this guy sounds really good in my opinion, so I'll do this song! (The actual song doesn't start until 1 minute into the video)

Day Twelve: Hairspray

(Sorry I'm a day late! I fell asleep yesterday so there will be two today!)

Yesterday's post was a musical that I could spend all day listening to, which is Hairspray. I love it, I find it so catchy, and Nikki Blonsky is the perfect Tracy for me.

So the show also takes place in the '60s. Tracy Turnblad, who is overweight and is sometimes made fun for it, and her best friend, Penny, watch this dance TV show called the Corny Collins Show and Tracy really wants to be on it. Her mother, Edna (who is always played by a guy, for some weird reason) diminishes her dreams while her dad, Wilbur, says go for it.

Tracy tries out for the show after an opening is discovered but isn't given the role. One of the executives of the TV show, Velma, and her daughter Amber, make fat jokes at her during the auditions. Tracy develops a crush on the show heartthrob, Link Larkin. After Tracy is sent to detention (for the first time), she meets Seaweed, whose mother is the host of Negro Day, a segment that happens on the Corny Collins Show once every month. 

Tracy dances in a Corny Collins Show dance contest and does Seaweed's signature dance, which impressed Corny enough to pick her to fill in the spot on his show. From there, she becomes a huge success, much to Amber and Velma's racist dismays. 

Tracy receives lots of calls from fans, including one named Mr. Pinky, owner of Mr. Pinky's Hefty Hideaway (which is a clothing store made for overweight people) and asked if Tracy was their spokemodel, to which she agrees. Tracy's popularity results to Amber knocking Tracy out during dodgeball out of jealousy. Link rushes to her side, as well as Seaweed and Penny, who now like each other. 

After school, Seaweed invites the three of them to his mother's record shop for a party. At the shop, Tracy rallies up people to perform a march against the station the next day, as black people aren't allowed on the set besides Negro Day. When they arrived at the set, Velma calls the police and almost everyone gets arrested.

After the march, most of the women are in the women's penitentiary. Velma manages to get the governor to pardon both her and Amber. Wilbur bails everyone else out, except for Tracy, who is still in jail due to Velma's dirty tricks. Wilbur and Edna lament about how Tracy's in jail, then the two of them realize how much they love the other and how they could never part.

Link breaks into the jail and busts out Tracy. Penny is grounded by her mother for "going to jail without [her] permission," which Seaweed bails her out of her room. Both couples declare their love for one another. The couples seek refuge at the record shop. Despite Tracy's efforts, the Corny Collins Show is still segregated. They plan a way for the show to be integrated.

It's the day of Miss Teenage Hairspray Competition. Amber shows off her dance moves in an effort to win votes. Just as the results are about to be announced, Tracy (whose hair is straightened to represent her not following the man) takes over the stage with Penny, Seaweed, Edna, Wilbur, Inez (Seaweed's sister who wasn't allowed to be on the show) and Motormouth Maybelle (Seaweed and Inez's mother). Tracy is declared the winner of the competition, and Corny Collins announces that the show is officially integrated. 

Mr. Spritzer, the head executive of the station, announces the governor has pardoned Tracy and Link is offered a recording contract. Motormouth Maybelle is declared the vice president of Ultra Glow--- beauty products for women of color. Penny's mother accepts Penny for who is she is. The entire cast rejoice and Tracy and Link share a kiss. 

One of my personal favorites, "I Can Hear The Bells" (I'll use Nikki Blonksy for this!)

Day Eleven: Hair

I love writing about this show! Today's post is a show that has made the most impact on you, which, for me, is Hair.

I think what impacted me the most about the show is when I first saw a video of the Tonys' performance of the title song, I instantly fell in love with the whole freedom theme and '60s rebellion. Plus, some of the songs I've heard are absolutely hysterical (every time I hear "Air", I just find it so sarcastic!) 

So Hair takes place during the Vietnam War, in the '60s. The show likes to mix in with its audience members a lot and often breaks the fourth wall. The tribe, led by Claude, celebrate "the age of Aquarius." Berger (who we think is on drugs because he's a psychedelic teddy bear) is looking for his "Donna."

The tribe sing about drugs, both legal and illegal. Then other characters are introduced, such as Woof, Hud, Sheila, and Jeanie. They do random skits, such as pretending to be Claude's parents. The true dilemmas of the main characters are shown; Sheila is with Berger, who is always trying to entertain the crowd, and Jeanie is in love with Claude, who is trying to decide what he wants to do in life. He ends up deciding to join the military and "be invisible."

This song, "Walking In Space," is what Claude sees (and how the tribe reacts) after Berger gives him and the others a joint mixed with hallucinogens. It's pretty cool. 

Day Ten: Cats

(Fair warning, if you like the musical Cats, then do not read this, because today's post is my least favorite musical.)

