Come From Away
Phantom
Of The Opera
Waitress
Come From Away is a new musical that was recently released on Broadway and was written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. It is set in the week following the September 11 Attacks, and tells the story of the people whose planes were forced to land in the same town, Gander, Newfoundland. The people try to make the best out of the situation, and along the way, move the hearts of every audience member.Each act consists of many amazing songs, dance routines, and plenty of impressive acting. Every actor had different dialect from one another, as the plane consists of people from all over the world. From beginning to end, the entire play was acted very well, and was even heart wrenching at times.
Be More Chill
Be More Chill is a newer musical that had quite the life starting out as a a limited run off Broadway to ending it's life at the Lyceum Theater summer 2019. Be More Chill centers around Jeremy Heere, an awkward high school junior, who feels left out and unnoticed. He goes about his day, showing us the cliques and characters of the school, and sees a sign up for the school play. His crush, Christine, signed up so he decides to as well after talking to his best and only friend, Michael. Later at play rehearsal Christine talks to Jeremy about how much she loves acting and rehearsal. When Jeremy goes the bathroom, he bumps into Rich, one of the popular kids. He tells Jeremy he got popular by taking a mysterious, robotic pill called a SQUIP that advised him on how gain popularity, and tells him he can get it too for a large sum of money. Unsure about Rich's offer, he goes home to play video games with Michael. Jeremy tells Michael about the pill and Michael assures him that he'll be cool in college and that they're always going to be friends through it all. Jeremy decides to get the SQUIP and buy's it from a secret hook up at the Payless at the mall. He takes it with green Mountindew, as instructed, and sees Christine and Jake, the most popular boy in school, and they watch as the SQUIP activates, causing Jeremy to flail and scream from the pain. Once activated, the SQUIP tells Jeremy he's going to have change completely to be popular, and has him buy new clothes and talk to Brooke and Chloe, the popular girls. Jeremy flirts with Brooke and they offer him a ride but he declines in favor of meeting up with Michael. The SQUIP convinces Jeremy to take his advise moving forward and that if he does he'll be beloved. Jeremy starts a new day and is impressed by how the SQUIP's assistance has already boosted his popularity. At play rehearsal Christine talks about how she's starting to fall for a certain guy, causing Jeremy to think it's him only for her to reveal it's Jake.
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
(Yes, I know this is also a book series and a movie, but I only understand through music.) BY THE WAY, this musical is now able to be chosen for school. So please, next year choose TLT! The musical starts with a kid, a middle schooler from New York like you and me, Percy Jackson. A kid with dyslexia, ADD, and no Dad, at least that he has ever known of. One day, on a freakish field trip to the Metropolitan Museum Of Art to learn about Greek Gods, Percy gets taken aside by Mrs. Dodds, a substitute teacher, and she turns INTO 👏 A 👏 DRAGON👏! Percy fights her of with a transformed ballpoint pen sword, but then nothing. He gets detention and expelled, with no one knowing of this Mrs. Dodds. When Percy comes home, his Mother tells him to go to to the border, to some summer camp...After uttering these words, Mrs. Jackson dies from protecting her son from this bizarre creature called a minotaur (half bull, half human.) Our main character wakes up seeing a sign that says "Camp Half Blood." He meets Mr. D, who talks about Greek Gods, as if they are real, when it is revealed that not only are they, but that this summer camp is filled of their children. Children of the Gods, which Percy is, supposedly. After meeting many children of the Gods like his best friend from school (Grover, son of god of the Wild) and a tough girl, Annabeth (daughter of Goddess of Wisdom.) Percy is sent on a quest with Grover and Annabeth, learning many things along the way, including that he is the son of Poseidon, the sea god. Thats why he's on the quest, because the big 3 (Hades, Poseidon, &Zeus) aren't supposed to have children, which are always trouble. Zeus suspects Percy stole his lightning, which could start a war between Gods. He goes to the underworld (In a record store in Los Angeles ,duh) as the prophecy suggests where no one has ever returned from, 3 kids traveling across the country by themselves. Long story short, the golden trio gets closer and Percy succeeds in accomplishing the quest, saving the whole world and beyond.
