something rotten – Georgia Haze

It’s time for May’s top tunes. These are the MT songs have I been enjoying this month…

Livin’ It Up on Top – Hadestown

Well it’s like he said, I’m an outdoor girl.
Livin’ it, livin’ it up.
Married to the king of the Underworld.
Livin’ it up on top.
Trying to enjoy myself.
Livin’ it, livin’ it up.
Six months out of every twelve.
Livin’ it up on top.

I’m keeping this to one song per musical so this is the only Hadestown track to appear in May’s top five. But, seriously I’ve listened to so much Hadestown this month, I’m one step away from booking flights to New York. Livin’ It Up on Top is probably the song I’ve listened to the most from the original live cast recording. It’s fun, jazzy, funny and it’s got Amber Gray in it. What’s not to love? I just can’t wait for the new cast album to come out next week, I need it now (even though I think this song is really different in the Broadway version!). Check out my blog post on the Hadestown Live Cast Recording to read more about my love for this show.

I Don’t Need Your Love – Six

So I sent that letter to my love,
Got married to the king,
Became the one who survived.
I’ve told you about my life, the final wife.
But, why should that story be the one I have to sing about,
Just to win? I’m out.
That’s not my story.
There’s s much more, remember that I was a writer.
I wrote book and psalms and meditations.
Fought for female education,
So all my women could independently study scripture.
I even got a woman to paint my picture.
Why can’t I tell that story?
‘Cause in history, I’m fixed as one of six.
And without him I disappear.
We all disappear.

Just like Hadestown, I could probably put any Six song on this list since I’ve been loving them all lately but I said one song per show so I’m going with I Don’t Need Your Love. Not only is this a sad and powerful break-up song for Catherine Parr and her one true love (not Henry, obvs), it’s also a ode to the idea that women are way more than what the men in their lives have made them. Cathy P was basically a proto-feminist and this song has probably one of my favourite verses of any song ever. It’s strong, sassy and shows just how amazing and inspiring Parr was and how much of a shame it is that she’s been reduced to just the “one who survived” in history. Thank God Six is changing that. Thank you to our current English history Lord and saviours, Marlowe and Moss.

Somewhere That’s Green – Little Shop of Horrors

I’m his December bride.
His father, he knows best.
Our kids watch Howdy Doody
As the sun sets in the west.
A picture out of Better Homes and Gardens magazine.
Far from Skid Row,
I dream we’ll go
Somewhere that’s green.

I feel like I’ve been rediscovering Little Shop of Horrors lately. I completely forgot how funny this show is. I really need to rewatch the film. I’ve been listening to Somewhere That’s Green a lot because it’s one of those songs that combines comedy with sincerity in a genuinely quite moving way. Poor Audrey, she just dreams of the simple things in life and a sweet little guy… like Seymour.

We See the Light – Something Rotten

We see the light.
You’ve changed how we’re thinking,
‘Cause we were blind but you showed us the way.
We’re wrong, you’re right.
Salvation is yours if you do what is true to you
And you do it with Luh-uh-uh-uh-ove.

Goddam is this a jam. Portia loves Nigel, Nigel loves Portia but her preacher dad is stopping them from running off into the sunset together so they imagine what it would be like if their families (and her dad’s whole congregation!) approved of their love and damn is it a tune. There are several real jams in Something Rotten but this has to be my absolute fave.

The Wizard and I – Wicked

Unlimited. My future is unlimited.
And I’ve just had a vision almost like a prophecy.
I know, it sounds truly crazy
And true the vision’s hazy.
But, I swear someday there’ll be
A celebration throughout Oz
That’s all to do with me!

I saw Wicked for the first time in years back in April and of all the songs in the show, this is the one that I left the theatre thinking “I need to listen to that one again”. It’s such a big song for Elphaba but it comes so early in the show that it almost gets forgotten about once the show gets to Defying Gravity but it really is quite a show-stopping moment when this song gets belted out. I won’t be skipping this song when I listen to Wicked ever again!

So there you have it, my favourite musical theatre jams from May. Check out my top April jams as well and thanks for reading!

Musical theatre sequels aren’t really much of a thing – apart from the odd exception here and there. Love Never Dies is one everyone thinks of when it comes to theatrical sequels but then you have shows like The Cursed Child where you see two performances anyway, it’s basically like the second show is a sequel. So, I’ve put together a few shows that I think could have potentially amazing sequels.