I have never enjoyed the musical Cats. And I don't know why. I've just never enjoyed it. I tried watching the  London Opera House recording of it (a good 15 minutes I watched it) and I thought they were singing the same song and I wasn't paying attention to what they were singing at all!

Don't get me wrong; the actors are very good dancers (this is show is extremely heavy on dancing) as well as singing, and there is virtually no dialogue. I don't think I like the story line very well. I mean there are some cats mentioned (cough cough Mr. Mistofelees) who I thought deserved to go. What about Old Deuteronomy   ? He's rather wise, and old. Didn't he deserve to go also? He's bound to die!

Grizabella is just very confusing to me. She left the tribe, and then decides to come back? She should earn her place among the cats, not just fit in, and ironically she gets picked to go be reborn. Don't get me wrong, she's very powerful and moving, and she had a bad life,  but the fact that she's moping of how bad her life was, instead of trying to show she belongs in the tribe and making the most of what life and dignity she had left, bothers me.

I won't go into detail, I'll give a quick description; it's a group of cats from the Jellicle Tribe and the show introduces certain cats who have the chance to go to Heaviside Layer and have a chance to be reborn. In the end, the cat that mopes around a lot (Grizabella) gets to be reborn.

Here's a song that people should be familiar with when hearing this show, "Memory," which is sung by Grizabella right before she gets picked to be reborn.

Day Nine: Rocky Horror Show

I admit there are other shows that I know by heart (cough cough RENT) but that show will come up later. Today's post is a musical you know all (or almost all) of the words to, and it's Rocky Horror Show.

The show starts with an Usherette basically describing what the show is about, not going into details.

Two adults, Brad Majors and his girlfriend, Janet Weiss, attend the wedding of friends Ralph Hapshatt and Betty Monroe. Afterwords, Brad musters the courage to confess to Janet that he loves her and proposes for them to get married. Suddenly, this Narrator appears and tells the audience that Brad and Janet were leaving town to find a mutual former science tutor, Dr. Everett Scott. Meanwhile, the two are driving through a rainstorm and later discover that their car has a flat tire. The two trek to an old castle they passed earlier to use a phone.

The narrator explains that Brad and Janet feel "apprehensive and uneasy," but have no choice and simply must accept the help they are given. The couple are greeted at the door by the handyman, Riff Raff, then his sister, Magenta, then a groupie named Columbia. The three tell Brad and Janet about an unlucky delivery boy who fell under their charm (his destiny is revealed later in the show.)

Just as Brad and Janet are about to leave, but then Dr. Frank N. Furter arrives to greet the guests. He introduces himself, explaining he's pansexual, cross-dresser mad scientist, then invites the two of them up to his lab. Brad and Janet are then stripped down to their underwear to dry their clothes.

The couple are given laboratory coats to wear in the lab. Dr. Furter announces he has discovered the secret to life itself. He reveals his creation, which is a tall, blond, tan, and muscular man named Rocky Horror, whom is brought to life. Rocky worries about where he is, who's there, and what might happen to him. Meanwhile, Furter is basically drooling over Rocky as he tries to run away. Furter talks about his admiration to muscle-builders (he considers them "quite pleasurable"). 

A Coca-Cola freezer opens in the laboratory, showing to be Furter's and Columbia's former lover and delivery boy, Eddie. He's a biker covered in multiple surgery scars (Part of Rocky's brain is Eddie's.) and is now considered a zombie. He's recalling his former life and embraces Columbia as they flash back to the good times the two of them had. Furter panics, so he shoves Eddie back into the freezer and cuts him to death. Furter explains to Rocky that he chose him over Eddie. Brad and Janet are then ushered into separate rooms for the night.

The narrator foreshadows that Brad and Janet are not becoming safe there. Janet is asleep, but then hears someone (she assumes is Brad) climb into bed with her and make sexual advances. She then realizes that it isn't Brad at all: it's Frank! He convinces Janet that their pleasure isn't a crime, and she makes him swear not to tell Brad, and they continue their lovemaking. The next scene is Brad's room. He is asleep, but then hears someone (which he assumes is Janet) climb into bed with him and make sexual advances. He then realizes that it's Frank in bed with him, and not Janet. He tries to get Furter to stop, but Furter convinces him that he enjoyed it, which he did. As the two resume, Riff Raff announces that Rocky has escaped.

Janet is searching for Brad in the laboratory and finds Rocky hiding there. Seeing the television monitor (their surveillance system), she finds Brad and Furter in bed together. Revenge on her mind, she seduces Rocky and the two are lovemaking. While Furter is searching for Rocky with Brad on the television monitor, they find that Janet has slept with Rocky and Brad is genuinely hurt. Riff Raff then notices another visitor approaching; it's the science tutor, Dr. Everett Scott, who is confined to a wheelchair, whom Brad and Janet had planned to visit.

