When I was seven, I got to be one of the "Lullaby Girls" in our elementary school's production of Wizard of Oz. Songs from the musical The Wiz were some of my favorites to sing as a young adolescent. Back then, I never could have imagined how much I would be blown away by Wicked, which I finally got to see today at the Capitol Theatre. The story portrayed in Wicked is tragically fantastic on so many levels. I was really excited about seeing this after so many years of hearing about it, and it far exceeded my already-high expectations. I am really grateful to my mother, who has never missed an opportunity for us to see good musicals (or encourage us to try out for them). Just for kicks, I'll try to name all the Broadway musicals I have seen live - from SLC local theaters to NYC and London on Broadway.
Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera (I saw Michael Crawford do his 1,000th performance in L.A.!), Cats, Starlight Express, Miss Saigon, Guys and Dolls, The Secret Garden, Aspects of Love, The Music Man, Big River, 1776, Annie, Annie Get Your Gun, Anything Goes, Big River, Bye Bye Birdie, A Chorus Line, Fiddler on the Roof, Westside Story, A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum, Gypsy, A Christmas Carol, Hairspray, Blood Brothers, Hello Dolly, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Into the Woods, The King and I, Jekyll and Hyde, The Lion King, Man of La Mancha, My Fair Lady, Oliver, Peter Pan, The Sound of Music, Beauty and the Beast, and Wicked!
I'm certain I forgot a few, but that's 37 of them. There's just something magical about a good musical - I can't deny it. Part of it is that what they are doing up there on stage is so not me, as much as I dreamed of being a Broadway star when I was younger. I am generally drawn to things natural and organic. I generally don't like things overstimulating or anything that draws large crowds. Good concerts have always been an exception, and good musicals are definitely an exception. I appreciate the beyond-human talent that seems to be a requirement to orchestrate an amazing musical. I'll never, ever forget the particularly strong feelings I felt while witnessing Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, The Secret Garden and now Wicked - all with such phenomenal casts!
2 comments:
You left out Blood Brothers that we went to here in London! What a fun trip that was. I am a huge Wicked fan as well. Chad and I are getting ready to go see it for the 7th time. It never gets old!
Of course! I was trying to remember what we saw in London, and I was having a brain cramp. Thanks, Sarah! That was a fun week in London. I can't believe you have seen Wicked that many times. I hope to see it again sometime!
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