By, Sophia Espiritu
Wicked
This musical is about a few girls, who go through so many things because one of them is different. Elphaba is a girl born different. Instead of the whites, tans, browns and blacks, her skin is green. Her father doesn't allow her to go to school because she is different. But because her sister is disabled for a certain time, he lets Elphaba go to school and assist her. She, as her father expected, was noticed and not in a good way. But, since she was in school, she decided to go to her sister's classes, pay attention, take notes, and appreciate every second. She meets the popular girl, Glinda (pronounced Guh-linda) and she helps Elphaba to become one of the other girls. But then, Elphaba uses her powers (did I mention she has powers? That's why her sister is in a wheelchair, she can fly and make things happen.) But she, at the last second, loses all hope in the Wizard of Oz when it's revealed he is a no one. She sings defying gravity, and decides what she has been working for with Glinda isn't worth it, she thinks that it isn't what she wants. It's better to be herself than popular as some other girl.
By: Sophia Espiritu
West Side Story
West Side Story is a musical that has recently been adapted into a movie, which can be viewed on Disney+. It takes place in 1950's NYC, as Puerto Ricans came into the USA for the first time. This musical features 2 different gangs, the Sharks(from Puerto Rico) and the Jets(from Europe) that rival each other, and they break out into a fight. The continue fighting, but at the same time, not. People get together and things start changing, like Tony and Maria, from different places, but now together.
Sophia Espiritu
Based on the 1910 horror novel by Gaston Leroux, which has been adapted into countless films, The Phantom of the Opera follows a deformed composer who haunts the grand Paris Opera House. Sheltered from the outside world in an underground cavern, the lonely, romantic man tutors and composes operas for Christine, a gorgeous young soprano star-to-be. As Christine’s star rises, and a handsome suitor from her past enters the picture, the Phantom grows mad, terrorizing the opera house owners and company with his murderous ways. Still, Christine finds herself drawn to the mystery man. Audiences agree—The Phantom of the Opera is Broadway’s longest-running hit. Ever.
Dear Evan Hansen
Dear Evan Hansen is a relatively new show written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The story is told through the eyes Evan Hansen, a high school senior struggling with anxiety. His therapist assigns him to write a letter to himself about why each day will be good. Evan Hansen has had a crush on Zoe Murphy, the sister of Connor Murphy, who is a frequent drug user. After school Evan writes a letter to himself, as suggested by his therapist. He prints it out and Connor shows up grabbing the letter from the printer. Connor makes an effort to be nice and offers to sign Evan's cast. Evan try's to leave but before he can do so, Connor hesitates to give and reads it for himself. In shock and disgust, Connor calls Evan out about writing stuff about his sister and storms off. Three days later, Evan is called down to the Principal’s office. He steps in to see the Murphy’s, Connor's mother Cynthia, sobbing while her husband Larry comforted her. They tell Evan that Connor had committed suicide the day before. To help the Murphy’s to cope, Evan states he was Connor’s best and only friend and then employs his family friend Jared to write fake emails between the two. We then see Zoe and how she's handling her brother's death. Since her and Conner had a rough relationship she feels no reason to grieve as does her father. The murphy's invite Evan over and him and Zoe reminisce about Connor, Evan claiming that he loved her regardless of his actions. Through many other actions including Evan's new friend Alana starting the Connor Project in memory of his death, and Evan's mother pressuring him to apply for college scholarships Evan ends up forced into making a speech about the Connor Project by Connor's "ghost". From here the the spoilers get pretty heavy but things begin to fall down hill as the lies progress and Evan must find a way to confront these problems in more ways than one.