Dr. Scott is rushed into the laboratory by Columbia, where Furter accuses him and Brad of investigating his castle, and he knows that Dr. Scott has connections with the FBI. Dr. Scott tries to assure Furter he is only looking for Eddie, who happens to be his nephew. Frank shows Eddie's corpse to the group and uses a device to trap Brad, Janet, Dr. Scott and a rebelling Columbia to restrain them to the floor, making it not possible for them to move their feet. It's revealed that the inhabitants of the castle are space aliens led by Furter, who abandoned their original mission for kinky lovemaking and a chance to work on Rocky. Magenta insists they return home due to the fact their secret has been blown, but Furter plans on putting on a "floor show."

Under the influence of Furter, Columbia, Rocky, Brad and Janet perform a song whiled dressed scantily clad. Furter decides they should all lose their inhibitions and revert to their primal, carnal instincts. There, the four of them are about to go into orgasmic lovemaking when Frank interrupts them for a finale, which is the concluding dance number. 

The show comes to an abrupt end when Riff Raff and Magenta burst in, bring in ray guns and wearing space suits. Riff Raff announces that he is bringing everyone back to their home planet, Transylvannia. Furter pleads with Riff Raff that all he wanted to do was have physical contact with Earthlings. Riff Raff, unmoved, guns down Columbia, Furter and Rocky and lets Brad, Janet and Dr. Scott go free. 

The castle blasts off into outer space just as the trio are leaving it. At this point, both Janet and Brad know that they will never be the same again. The Usherette comes back to the front to recap what had happened.

I've watched the movie version of it so many times, I lost count! I absolutely love Tim Curry in it, as Furter! He was great! And I think Susan Sarandon did a great job as Janet too!

Here's my favorite song, "Over At The Frankenstein Place."

Day Eight: Spring Awakening

Today's post is a musical featuring your favorite male singer, and that singer today is Jonathan Groff! I fell in love listening to him sing as I heard the Spring Awakening soundtrack.

So Spring Awakening takes place in the late 19th century Germany. Wendla (who was played in the original Broadway show by Lea Michelle) is an adolescent and is approaching puberty and feels as though she should know what she needs to know (i.e. conception). When she asks her mom, she simply tells her that a woman must love her husband with all of her heart. The other girls in town are mad that they aren't being told about conception either.

At school, boys are reciting Virgil in Latin class. A boy, Moritz, sleepily recites the wrong line, the teacher gets ready to beat him. But his friend, Melchior, stands up for him, but he instead gets hit by the ruler. He can't stand how the narrow-mindness of their school and town interferes with his desire for knowledge.

Moritz describes erotic dreams that he's been having recently and believes he's on the verge of insanity. Melchior assures him that is was okay for guys to dream that way as they're getting older. This leads t all of the other guys venting about their thoughts and desires. Moritz is still unsure about the whole thing, so he asks Melchior to explain it to him in the form of an essay.

The girls are together and talk about marrying the boys in their town, the top of their list is attractive Melchior . It's shown that one guy masturbates to an erotic postcard and another daydreams about his piano teacher's breasts. Moritz now doesn't want to know what exactly he is dreaming about and what it means. The kids express their desire for physical intimacy.

Wendla and Melchior run into each other while Wendla is shopping for flowers for her mother. The two talk (being childhood friends but drifted away as they grew older), both trying to supress their physical attraction to the other. Moritz discovers he passed his midterm exams, but the school cannot pass everyone, so they fail him, explaining his grades didn't meet the passing standards. Later, one of the teenage girls, Martha, admits to her friends that her father abuses her physically and sexually and her mother doesn't even care. She makes them promise not to tell anyone or else the girl will end up like a previous girl, Ilse, who is how homeless and wanders the streets because her parents kicked her out.

Wendla finds Melchior again and tells him about the girl's abuse. She wants Melchior to beat her with a switch so she can experience what abuse her friend had gone through. Melchior is reluctant at first, but ends up unleashing his own frustrations on Wendla and throws her to the ground. Realizing what he had done, he flees, leaving Wendla to cry. She discovers Melchior left his journal on the ground and takes it with her.

Moritz is told he failed his examination. When he tells his father he won;t progress in school, his father thinks of the shame it will bring him as "the man with the son who failed." Moritz writes to the only adult he trusts, Melchior's mother, and asks for money so he can depart for America. She denies his request but tells him she'll write to his parents and tell them not to be so harsh on Moritz. Moritz later thinks about suicide.

Melchior is in this hayloft during a storm, upset about the fact he's in the awkward phase of teenagehood. Wendla finds him, wanting to return his journal. They both apologize to the other for what happened after the last time the two had met. The two begin to kiss. Wendla resists at first, not knowing what is happening, but feels as though what they are doing is powerful and unlike anything she has done before. As Melchior becomes more insistent, he overpowers her objections with affection and force and they begin to have sex in the hayloft.

