MusicalRecs

Do you like musicals? Would you like someone to suggest even MORE musicals that you might like? Or would you like to help someone else find their next favorite show? Then you're in the right place! Use the ASK BOX to ask for recs, and use SUBMIT POST to shamelessly promote one of your favorite shows. All types of musicals welcome!

[musicalrecs]

This blog is in the experimental stage, to see if there is demand and interest in recommending and identifying musicals.

How can you help? 1) So glad you asked! You can use the ask box to ask for a recommendation (ex "I'm in the mood for something gloomy, but no racism please" or "anyone got anything suitable for five year olds that isn't from Disney Jr?") or help identifying a show you just can't recall ("I think it was about cheerleaders and also there was a dancing leprechaun for some reason?").

2) You can also submit shameless promotion for your favorite musicals! Do you really love a show and want to share it with the world? Write up a post and send it in! Don't worry if your choice is niche, obscure, or obscenely popular; the important thing is your enthusiasm. :)

However, please remember that every show is someone's favorite. Please do not promote a show by saying "Hamilton sucks, so here's 1776..." or "I know we all can't stand Sondheim, but let's talk about his one good show, Saturday Night." Use your best judgement.

What kind of musicals count? If it's got singing and dancing, that pretty much qualifies! So Broadway shows, off-Broadway shows, Starkid, Glee, animated movies, it all counts! By all means, please write in with why Yoram Gross' Dot films are cultural treasures and how you can never go to the circus thanks to "The Circus is a Prison" from Around the World with Dot.

Reblogs This tumblr will be reblogging recs and other responses, but! Only if they are actual posts, not replies or comments in tags. So if you want to be reblogged, make an actual post, and if you don't want to be reblogged... don't. XD Also, I'll usually use the queue function for reblogs, so it might be a little bit before your recs show up.

[roycohn]

happy donna sheridan unprotected sex day (1/3), everybody!!!

[hgedits]

We did not end in justice and neither will you But still, we made strides, so we know you can too Make peace with our incomplete power and use it for good 'Cause there's so much to do

[lovely-v]

It’s crazy and fucked up that being yourself is actually the solution.

[lovely-v]

It’s like. When I was told to “just be yourself” as a kid I thought it was a passive thing. Like oh easy I just have to sit here and be myself. but the reason so many people think that “being yourself” is bullshit advice is because you actually have to make active choices to do this and it WILL make your life way more fun. You have to wear t-shirts of bands that were popular ten years ago because you like them. You have to do your hair in a way that you find cute or comfortable even if it’s “so nineties”. If your friend says a food you enjoy is gross to them, you can’t be afraid to admit you casually disagree. You have to do hobbies that you’re interested in even if you’re bad at them and you cant feel like you have to get good at something before you tell people it’s an activity you do. You have to read manga and comic books in public and get piercings your relatives think are unattractive. You don’t have to tell people you dislike that you dislike them, but you don’t have to give them your time and attention either. You have to rewatch that kids show you’re nostalgic for even if you’re in your 30s. You have to change your name if you hate it, even if only a few close friends can know. You have to get fun girly drinks at the bar. You have to order hot chocolate when you don’t like coffee and black coffee when you don’t like sweet things. I am still bad at practicing this but it is the only way to make it all tolerable.

[lierdumoa]

First you have to realize that "yourself" is a construct built by the decisions you make. Then it becomes clear that being yourself is a deliberate and intentional practice, not a passive state of existence.

[musicalrecs]

I am what I am I am my own special creation So come take a look Give me the hook or the ovation It's my world that I want to have a little pride in My world, and it's not a place I have to hide in Life's not worth a damn till you can say "I am what I am"

[notbecauseofvictories]

actually, the central romance of Music Man makes more sense if Harold Hill is wildly desirable, floats from town to town selling the Brooklyn Bridge on the strength of his charisma and how much everyone wants to fuck him.

mostly because that means when he shows up in river city and hears that Marian the Librarian seduced a secure and permanent position out of the elderly town miser, he would think: ah, another creature like me.

(not that “sadder and wiser girl” isn’t a phenomenal song on its own, but it takes on a different tenor if it’s game recognizing game rather than HH just refusing to go after nice, church-going girls.)

plus, leaning into that characterization would mean that marian is sadder and wiser, did in fact befriend (or seduce) specifically to have access to books and then later, to keep accessing them; she’s a con man too, just on a lesser scale due to lack of opportunity.

romance between two people who think of sex as largely a way of getting what you want, except that one of them likes to read, and the other can play the piano by ear.

[notbecauseofvictories]

also….who are we kidding when it comes to her ‘‘little brother’‘ Winthrop.

