Combat Finals in the Best Way Possible – Showtunes!

Finals Week is rapidly approaching (or has arrived for some of us)! I’m sure that we can all agree that this is the most stressful time of year for students. For some reason, I view the fall semester as the more difficult semester and tend to get overwhelmed more easily when finals come around than I do during the spring semester. In the spring, I guess all I can think about is summer and being finished with another year of school, so I power through it easier than I do than the fall.

I digress…

I am here to provide you with a Musical Theater playlist that will get you through all of your all-nighters, cramming for exams and writing many endless papers. I am, so graciously, including a Youtube playlist to accompany my blog so you don’t need to go searching for the songs.

You can totally get through this. I believe in you! Ace that exam. Crush that presentation. Write that exceptional paper. Then get ready for a relaxing break! You deserve it.

Finals Week Playlist

1. American Idiot – American Idiot
2. Stick It to the Man – School of Rock
3. It’s Going to Be Good- Next to Normal
4. 96,000 – In the Heights
5. Friend Like Me – Aladdin
6. The Bitch of Living – Spring Awakening
7. We’re Not Gonna Take It – Rock of Ages
8. A Musical – Something Rotten
9. Sugar Daddy- Hedwig and the Angry Inch
10. Land of Lola- Kinky Boots
11. Satisfied- Hamilton
12. Hair – Hair
13. Circle of Life- The Lion King
14. La Vie Boheme – Rent
15. It’s Raining Men – Priscilla Queen of the Desert
16. One Day More – Les Misérables
17. The Final Countdown- Rock of Ages
18. Too Much Too Soon – American Idiot
19. Carrying the Banner – Newsies
20. Blackout – In the Heights
21. Angry Inch – Hedwig and the Angry Inch
22. Totally F*cked – Spring Awakening
23. Guns and Ships – Hamilton
24. Hasa Diga Eebowai- Book of Mormon
25. Raise You Up/Just Be – Kinky Boots
26. Finale – Priscilla Queen of the Desert
27. The Flesh Failures/Let the Sunshine – Hair
28. Finale B- Rent
29. Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story – Hamilton
30. Whatsername- American Idiot

Stick It to The Man – My School of Rock Lottery Experience

I am currently in the process of finishing my English minor, completing my final class of the program. I chose to take creative nonfiction, since I love creative writing but don’t really know how to make “real life” instances creative. My final thesis revolves around autoethnography – which is a form of writing that closely explores a person’s “subculture.” I suppose I surprised absolutely no one by choosing the theater world as my subculture.

I recently wrote an entry where I was asked to visit an unfamiliar space and write for an uninterrupted fifteen minutes and share my observations. Here is a personal account of my experience at the School of Rock lottery.

I stand in the middle of the sidewalk on Broadway between 50th and 51st street. Broadway’s newest musical, School of Rock has just started performances a few days ago and I am trying my luck at the ticket lottery they have. I have been to the Winter Garden Theatre before and I have also participated in many Broadway lotteries before. So, why is this space unfamiliar? This is because when a new show preoccupies a space, the space is reintroduced as brand new. It’s intended to provide a new air, different from the show prior.

The Winter Garden Theatre’s walls are decorated for the new show that will play there. A color scheme of red, black, and gray adorns the concrete. There are photos of the production plastered on each side of every door that leads into the theatre. The walls are graffitied with phrases of rebellion and rock. Towards 51st street, there is a dedicated piece of wall space that resembles the lockers of Horace Green Prep, with the spray-painted phrase, “No one can stop the school of rock.”

I stand in a crowd of about thirty or so, all impatiently waiting to see if they’ve won tickets to this supposed-incredible show. Many distract themselves with their phones, checking social media and informing their friends via text of where they are. I had done the same before looking up from my phone. I had told my mom where I was and then asked a few friends if they wanted my second ticket if my name was drawn. Some stand with friends, catching up, and discussing the possibility of getting a ticket to the show and throwing around ideas of what they could do if they were to lose the lottery.

It is the middle of the afternoon, so the streets are not very crowded. Passersby are very confused as to why people are scattered across the block, seemingly doing nothing, as a blonde-haired girl with a bingo cage set up on a fold-away table stands there with tiny papers in her hand. Traffic is also light during this time. There are few cars that sail down Broadway while we wait. It’s stunning really, to be in Time Square and for it to be as calm as it is. The rarity is beautiful.

When it comes time to draw the names, the hopeful winners all huddle around the table as the blonde girl gives a quick speech. She explains that everyone who wins will receive a front row seat to the show and only have to pay $25 to do so. Most Broadway show tickets are around $100, so this is great news to all. Other shows have lotteries but operate quite differently. Some lottos are online, some lottos are $40, and some seat locations are scattered around the theatre. The winners of this lottery get to see this show from the very front row for the lowest price possible. This created an incredible buzz throughout the small crowd of people. We all wait patiently, hopeful that our names are called.

The blonde girl spins the bingo cage, causing the slips with our names on them to whirl around in a frenzy. She begins to pull the names, one by one. The winners yell and cheer, screaming “one” or “two” based on how many tickets they’d like to purchase. The crowd shrinks as the winners are drawn. The girl calls some names and no one replies – those people are disqualified for not being there in time for the drawing. With only a few names, I was worried I would not be called. I began to lose hope and started to look up places on my phone to eat.

“Heather Card!”

I couldn’t believe it! I jumped up and down and the people around be smiled and clapped, delighted for me, even though they have not won themselves. I claim two tickets and then go into the box office to purchase my tickets.