After they finish, they reflect on what had just happened. Moritz has been thrown out of his home and wanders the town at dusk, carrying a pistol. He comes across Ilse, the girl previously mentioned by Martha. Ilse, who is secretly in love with Moritz tells him of a place to sleep at an artists' colony. The two reconcile on past times in their childhood. Ilse tries to make Moritz come with him, even almost with the two of them kissing, but he refuses. Upset, Ilse leaves. Believing he has no other turn, Moritz shoots himself.

At Moritz's funeral, each of the children (including Ilse) drop a flower on his grave. Back at the school, the schoolmaster and teacher feel as though they need someone else to take the blame for Moritz's death, which was linked to the two of them failing Moritz. They find the essay on sex that Melchior wrote for Moritz. They blame Moritz's death on Melchior, even though he isn't to blame, and is expelled. Meanwhile, two of the male classmates, Hanschen, who is the seducer, and Ernst, fall for each other and realize they are both gay.

Wendla becomes sick, and her mother takes her to a doctor. He gives Wendla medicine and tells her she has anemia. The doctor pulls her mother to the side and tells her that Wendla is pregnant. When confronted, Wendla is shocked. She then realizes that her mother lied to her about conception. Wendla blames her mother for her ignorance, but her mother doesn't blame herself and demands to know who the father is. Wendla hands to her mother a passionate note that Melchior wrote to her after they consummated. Wendla reflects on what she wasn't told for pregnancy, but stays optimistic about her future child.

Melchior's parents discuss his fate; his mother doesn't believe the essay he wrote to Moritz is enough reason to send him away to reform school, but when his father tells her that Wendla is pregnant by him, she agrees to send Melchior away. Meanwhile, Melchior and Wendla keep contact by letters, which are delivered by Ilse. At the reform school, one of the boys there steals Melchior's latest letter from Wendla and uses it as a masturbation game, which results in a fight. When the classmate reads the letter aloud, Melchior discovers that Wendla is pregnant with his child. Melchior escapes the institution to find her, not knowing that her mother had taken her to an underground practioner to have an abortion.

Melchior tells Ilse to send a letter to Wendla, telling her to meet him at the cemetery at midnight, which Ilse cannot send. He finds Moritz's grave and swears that he and Wendla will raise their child in a compassionate and open environment. When Wendla is late to the meeting, Melchior feels nervous. He then finds a grave he hasn't noticed before and reads the name etched in stone---Wendla. It turns out Wendla died from the messy abortion. Feeling grief and shock, he takes out a razor and is ready to kill himself when the spirits of Moritz and Wendla come from their graves and try to give him strength. They persuade him not to kill himself, but to carry their memories.

So, Jonathan Groff? Yes?.......... If only he wasn't gay. But gay or not, I absolutely adore his voice (I know I said it earlier, but I really do love it!) And I would definitely show my kids this musical if they ever wanted to learn about how children are made, then helps them understand what they don't.

I chose a song that specified his voice only, "All That's Known," which plays while the boys are reciting Latin in class (which is the language the boys in the recording are saying, fair warning.)

Day Seven: Wicked

Today's post is a musical featuring your favorite female singer, and the singer has to be none other than Idina Menzel!

So, let me explain Wicked first. It's similar to The Wizard of Oz, but it's told in the perspective of the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba (Idina Menzel in the first Broadway debut). The show shows a side of the witch that is good, not evil, as The Wizard of Oz once demonstrated.

The show starts off at the end of The Wizard of Oz, with the Wicked Witch being melted and everyone rejoicing about it. Glinda recalls that Elphaba was conceived between the Munchkin Governor's Wife, wh and a mysterious stranger with a bottle of green elixir (who is discovered to be the great wizard Oz, whom everyone knows is human). 

The next scene shows that Glinda (whose actual name is Galinda) and Elphaba met at Shiz University and were roommates. Elphaba goes to college only to take care of her disabled younger sister (confined to a wheelchair after being born without arms.) Nessarose. Elphaba was excluded from Madame Morrible's Sorcery Seminar, but after discovering Elphaba has magical powers, she lets her in and thinks she can be useful for the wizard. 

Part of the show discusses how Animals (notice how I capitalized the word) can be considered people too and shouldn't be considered as just animals. (Animals are animals that can talk and feel and think and act as human beings.) 

Fiyero, a Winkie Prince, is introduced to the story, as well as a Munchkin named Boq, an old childhood friend of Elphaba. Boq tries to ask Glinda to this fancy party, but turns him down and tells him to ask Nessarose instead, her feeling as though her and Fiyero would be a better match. Glinda gives Elphaba a black-pointed hat, and when she wears it, she's at first ridiculed. Glinda ends up feeling remorse for what she did and the two start a strange friendship.

Back at the dorm room, Elphaba explains that her sister was born disabled because her mother, wanting her second child to not be born with green skin, was fed milk-flowers, which resulted in Nessarose to be born prematurely.  Glinda decides to give Elphaba a makeover to make her more admirable and appealing to the other students.