Newsies
Newsies is based off the newsboy strike of 1899. In this Disney musical, the price of the newspapers went up. The newsies of Manhattan knew this was unfair to them and that Joseph Pulitzer just wanted more newspapers to sell. So, Jack Kelly, who dreams of getting away from the big city, takes action and the Newsies of Manhattan held a strike. Then, the news spread from Brooklyn to Queens and even more kids providing for themselves and/or their families, like the situation of brothers Les and Davey. Going on strike means much less supplies and needed nutrients. But, they did it and rallied in song and really good dancing with all the other newsies of New York City against Pulitzer. Meanwhile, a young newscaster named Katherine starts help the boys, especially brainstorming with Jack Kelly to popularize the rally and get the message to Pulitzer. Ending Act 1 with Jack's grand heartbreaking song, "Santa Fe" Eventually, many hurtful moments later, Pulitzer and Jack make an agreement and New York City recognizes the power that some adults may never have. Katherine and Jack fall in love and He stays in New York with...his family. Not the real one, but his friends were his family, Crutchie and Specs, Elmer and Race, everyone. Even Davey and Les. So, seize the day.
By: Sophia Espiritu
Harry Potter and The Cursed Child
So, I know many Potter fans, such as myself, don’t consider this canon. Also, it’s not a musical.
But, I went to this! So I’m counting it. When you sit-down, well before you can get your special treats to enjoy, like your frozen butterbeer, so delicious. Also, 2023 we're going to the theater for music class(except for general) So, if you are in band, orchestra, or chorus, SPOILERS
The show starts off with a new batch of kids heading to Hogwarts on Platform 9 and 3/4. Their parents make sure they're ready, like with Albus Severus Potter, the 2nd son of Harry and Ginny, Ron's sister. Sirius goes to school with his brother and his other peers, such as Rose Granger Weasley, the Daughter of Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Even Scorpius Malfoy, son of, you guessed it, Draco Malfoy. At school, Albus has trouble, always ridiculed and compared to his "famous" Dad. Especially at first, when he was the first potter to be sorted into Slytherin House, just like his new friend, Scorpius. Even in flying class at Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry. When Albus gets home for break, he seems very distant from his father. Oh, Im sure your wondering how the grown up golden trio are doing. Hermione is the Minister of Magic now, Harry a Auror, and Ron was an Auror but now is helping George at the shop. Cedric Digorry's father, now a senior citizen in a wheelchair talks to Harry about how he "killed his son" and about a secret hidden time turner, if harry could go back in time to save his son from the death eaters. Harry doesn't, but Albus overhears the private conversation. He talks with Delphi, a supposed "niece", and Diggory's caretaker. They decide that if Harry won't do it, they will. So, Scorpius, Albus, and Delphi goes to find the time turner and switch it back in time, when their parents were only mere teenagers. They change things, but as they go back in real time experience the butterfly effect, change one small thing and everything else does. One time the Head Mistress is Professor Umbridge, they celebrate Voldemort day, the day Voldemort finally kills Harry, and killing harry means Albus is no longer alive. This is because they embarrassed Cedric and he went dark, joining the death eaters and killing Harry later on in the Battle of Hogwarts. This repeats itself in various ways multiple times. Delphi Diggory presents herself in a true way, the augury, daughter of Voldemort and Bellatrix.
By Sophia Espiritu
Based on the 2007 film, Waitress follows Jenna, a pregnant waitress in the south trapped in an abusive marriage and looking for a happy ending. She's married to jobless Earl, who constantly physically abuses her to pay for their rent and taxes by working, and the only happiness she finds through her life is baking. The passion as given to her by her late mother. Jenna works at Joe's Diner with sassy waitress Becky and anxious Dawn. She finds out that she is pregnant after the result of a drunk night. She then falls in love with her doctor, Dr. Pomatter and decides whether or not to keep her baby and divorce her husband. With music by Sara Bareilles, with singers Sara Bareilles and Jason Mraz, Waitress is a musical baked from the heart.