[notbecauseofvictories]

#let’s all be honest: marian and her mother left to “help out a cousin in Chicago” and then came back with a baby     #marian only ever referred to this baby as her brother. mrs. paroo only ever called him her son.     #but if you were the family doctor. or maybe someone who knows a little bit about gestational math and menopausal women.     #you might have some follow up questions.     #anyway stay tuned for other hot takes about this american musical from the 1960s.  

[notbecauseofvictories]

“What’s the other thing I’m entitled to know?”

[Harold Hill gazes meaningfully at Marian, then looks back to Winthrop]

“Well, the other thing’s none of your business, come to think of it.”

[audible-smiles]

My memory of The Birdcage (1996) is always that it's more dated and more difficult to watch than it actually is. You hear "drag-themed comedy from the 90s based on a musical from the 80s based on a play from the 70s" and you brace yourself just a little, right? But the film has a strong gay perspective, so the fruity fag jokes mostly come off as warmly affectionate. There is a surprising amount of poignancy in Robin Williams' portrayal of Armand, grudgingly agreeing to his beloved son's request that he go back into the closet for an evening ("do me a favor and don't talk to me for a while"). The drag club's staff attempting to redecorate the apartment with stuff straight people might like (a taxidermy moose head, an enormous crucifix, and Playboy magazine) is extremely funny. Albert's histrionics are a point of tension because he does often come off as a stereotypically pathetic/comic figure, but towards the end of the movie he makes it very clear that he's aware of how people see him, and asserts that trying to copy a stoic masculinity he doesn't possess for the sake of social approval would be more pathetic. In the 1983 musical adaptation, they give "Albert" (Albin) the only good song in the whole show, "I Am What I Am", which Gloria Gaynor covered to the delight of gays everywhere. Apparently Nathan Lane wasn't (publicly) out yet in 1996, which is amazing because it means that at one point in this movie you're watching a gay man playing a straight man playing a gay man playing a straight man, in a movie about how it's important to be yourself, an absurdity that does seem to encapsulate the state of gay America in the 90s.

[silverhand]

I'm seeing a couple of posts circulating about the gay 90s and this movie. The above is a very good summary, and I think it's worth adding a few other points.

This movie got made because Robin Williams said yes to it (and it's important that Gene Hackman did as well). Williams in the 90s was a mega-star of a type that's not present in the current media environment (maybe Tom Cruise, but I personally think that's echo from his salad days). Even his flops made money on the back end in the video rental market, which also doesn't exist anymore (streaming is different). Hackman was on the other side of his A-list career but still Hollywood nobility if not full royalty.

Playing gay was considered career suicide in the 90s. There had been a number of actors who put lie to that belief stretching back decades, but this was Williams and Hackman (yes, being on screen next to a gay character was enough to get you blacklisted) saying "screw that" and doing it anyway.

Being gay and out was career suicide in the 90s.

Nathan Lane had a really nice gig going for himself. The Lion King put him into the Disney rep company with people like Williams, Bette Midler, and Whoopie Goldberg (check their IMBD list from the 90s--they were making bank at Disney).

Lane didn't come out until several years later (nice summary: https://deadline.com/2024/06/nathan-lane-robin-williams-advice-coming-out-birdcage-1235975010/).

I don't want to imply that this was a Sorkinized moment where everything changed because of one thing, but this was a very important movie that caused real movement in the needle on queer acceptance.

It also proved that there was a market for films with gay characters, which had the knock-on effect of gay filmmakers being able to find distributors of their gay-themed films. Which meant that more people than ever (queer and non-queer) got to see representation on-screen.

[musicalrecs]

Excellent points all around, but can we go back to where OP claimed there's only one good song in the musical that won six Tony awards, including Best Musical and Best Score?

[musicalrecs]

When your show is explicitly about race so you have to hire triple the ensemble members or else it would be weird.

[musicalrecs]

In light of the Tonys, you might be wondering what the hell Ragtime is about. To enlighten you, here's Forbidden Broadway's original musical summary from 1999.

[strawbebbynya]

all yall make jokes about couples and their nonromantic third wheel having fun together, but im the one getting treated to food tonight by the couple im nonromantically third wheeling. you wish you were me

[musicalrecs]

One's impossible Two is dreary Three is company Safe and cheery

[frodo-of-the-nine-fingers]

you want to try pilates? the thing that killed jesus christ superstar??

[musicalrecs]

Then I saw thousands of millions Crying for this man. And then I heard them mentioning my name, And leaving me the blame.

[musicalrecs]

This Broadway Backwards version of "One Day More" is inspiring and always makes me tear up (and it fits shockingly well to the original lyrics, including/especially the new meaning to "we'll be ready for those schoolboys") , buuuuut I still always laugh at this part:

Aren't you an independent? Aren't you a "lesbitarian"? Angry queens make the best snacks. Anyway, what brings you to the depths of gay despair? Swag. Swa-a-a-a-aaag! Last election, I made myself a duvet cover. Now, I need some pillowcases to remind myself how gay I am. Yeah, uh-huh. Face down in a pillow and you won't need too much reminding. Taste the rainbow, bitch.