A Shiz professor, Doctor Dillamond (who is an Animal) is taken away by Ozian officials. The new history teacher brings in an Animal cub in a cage and suggests that if Animals were born into cages, they would lose their speech. Elphaba and Fiyero are outraged by this, so they let the cub go free after class. Elphaba thinks she might have feelings for Fiyero but is unsure.

The Wizard requested a presence with Elphaba. Boq doesn't show much interest in Nessarose, so when Glinda questions that, Nessarose answered that maybe it is herself that's not right. Glinda tries to impress Fiyero, which fails miserably, so Elphaba invited Glinda along with her to see the Wizard.

Elphaba is taken personally to the side to have her  powers tested, which she did by having monkeys grow wings, but then discovers that both Madame Morrible and Oz has been behind the troubles in Oz with the Animals and creating cages for them. The Wizard tries to convince her to join his side, as her powers would be very useful for him and his army. 

Elphaba runs out with the spell book (written in this strange language that only certain people can read) and her and Glinda run to the attic of the palace. Morrible turns the townsfolk against Elphaba and she decides to do what is right and not join the Wizard. Glinda, however, decides to follow behind him and become a public figure. She leaves the attic on a broomstick she encharmed, earning her nickname created by Morrible, "The Wicked Witch of the West."

Time has passed (20 years, maybe?). Elphaba has hidden from Oz and is no where to be found.  Yet Glinda, now the Wizard's assisstant, has announced she's engaged to Fiyero. Elphaba returns to Munchkinland, where Nessarose became the new Governor after their father died due to shame from Elphaba defying the Wizard. Elphaba turns the silver slippers Nessarose had gotten when they were younger into ruby red slippers, giving her complete mobility of her legs and being able to walk. Nessarose has restricted the Munchkinlanders from leaving the area, including her crush Boq. Nessarose tries to read from the spell book that Elphaba stole, which results in Boq literally losing his heart and Elphaba turns him into the Tin Man, so he can live.

She returns to the Palace and tries to free the winged monkeys. The Wizard tries to convince her to join him,  but after seeing the speechless Doctor Dillamond among the monkeys, she refuses. She runs into Fiyero and the two proclaim their love to each other. Glinda discovers this and tells Madame Morrible that Elphaba will come to Nessarose's aid, should she need it. Morrible conjures up a tornado with Dorothy's house landing in it and landing right on top of Nessarose, killing her instantly. 

Elphaba arrives just as Glinda send Dorothy and Toto down the Yellow Brick Road. The guards capture her, but Fiyero gives himself in to give time for Elphaba to escape. He gets dragged into the woods and was threatened to be killed if he didn't give up her whereabouts. Elphaba tries casting spells to save Fiyero, but fears it was no use.

Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man (Boq) and the Cowardly Lion are sent by the Wizard to kill Elphaba. The Cowardly Lion is the cub that Fiyero and Elphaba had released at Shiz. She captures Dorothy, refusing to let her go until she takes off the ruby slippers that belonged to Nessarose. Glinda tries to convince Elphaba to let Dorothy go, but she won't do it. The two forgave what the other had done and realized that their lives would be different if they hadn't met. Elphaba gives her the spell book, providing she takes control of Oz. Dorothy throws a bucket of water at Elphaba, who then starts to be mysteriously melting away. Glinda sees that all that is left of Elphaba is her hat and a vial of green elixir, which the Wizard has an identical. (Here it's officially revealed that Oz is Elphaba's father and she is part Oz and part human).

Fiyero, it's discovered, was turned into the Scarecrow when Elphaba was casting spells to save him. It is revealed that Elphaba didn't die but descended down a trap door, convincing everyone that she was dead. The two leave Oz as the city is celebrating Elphaba's death. Glinda and Elphaba look up at the night sky, appreciating their friendship and that both "have changed for the better."

(I swear, these describings are getting longer and longer.)

I love Idina Menzel. She is my absolute idol. She debuted in Broadway as none other than Maureen Johnson in Rent, Sheila in Hair, Amneris in Aida, Elphaba in Wicked (duh), and recently, Florence in Chess (in Concert.) I love listening to her voice. I think it's great no matter what singing technique she uses! (If those shows aren't familiar to you, she was Nancy in the Disney movie Enchanted.)

I'm choosing the song she sings when she first realizes that she has feelings for Fiyero after they free the cub, I'm Not That Girl.

Day 6: Les Miserables

Today's post is a musical that makes you sad/teary, and for any person that knows this show, they would agree that Les Miserables is the saddest. (Yes, I know I'm missing an accent over the first 'e', I don't know how to add it onto this.)

