My top five fave musicals!

I absolutely adore musical theatre, always have and probably always will and I honestly think there is something for everybody within musical theatre. It's a very accepting, wide-ranging place.

So today as I felt like writing about something and why not I'm going to give you a rundown of my five favourite musicals (I may do a follow up post about songs....and Disney musicals). I am aware a lot of my favourite musicals are the most popular ones....but there is a reason they are popular. 

5. Oliver!

- Oliver has a special place in my heart as it was the first musical I ever acted in myself .... at the age of 10 and a primary school production where I played the owner of the funeral parlour but still. I've a lot of pleasant memories attached to this show and I was lucky enough to see Rowan Atkinson (Mr Bean and all-round comedy legend) play Fagin in the West End. I remember it being amazing, the entire show has such heart and the music is wonderful. It's funny, it tugs at the heartstrings and it's overall a truly wonderful show.  

Favourite song - Consider Yourself

4. Rocky Horror Picture Show

- Whether you've seen the film or seen it live you will know how truly insane Rocky Horror is. Trying to explain the plot to people who have no idea about it is makes you realise how weird it truly is. But there is no way to describe how you feel watching it (especially the live show) other than a feeling of delight. The songs are absolutely classic and memorable - I will never not dance to Time Warp if I hear it - the characters are all imperfect (granted some more than others). It's also absolutely hilarious; it's the one stage show where you encouraged to sing, dance, and even heckle. Regardless of it's frankly mad plot and innuendo-filled script, I highly encourage seeing a live production of Rocky Horror if you can as I can guarantee it will be one of the most fun nights you will ever have. 

Favourite song- Time Warp (duh)

3. The Book of Mormon

- I don't think I can even describe how much I love this show (and it's only at number three so wait for the praise I have for the other two). It is one of the funniest, sweetest, cleverest, most brilliant things I have ever witnessed in my life. The music and book are written by the guys who did South Park so it's humour is perhaps a little dark for some people. But when it comes down to it, it has a nice plot, amazing music, hilarious characters and the staging is fantastic. My twitter name is even named after one of the main characters in this show and has been for five years now (yes I'm a geek). (also follow @elderpr1ce lol). There is a reason it won a Tony for Best Musical and I'm also pretty sure Andrew Rannells was nominated for Best Actor too. Give the Book of Mormon a chance and I'm certain you will crack at smile at least something within it.

Favourite song - Turn it Off or Spooky Mormon Hell Dream

2. Hamilton: An American Musical

- The entire world was talking about Hamilton but I believe it's thoroughly deserved as to why it was so talked about. Lin-Manuel Miranda is an absolute genius and I will fight anyone who says otherwise. Hamilton combines two of my biggest passions - musical theatre and history. It tells the story of the Founding Fathers and the American Revolution in a thoroughly modern way using rap, R&B, musical theatre and Brit-pop music to reflect the characters themselves. Alexander Hamilton was clearly a fascinating man along with his wife Eliza and Miranda's music portrays them in a legacy that is so lovely. I cannot fathom how amazing the music is in this show; there are so many little things within it like foreshadowing and repetition that tie everything together. I managed to get tickets to see Hamilton when it comes to the West End next year and I honestly cannot wait to see it in person as I know if it made me cry just listening to the soundtrack god knows what I'll be like seeing it in the flesh. If you don't like typical musical theatre songs, this may be the musical for you as it is far from a typical musical.
Favourite song - Satisfied

1. Dear Evan Hansen

- So this musical is relatively new but it's already taking Broadway by storm and with it it has taken my heart entirely. The show is about a teenager named Evan Hansen who suffers from social anxiety (same boy same) who gets caught in a web of lies ...that's all I will go into because I highly encourage you to listen to it. But my gosh this show is just so wonderful and I haven't even seen it live. The music is stunning (written by the guys who wrote the music for La La Land just fyi) and it's a perfect balance between theatre and modern pop music. I relate very much to Evan as a character as I'm pretty sure many people can as who hasn't struggled to fit in at some point and who hasn't ever felt lonely? It deals with mental illness in a lovely, powerful way. Ben Platt is an absolute angel of a singer and I could listen to him all day and you can hear in his voice how much he puts into this show (if he doesn't win the Tony I will literally fly to New York and demand answers from the panel). Just please please listen to it as I can't even tell you how much I adore this show. PLEASE COME TO THE WEST END ALSO THANK YOU. Favourite song - Waving through a Window


I have to give an honourable mention to the musicals Mary Poppins, Hairspray, The Addams Family Musical, Billy Elliot and Heathers as they also all have special places in my heart and their music is outstanding.

Basically just listen to musicals please.
See you soon!
Laura x