I’m ready to rock!

I really enjoyed School of Rock. If you do participate in the lottery and do not win, they sell discounted tickets to the show for $37 . That’s only a $12 difference from the lottery price. This show is well worth the $37. It’s full of so much laughter and joy. If you are unable to participate in the lottery, make sure to get your tickets in advance!

From Screen To Stage – My Dream Movie Musicals

After writing about Waitress for my last blog post, I thought about all the movies that have been reimagined for the stage as musicals. I thought it would be fun to list off some of the movies that I really enjoy that I think would be great stage musicals!

1. Mrs. Doubtfire

   Mrs. Doubtfire is one of my favorite movies from my childhood. I think the concept is brilliant – a man who poses as a female housekeeper in order to spend time with his children while he and his wife are seperated. I can’t help but think that adding a score to the piece would make it even more enjoyable than it already is.Who I would like to see as the lead:

   

   James Monroe Iglehart

   I know what you’re thinking – it’s the Robin Williams thing; he’s playing the Genie in Aladdin so, it only makes sense for him to play Daniel Hillard/Euphegenia Doubtfire. Well, perhaps. James Monroe Iglehart and Robin Williams have many similar qualities. I’d go as far as to say that James is the Robin Williams of musical theatre. He is hilarious, charismatic, and can think on his feet (He’s also a member of hip hop improv group Freestyle Love Supreme). I’d love nothing more than to see James Monroe Iglehart tackle the character of Daniel/Mrs. Doubtfire head-on and bring it to life on stage.

2. My Girl

   I think this coming-of-age story has all the elements that a great musical is made up of – a relatable story, compelling characters, humor, heartbreak, and a moral compass. I’d love to hear a ballad about being in love with Mr. Bixler and about Vada’s friendship with Thomas J.Who I would like to see as the lead:

   

   Sydney Lucas

   Sydney Lucas is the obvious choice for Vada Sultenfuss. This young lady had talent beyond her years. She is a capable of dealing with the responsibility of a portraying a deeply intellectual character and has done so before as Young Alison in Fun Home. She would blow audiences away as Vada!

3. Tangled

   Disney Theatrical has the capability of taking their previously animated features and bringing them to life on stage. Rapunzel is a character loved by princesses both young and young at heart. I get chills thinking about how beautiful “I See the Light” could be live on stage. Like other Disney productions in the past, Tangled will create Disney magic in the theater by bringing this movie to life.

   Who I would like to see as the lead: 

   

   George Blagden

   I might be cheating just a little here with this response, especially since I’m not saying who I’d like to play Rapunzel. However, I met George Blagden once and he told me how much his girlfriend, Elinor loved the movie Tangled. I told him that when I grew up, I would bring Tangled to the stage and cast him as Flynn Rider. I mean, just look at that smolder…

4. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off 

   A musical that documents the “sick” day of the larger-than-life self titled character and his friends would be one of the most interesting concepts ever. I don’t think there’s anyone in my life who hasn’t seen this movie and doesn’t absolutely love it. It’s truly a classic. I can’t help but think how epic the parade sequence (which would be the Act I finale) would be.Who I would like to see as the lead:

   

   Wesley Taylor

   Wesley Taylor is a beyond brilliant actor who has the chops to pull off all of the dynamics of Ferris Bueller. He’s got the hilarity down, has charm for days, and is really striking when it comes down to the serious element of the role. I’d pay good money to see this.

5. Across the Universe
   

   I’m still puzzled as to how there isn’t a staged version of this movie. Everything about it simply blows my mind. It’s an original story with characters named after the people mentioned in Beatles songs featuring a score of nothing but Beatles songs. I mean, who doesn’t love a good Beatles song? Set in the 60s, we follow the journey that many characters take in order to find love and happiness.

   Who I would like to see as the lead:

   

   Reeve Carney

   I see Reeve Carney as leading man, Jude. He and the director of the movie, Julie Taymor are no strangers to each other. The two collaborated in Julie Taymor’s Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark a few years ago. Reeve played comic book character Peter Parker/Spider-Man and crooned original songs by Bono & The Edge. I think Reeve would be the perfect fit for Jude. He has the vocal ability as well as the look.

I hope you enjoyed a little bit of my creative side here in this blog post. I had so much fun writing this!

The Les MiserVLOG!

If you know me personally, you know that my favorite Broadway musical of all time is Les Misérables. I grew up singing the songs in choir and became enthralled with Tom Hooper’s 2012 movie. Luckily for my inner-theatre geek, the second Broadway revival opened on March 23, 2014 and I was there to celebrate the momentous occasion.

After seeing the newest Broadway production several times, the most important person in my life finally came to see the show with me. My mom is also a very big fan of the movie, somewhat due to my (practical) life-long obsession of Aaron Tveit, who starred as Enjolras in the film. You can’t go a car ride without her without hearing at least two songs from the show – and that’s with her playlist on shuffle.

Come along with me as I take my mom to see the show for the first time for her birthday.  A huge thank you to Arbender Robinson for showing my mom and I around backstage, and to Jason Forbach, Joseph Spieldenner, Wallace Smith, and Alfie Boe for making her first Les Mis Experience so special.

The Broadway Lottery Vlog!

I was challenged to do a vlog for my next post. I am already a vlogger, so this was actually a lot of fun. I try my luck at Broadway’s most popular lotteries right now, Hamilton  and Spring Awakening! Come along with me for the journey, as I get stuck in the rain while trying to win tickets to these amazing shows!