Ever feel like the bad guys are never really bad? Its a question many people ask, many people write on it. This is what brings me to this weeks musical 

Wicked

Wicked brings to you the story of Elphaba, or as many of you may know her. The Wicked Witch of The West. Except she's not really wicked or evil. Should I say she's misunderstood? No that's not true either. 

In this musical we go back to the beginning. We learn what made the woman green, how did she get her talents, and how she ended up in her predicament. In fact, we learn not only what happened to her but what happened to Galinda, not Glinda, but Galinda, or the good witch. 

These two young women started off as friends, meeting each other in the university setting, going from hatred for each other to understanding and then pure friendship. We see the struggles they each have in how they want to change Oz for the better, whether from the outside or from the inside of Oz's inner workings. 

The music to the show consist of not only the amazing voices of Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenowith, but compositions of great instrumentals and choruses, which is admittedly with most musicals. However, with Wicked its just so overwhelming that you can't help but go where it takes you. 

Without giving too much away, you learn of the injustices that are given to Elphaba and Galinda, they only want to help and wind up being torn apart, not necessarily from each other. 

I say give the musical a chance because it is a classic show that is easy to watch with great rewards. 

Care to listen, just go to youtube and search the soundtrack!

Well we've had green ogres, and genius thieves, but now its time for 'buelas, bodegas, and banderas!

In The Heights

You may ask yourself, what is so special about this musical? Why should I watch it? Well its pretty obvious I'm going to answer those questions so let's start shall we?

First I want you to know about Lin Manuel Miranda. He is the composer, writer, lead actor, director, and all around father to this production. That sound impressive to you? It should. Even if you may not have that much knowledge of the workings of theatre, let me be the one to tell you that each of those jobs alone are a lot to take on, and he did it all!

In The Heights takes place in Heights, NY following the story of neighborhood bodega owner Usnavi. He dreams to go back to his roots in the Dominican Republic. He has ever since his parents passed away leaving him to own and run the store. Not only do we see him chase his dreams but we see an entire community of people living their lives and struggles as lower and middle class latin-american people who just want to succeed in life. 

What was that? Yes, I said latin-americans. The story revolves around this community of dominicans, mexicans, cubans, puerto ricans. One of the things I love about Miranda is that he makes sure to give People Of Color their fair shot to show their talent. Miranda writes the culture, and styles of these people into the rap musical!

I'm sorry, you didn't catch that? Let me repeat that, a RAP musical. That's right, not only is he a genius lyricist but he is an avid rap enthusiast. He weaves a combination of musical, rap, and latin music styles into the entire production, and he does so flawlessly... like i said, genius composer. 

This upbeat musical is an amazing experience, will have you moving and grooving to the salsa and hip-hop. Honestly, I know that last part may have sounded lame, but Miranda's writing will seamlessly bring you into the world and the triumphs and struggles of these families. They are real people and you don't think of it as just a show. 

If you want to try it out, click the link to see ClockTower Players' production.

In The Heights

Until next week!

Are all ready for their weekly dose of musicals?

What's on this weeks agenda?

Well its simple.

So assuming you are interested in continuing to watch, listen, and learn about musicals there is really only one true way to watch a musical LIVE IN LIVING COLOR...

Another one of my personal favorites in musicals is catch me if you can. Have you ever wanted to be a doctor, lawyer, pilot, millionaire, and all around perfect person by the time you're in your twenties? Well Frank Abagnale Jr was the young man to do it. Now when I say he was the man to do it, I mean the real person, Frank Abagnale Jr. born in 1948 impersonated at least eight identities by the time he was twenty-one.

That being said, Catch Me If You Can focuses on the life of Frank who ran away surviving on his father's advice. Why did he run away? Simply put, his parents were splitting and he wasn't able to take it, understandable, he was very young, but his intellect served him well. Though I don't want to go into too much detail and spoil it in case you want to give it a listen. (on a side note, its great that you can get most of a musical's story out of it just from the music!)

The other main character, our protagonist, would be F.B,I Carl Hanratty. A man who's life ends up being overrun by his obsession with work catch's on to Frank's trail and makes it his mission to catch the man. 

The music itself is borrowed from the time its set, a musical set around the sixties, the music is very Frank Sinatra-y. Up beat and swinging the musical keeps you wanting to move as you follow the lives of these two dedicated individuals. 

Catch Me If You Can

Follow the link above and you get to watch yourself exactly what happens! Granted it is a bootleg, and not Live In Living Color, but those of us who love musicals do what we can...

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and on a final note, I won't say how he got there, but in the end Frank Abagnale Jr. ends up happily working for the government he so easily fooled.