**Warning, spoilers ahead!**

Bare: A Pop Opera

I’d love to see the aftermath of the events of Bare, maybe with the sequel beginning a few months down the line. It would be so interesting to see how Peter, Nadia and co. handle their grief and graduate school to start new lives in university/college. We could see Peter find acceptance in his new community and maybe even find love again. Bare: A Pop Opera does such a great job at showing the complexities that can form between faith and sexuality so a sequel where Peter learns he can be both Catholic and openly gay in a far more accepting society than St Cecilia’s would be really heart-warming and such an important message for young viewers. This would be especially moving since we see his mum start to overcome her initial shock at realising Peter is gay and decide that she will ultimately love her son no matter what in Bare so the sequel could also dive more into Peter’s relationship with his mum.

I would also love to see a proper friendship develop between Nadia and Ivy. Their budding enemies-to-friends storyline only comes into effect in the last few scenes so to see Nadia be a supportive friend to Ivy as she makes the decision of what to do about her pregnancy would be great. As the school community seems quite traditional in their beliefs I’d imagine Ivy would be encouraged to keep her baby. In which case, the sequel could also tackle the topic of teenage motherhood.

Also, I just feel like I need more Sister Chantelle being a legend in my life so a sequel would be fab. K, thanks.

Hamilton

Ok, so there’s a fairly obvious obstacle with this one in that Alexander Hamilton dies in the show and it’s based on real history so there’s no bringing him back to life for a fun zombie spin-off… or isn’t there???? Erm, no, I’m going to say there isn’t. I think a Hamilton sequel could work though if it was focused on Elizabeth Schuyler-Hamilton, AKA one of the most inspiring women in history. The show could tell the story her life after the death of her husband, which was hardly uneventful. Do I need to remind you she raised funds for the Washington Monument, spoke out about slavery and established the first private orphanage in New York City?

I, for one, would not say no to learning more about her in glorious musical form (not say no… see what I did there?).

Also, I saw a YouTube comment one time that had the theory that the show is called “Hamilton” because that could refer to Alexander or Eliza and that blew my mind and makes me think this sequel is totally justified. So, Lin, I know you’re really busy right now but like, just think about it ok?

Les Miserables

Lol jk, a sequel wouldn’t work because everyone dies. Except for Marius and Cosette. And no one really cares about them.

In The Heights

Sorry to throw another Lin Manual Miranda musical into the mix, I know he’s very busy and has no time for sequels but hear me out. Benny and Nina have some of the best love songs in musical theatre so I just want to more from them. I want to see Nina finish her degree at Stanford, move back to Washington Heights, marry Benny, have an amazing career in her field whilst Benny is also building up to an amazing career, have children with Benny, grow old with Benny and retire to a nice house paid for by the hard-earned money they both got from their amazing careers. Is that too much to ask?

Besides, I don’t want it to all be exclusively about Benny and Nina (but mostly about Benny and Nina), I also want to see Usnavi and Vanessa’s second date and I want Usnavi’s shop to be the most successful spot in Washington Heights. I want Vanessa to get to travel on an airplane as her and Usnavi jet off on a trip together. I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO BE HAPPY, OK. Is that TOO MUCH to ask? Is it?

It’s ok, I’ve calmed down now… let’s move on, shall we?

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

Now, for this musical sequel, wouldn’t it be so cool to see Jamie a few years down the road living his life as the iconic adult we all knew he was going to be? In this case, the sequel would just work because Jamie is just such a fun character. Another show all about him would definitely be an exciting treat for theatre fans. I don’t really have many ideas for the story as such but Jamie Campbell is a huge fan of the show and has seen it many times so it could go full theatre-ception by showing the adult Jamie New going to see a musical about himself from when he was younger which is the real musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie… I’m not even sure if that’s a good idea or just plain confusing but now I really want them to try it.

Something Rotten!

I’m sad this musical hasn’t made it’s way to the UK yet but as the story of Nick, Nigel, Bea, Portia, Nostradamus and Shylock ends up with them having to leave London for America as exiles it would be great to see them bringing musicals to New England. It would be an amazing chance for some more silly antics for this gang of ridiculous individuals, especially if they brought Omelette! to America. It would also be entertaining to see how Nick and Nigel would fair as fathers and we could maybe even see the brothers coming to loggerheads over which of them has the most theatrical family. I’m thinking a Cheaper by the Dozen 2-style family feud comedy show would work well here.

So, there you have it. Those are just a few musicals I think could work as sequels, from the sincere to the silly. I’d love to hear your suggestions too!

Tag: something rotten

May 2019: Current Musical Theatre Jams

5 Musicals That Could Actually Have Good Sequels