So Les Miserables takes place in 19th century France and starts with Jean Valjean, an ex-convict imprisoned for 19 years for stealing bread for his starving sister and his family. He gets released by policeman Javert and the Bishop of Digne offers Valjean food and shelter. Valjean steals silver from him and gets caught, but the Bishop lies and helps Valjean create a better life. Valjean follows the advice of the Bishop and breaks his parole.

Eight years later, he lives under a name that is Monsieur Madeline, a wealthy factory owner and mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer (it's this town located in Northern France). One of his factory workers, Fantine, is discovered by her other workers that she sends money to her secret illegitimate daughter, Cosette, who lives with this cruel innkeeper and his wife. The Foreman of the factory, having been rejected by Fantine, fires her.  Cosette was conceived by Fantine and this mystery man (whose name is never said in the musical) and had her dreams shattered by him. Fantine has to become a prostitute to pay for Cosette's care. Fantine is arrested after fighting off an abusive customer, but ends up being taken to a hospital.

Valjean gives himself up after discovering that another man was arrested as him. He wishes to see dying Fantine before he's put in prison again but Javert wouldn't let him, so he knocks Javert unconscious and goes to find Cosette.

Cosette is still with the Thenardiers, the innkeeper and his wife, and they work and abuse little Cosette, while spoiling their own daughter, Eponine. Valjean comes and buys Cosette away from the couple and run away.

Ten years later, Paris is in turmoil because the only man in government to show compassion to the poor is ill and is dying soon. Some students were planning to create a rebellion while Valjean and Cosette are almost robbed by the street gang created by the Thenardiers. Javert is hot on Valjean' trail, vows to keep looking for him. Eponine has always loved her friend Marius, and hoped one day he'd return those affections. However, he bumps into Cosette and the two fall in love. 

Eponine sets Marius and Cosette up, against her wishing, but they part when Valjean confides to Cosette that they have to leave the country. Meanwhile, the revolution is rising rapidly in the streets of Paris, being led by the students.

Javert goes undercover to "spy" on the rebelling group. Eponine has disguised herself as a boy and joined the rebelling group as well. She reflects on the fact that Marius will never love her the way she loves him. Javert's cover is blown and is kicked out of the rebelling group.

The next day, the students realizes that the Paris citizens have fled from the rebels and they will all probably die. Eponine dies in Marius' arms. All of the other rebels are killed except for Valjean and Marius, who is wounded. Valjean carries Marius on his back and runs into Javert. He begs him to let him bring Marius to a doctor, which he agrees. Javert cannot bring himself to arrest Valjean, so he commits suicide by throwing himself into the Seine.

Marius discovers Valjean is an ex-convict, and Valjean has to depart because his presence endangers Cosette. Cosette and Marius marry, but the Thenardiers (in disguise) try to tell Marius that Valjean is a murderer (which he isn't). Marius realizes that Valjean was the one who saved him and punches the male Thenardier and they leave.

As Valjean prepares to die, Marius and Cosette come to bid him away. The spirits of  Eponine and Fantine come to take Valjean's spirit with them. The end.
(Sorry it took so long to explain.)

The show's theme, the constant struggle of people, is just very sad, depressing, powerful, and understood. I think the majority of teen girls can relate to the Eponine/Marius/Cosette love triangle. If I could put this for another category, it would be Best Lyrics, but I have another musical for that! Plus, the story line is just very sad and gloomy. I mean almost all of the main characters die except for Cosette, Marius and the Thenardiers. Ironic, right?

I absolutely love the song I Dreamed A Dream. It's about Fantine and how she was enamored with a man who left rather quickly and left her pregnant and her dreams shattered. I'm at the point of crying every time I hear this song and I cannot wait to hear Anne Hathaway sing it next month!

Day Five: The Lion King

So I just heard some very depressing news about a death of one of my family's close relatives earlier today, and just now, when I'm posting today's post, I smile because it fits into what I want to feel today, which is happy. Today's post is a musical that makes you happy.

I really hope I don't need to explain The Lion King too much. It's about a cub who "can't wait to be king" and rules with his dad. Meanwhile, his dad's brother has been planning to kill him, which he succeeds by making his death look like an accident (i.e. Simba gets stuck and his dad saves him but his brother refuses to pull him out, resulting in the dad being killed by a stampede.)

Simba feels guilty and runs away. After, the dad's brother (Scar) rules the kingdom and makes it a living hell (this happens over a span of 10? years). Simba's living a great life in the wild, until he runs into a childhood friend, who tells him what happened to the kingdom. 

So Simba comes back, turns the hyenasm that ruled under Scar, against Scar and killed him (for the greater good.) Simba regains his crown and marries the said childhood friend and lives happily ever after.

I think there are a couple of reasons why I like this movie. One is that I used to watch the cartoon movie version of it all of the time, and I loved it! Another reason is, there's nothing very gory about the show at all. It's true Simba's father dies in a stampede but it's not like murder is the main theme (cough cough *Sweeney Todd*) Plus, the songs are very catchy and the full musical version is very G rated, which means it's appropriate for all to see!