Hamilton
Hamilton is a mostly hip-hop based musical, that was released in September of 2015. The play follows our main protagonist, the founding father Alexander Hamilton from his arrival in New York City to his death and the events after. Act I is mainly centered around Hamilton's arrival to America, his part in the American Revolution, his ambition to rise to greatness, and his marriage to Eliza Schuyler. Act II is focused more heavily on Alexander's life after the war, including his political struggles with people such as Aaron Burr, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. The second act also tells the story of Hamilton's affair with Maria Reynolds and the early struggles of the newly formed United States of America.
Heathers
Heathers is a musical based off of a movie of the same name from 1988, showing that sometimes doing what it takes to be popular does not make you a better person, a great lesson to remember in our own years of education. The protagonist, Veronica Sawyer is a nobody in the beginning. She's a loser. The Heathers (Heather Chandler, Heather Duke, and Heather McNamara) are the popular girls floating above all the adversities happening to everyone else in high school, as stated in the opening number, "Beautiful." As the Heathers nearly get into hot water for not being in class on time, Veronica writes up a fake yet realistic hall pass for the 4 of them, asking for popularity in return. But then, our star meets Jason Dean, a new peer who she eyes during lunch. Ronnie sees J.D. once more, this time in a 7-eleven grabbing snacks before a party with the Heathers. She talks to him, and through his singing she learns about the pain from his past, which he freezes away with slurpees. Veronica learns about how his Mother died and that Jason hasn't had someone close with him since that miserable time. He moves around, from one school to the next searching for that warmth that he finds in only Veronica. They fell so deeply in love that you couldn't tell A from B, or more so saving your lover from bullies from killing innocents. Our "precious" couple starts sweeping people from this world left and right framing it as suicide, until the point where J.D. nearly blows up the whole school, saying that, "the only place where Heathers and Marthas can get along is in Heaven!" But in the end, J.D. murders himself, seeing what damage has actually been permanently done.
By: Sophia Espiritu
24 Chump Street
24 chump street is a musical written by Lin Manuel Miranda, based off of a real life situation. Justin, a strait A senior in high school, is caught breaking the law for love. Police officers, dressed as teenagers, are put to look out for those smuggling drugs. But this poor Justin, he falls in love with "Naomi Rodriguez" in a few of his classes. He asks her out to the prom, but she wants him to get her drugs for herself and see if he was committed enough to get her something illegal.
By: Sophia Espiritu
Hairspray
Hairspray is a musical based on the movie made in July 2007, directed by Adam Shankman, starring Tracy Turnblad. Tracy is a teenager living in Baltimore, Maryland and is in love with Link, a teenage boy at her school and on the local TV show, the Corny Collins Show. Local teens dance on the show, with the occasional competition. One day, while Tracy watches on TV, they announce that one person will be on temporary leave, and people can audition for the spot! Of course, Tracy takes the leap and gets on the show. Not from her own audition, but because of Link. Tracy is slightly larger than others, and that why at first she is not cast at first. She helps protest when negro day is cancelled, which is when a day on the show that comes once a month, when black people are allowed to dance on the show. All be it, in an area with a rope separating them.
By Sophia Espiritu
Seussical
Seussical the musical, inspired by Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss children's books, is a story about Jo-Jo. He has a big imagination and talks to the Cat and the Hat, both narrators at different times, but the Cat is the main voiceover. Horton the elephant finds the mini Who-ville on top of a tree, those bright fluffy ones from the Lorax. He finds the smallest town ever and helps Jojo, who also feels alone in his world as much as Horton does. They help each other as they go throughout the Seussiverse and help each other. They also help people,big and small, along the way like Gertrude who loves Horton but never told him. In the end, you usually want something more. The Cat in the Hat almost finishes, but "What do you think?"
Into the Woods
"Once upon a time,in a far-off kingdom, there lay a small village, at the edge of the woods." And all the people in this small village have a wish. Different people have different wants, whether it includes wealth, companionship, even happiness. But one day, at the bakery, a witch shows up and reveals what has happened to their family in the past, that she had cast a spell on them, that does not allow reproduction in the family. Now, the witch comes to them, with a way to put a stop to the curse of their family, to receive the wish of the bakers. In the end, the bakers wife and the