Happy Pride, y'all.

[dyk-this-musical-song]

Hungarian here. Not that big of a musical person, but I looked this up: before the ~1960's operetta (both translated and original pieces) was really popular, so when the first musicals were translated (and also originals were written too, the first two in 1961) they became instantly popular (and operetta is still popular). Also during the Soviet times authorities censored songs, books, movies, and every art piece that may express criticism, so musicals were a creative expression of that. For example "István, a király" (Stephen, the King) is about a historic period of time when the first king was crowned and the country became a Christian country, but under the surface the current politics of the time are showing. Apart from that there are a lot of 'book to musical' adaptations and original stories. There are many talented musicians and writers (like Szörényi Levente, Bródy János, Dés László, Presser Gábor, Geszti Péter) who created most of these musicals.

As for why Hungarian musicals are not popular abroad or why they're not translated: We are a small market. I can only speak about books in this matter. We have A LOT of great books but since they are only sold in Hungary and the market is small and there's not a lot of income from that the sales don't hit the number where it's considered to translate the books to different languages. Mostly the books that are considered classics like Sorstalanság (Fatelessness), A Pál utcai fiúk (The Paul Street Boys) (also a musical), Abigél (Abigail) (also a musical), etc. are the ones that get a translation. Any other book may be good or popular among the readers, but if the sales are not high enough the books stay among the borders.

Maybe there are others who are experts in this subject and can explain this better ^^

Some insight!

[toastbutteregg]

[gotterhag]

This is an EXTREMELY blessed post! And accurate! When I first moved out I was so excited for my new place I slept on the floor and had my tv there and that was it. Loved it. You grow and you build and you gain and you lose. I lost that place and everything in it. Now I have a new place with new things and it’s very much home.

[dexdefyingstunts]

In the future, there is a small, quiet room that is just yours, where you are safe and you are free. In that room your shoulders will finally start to come down from around your ears.  Nobody can come into that room unless you let them.  In that clean quiet place, you will work and you will study.  You will love and you will heal.

-Captain Awkward, “Should I Move Away From My Abusive Family?”

[bitchesgetriches]

Leaving Home before 18: A Practical Guide for Cast-Offs, Runaways, and Everybody in Between

Ask the Bitches: “I Just Turned 18 and My Parents Are Kicking Me Out. How Do I Brace Myself?”

{ MASTERPOST } Everything You Need To Know About Living Independently for the First Time

[musicalrecs]

On these walls I hang wonderful pictures Through this window I can watch the seasons change By this lamp I can read, and I, I am set free! And when it's cold outside I feel no fear! Even in the winter storms, I am warmed by a small but stubborn fire And there is no-where I would rather be It isn't much but it is enough for me It isn't much but it is enough for me For this is my house! This is my house! It isn't much but it is enough for me

[hgedits]

I kept a record, as you said. Now I want to write my book about us.

[musicalrecs]

Why didn't anyone tell me this was up?!!! :O

Every leftist/progressive/liberal/SJW/whatever really owes it to themselves to watch this musical, not just to learn the names of the suffragists we have mostly forgotten today, but to understand the complicated dynamics of protest and the in-fighting that has always existed throughout the history in the name of progress.

I don't wanna have to compromise I don't wanna have to beg for crumbs from a country that doesn't care what I say I don't wanna follow in no footsteps I don't wanna be a meek little one in games they play

I wanna march in the street I wanna hold up a sight There's millions of women with passion like mine I wanna shout it out loud In the wide open light Till our generation has made things right

Yes, I wanna know how it feels When we finally finish the fight

[derinthescarletpescatarian]

Writing would be so much easier if I didn't have youtube or computer games Right There.

[derinthescarletpescatarian]

"Derin you can get timed apps to block -- " No. I don't want to block them. They're too fun.

[hrrkikshoard]

Me when I block myself from my games.

[musicalrecs]

Toad: What an excellent plan. However, there is a problem with the plan.

Frog: What plan?

Toad: The no more eating cookies plan.

Frog: What is it?

Toad: The problem with the plan

Frog: The no more eating cookies plan

Toad: Is if we want to eat more cookies, then, in fact, we can! We could untie the string and open it

Frog: That’s truuuuuuuuuuue

Toad: How ‘bout a cookie?

Frog: Don’t mind if I do!

[na-page]

Best Musical Best Book of a Musical Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical Best Scenic Design of a Musical Best Costume Design of a Musical Best Lighting Design of a Musical Best Sound Design of a Musical Best Direction of a Musical Best Orchestrations

MAYBE HAPPY ENDING - Congratulations to all the 10 nominees | The 78th Annual Tony Awards | May 01, 2025