This clip is one of my favorite songs, the Circle Of .

Day Four: Annie

(Just to warn you, if you're thinking about reading a cheerful post about Annie, you thought wrong.)

So today is highlighting a musical that I think is overrated, which I think is Annie. I used to think it was the greatest musical ever, until I realized that it was everywhere, and that wasn't okay.

Annie is about this orphan who hopes that her parents will come find her and get her from the orphanage again. She ends up finding a male dog and names it Sandy, then is adopted for a week by this really mean billionaire named Mr. Warbucks, who originally wanted a boy. In just a week, the Warbucks mansion grows accustomed to her and Warbucks is considering adopting her for real.

Meanwhile, the orphanage owner, Miss Hannigan, who absolutely hates children, and her life, has a surprise visit from her brother, who is only known by the name Rooster, who brings his girlfriend, Lily St. Regis, who was named after a hotel. Hannigan has known all along that Annie's parents won't come for her, because they died when Annie was only a baby. Rooster and Lily develop this scheme to tricking Annie and Warbucks that those two are Annie's parents, especially after discovering that there's a $50,000 reward for the parents.

They come and try to convince Warbucks that they are Annie's parents. While Annie spends one final night, the President of the U.S., who she somehow befriends, discover that her real parents had died, so as soon as Rooster and Lily come to bring Annie with them, Rooster, Lily and Hannigan get arrested and Annie is officially adopted by Warbucks.

God, how I despise this musical. It's been overdone so many times, I've gotten sick of it. Plus, the story line isn't that great in general. I mean, think about it. The show starts off at the girl already in the orphanage. Her parents didn't want her, so why did she have this delusion that they would come get her? It's sad.

What billionaire adopts a child for only a week? That is just selfish and you can tell he only did it to improve his image. 

HER VOICE. It bothers me so much. It doesn't matter who is singing it, I always think the song "Tomorrow" sounds very whiny and it absolutely aggravates me. And then everyone starts singing along with her, trying to stay cheerful during the Great Depression. No, life doesn't happen that way, especially during that time period! You grin it and bear it and don't sing what good can happen because karma happens! (I don't mean to sound very cynical here.)

The only good part about the show is Miss Hannigan. I find her funny and original and I love the song "Little Girls." In a way, I feel sorry for her and I can connect to her because her grumpy attitude is what I see all of the time. Carol Bunnett and Kathy Bates are my absolute favorites for singing that song.

Day Three: Oliver!

So today's post is a musical that I personally feel is underrated, one that is called Oliver! 

So Oliver! is about an orphan who starts out the show eating lunch in a workhouse owned by these really cruel owners, Mr. Bumble and the Widow Corney. He ends up getting sold to another undertaker, named Sowerberry. He is treated even worse with the Sowerberry, who keep Oliver in a basement.

After one of Sowerberry's workers insult Oliver's dead mother, Oliver starts attacking the worker and Mr. Sowerberry has no choice but to put in him in a coffin, but while arguing with his daughter, Charlotte, Oliver escapes.

A week later, he runs into the Artful Dodger, who convinces him to join Mr. Fagin and his team of boy pickpocketers and Oliver decides to join, at first not realizing that they pickpocket. Oliver meets Nancy, who is the live-in girlfriend of abusive burglar Bill Sikes and she doesn't mind the abuse he gives her all the time. Oliver, Dodger and another boy try to pickpocket from a wealthy man named Mr. Brownlow, but Oliver gets arrested and confined to the Brownlow household while the other two sneak away.

Bill comes up with a plan to get Oliver. At first, Nancy refuses, but he beats her to the point where she must obey, but she believes that he beats her because he loves her and convinces herself that. Oliver is re-kidnapped by Bill and Nancy and is saved by Nancy when Bill tries to beat Oliver for trying to flee from them. 

Meanwhile, this long lost locket of Oliver's mother is recovered and is later discovered that Mr. Brownlow is Oliver's grandfather. Nancy sneaks Oliver out and Bill has some suspicion on what Nancy was about to do. He knocks Oliver unconscious and kidnaps him after Bill clubs Nancy to death. He holds Oliver hostage on a bridge, threatening to kill him when the police apprehend him and save Oliver. They return the boy to Brownlow and Fagin, who has been thinking about what he really wanted to do with his life, has vowed to try and change his life around.

So Oliver! sounds like your basic orphan show, but it's so much better than Annie. I'm sorry if you like the show, but it's been done for a while now. No one knows about Oliver! and its potential greatness, yet everyone knows the "Tomorrow" tune (it has been sung to death.)

This song is sung by Nancy and it's how she still thinks that Bill beats her because he loves her. The song is called "As Long As He Needs Me." I love this version of the song, it sounds so pure!

Day Two: Book Of Mormon

Today's day is my latest musical obsession, which happened to be Book Of Mormon. I know the craze for the show ended a while ago, but I still find myself singing to it occasionally.

Book Of Mormon is a relatively popular show, created less than a decade ago by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Avenue Q composer Robert Lopez. It makes fun of Mormonism but also is accurate, in a way.

The show is about these young Mormon missionaries who are getting ready to embark on a journey to another location and to try and convert people to convert to Mormonism. The main guy, Elder Kevin Price, dreams of being sent to Orlando, Florida but instead is sent to Uganda with the least wanted Mormon member, Elder Arnold Cunningham, who isn't the greatest convincer.

In Uganda, the majority of the population has AIDS and have given up on believing in God (look up the phrase "Hasa Diga Eebowai"). Price tries to convince people by preaching what he was told to preach, but no one wanted to hear it. Cunningham preaches a different version of the religion by connecting it to Star Wars and the conflicts of the war-torn country. 

The leader's daughter ends up having a crush on Cunningham and Price ends up abandoning Cunningham in Uganda by flying to his preferred destination, Orlando. He then realizes that he shouldn't have done that and goes back. Meanwhile, the official Mormon commission comes to Uganda to see Cunningham's work, but realize that he preached what wasn't the true message and they weren't considered Mormons. But Price ends up standing against the war criminal ruling over the country and having people convert.

The musical is simply for laughs and in no way is purposely being cruel about the Mormon religion: it's just a show! In 2011 it won 9 Tony awards, one was Best Musical.

I love this show, I think it's hysterical! I think for whoever wants to see the musical that they should keep an open mind and not get offended because the show does touch base on AIDS, being gay, and the Mormon religion. I absolutely loved Andrew Rannells! But now he's in the new ABC TV show The Next Normal. 

Here's one of my personal favorite songs, which is how Price originally preaches the beginning of the Mormon religion, All-American Prophet.

Day One: Footloose

I think I might have seen more theatre shows when I was younger, but the farthest I can remember is when I was 10, and I saw Footloose at this theater in my hometown and I loved it.

Footloose is about this small down where, thanks to this Reverend, whose son was killed in a car crash after coming home from a dance, and made dancing illegal. This doesn't jive very well with newcomer Ren, who pretty much lives to dance. He ends up dating the Reverend's daughter, Ariel, who has a reputation of sleeping around.
Things get complicated with her boyfriend, Chuck, whom she only dates for sex, and her father, who thinks Ren is a bad influence, and pretty much the older generation of the town, who doesn't agree with Ren either. In the end, dancing isn't banned anymore and Ren and Ariel live happily ever after.

(Yes, I know there are more characters but this is a rough outline of the show)

This show is nice to watch and to hear the soundtrack to, but to be in? My guess is you have to be good at dancing as well as singing and acting, and I mean really good at dancing. But I've always enjoyed watching it on TV when it was on (the 1984 version, not that crap one they made last year).

\So, without further ado, one of my favorite songs from the show "I'm Free (Heaven Helps The Man)"

I don't know if I want to continue a blog anymore.

But recently, I dived back into what I know best, which is theatre, and I was reviewing what I knew about it, and I couldn't exactly text my outrages and loves to my theatre friends so I'll try to keep up a theatre blog...... again. 

I tried it the first time, but it didn't work out so well. But I can't keep this all bottled up inside, I cannot.

So what I plan on conducting the first month (hoping I last this long) of posts is by doing this 30 Day Musical Challenge! It's similar to the 30 Day Musical Song Challenge but I didn't feel like going down that road. Right after this post, I'll post Day 1.

Day:
1. The first musical you saw/heard.
2. Your latest musical obsession.
3. A musical you think is underrated.
4. A musical you think is overrated.
5. A musical which makes you happy.
6. A musical which makes you sad/teary.
7. A musical featuring your favorite female singer.
8. A musical featuring your favorite male singer in a musical.
9. A musical you know all (or nearly all) the words to.
10. Your least favorite musical.
11. A musical that has made the most impact on you.
12. A musical you could listen to all day.
13. A musical you loved from hearing the first note.
14. A musical you haven't listened to (or seen) in a while.
15. A musical written by your favorite musical composer.
16. A musical written by your least favorite musical composer.
17. A musical with the best music.
18. A musical with the best lyrics.
19. A musical that disappointed you.
20. A 'guilty pleasure' musical you have.
21. A musical that inspires you.
22. A musical you wish was (never) made into a movie.
23. A musical which everyone should see performed live.
24. A musical that makes you laugh.
25. A musical that is your current favorite.
26. A musical featuring a character you most relate to.
27. A musical you'd love to see featuring/starring your favorite performers.
28. A musical which features a character that's so bad/cruel/evil (etc.) you love them OR sung by the musical character you love to hate.
29. A musical you'd love to be involved in (acting, directing, etc.)
30. Your all-time favorite musical.