With the upcoming SVSU adaption of Legally Blond coming to the Malcolm Theatre, musical season is in full swing. With its pink outfits and fun choreography, it is truly a treat for the whole family. However, some may turn their heads to the singing lawyer simply because it is a musical. While musicals are not for everyone, I believe that everyone should give musicals a try– especially before Legally Blond leaves the campus.
For starters, you can not mention musicals without the music. Each production has its own unique score and, to topic it off, each lyric contains the core themes of the play itself. In some cases, it can also answer the question of “what if this pop culture character sang and danced?” The culmination of these beloved characters and musical theater come together to make a memorable production.
If singing pop culture icons are not your style, there are plenty of original sets that are based on either books or original production. One example of this is the broadway hit Book of Mormon, which is an original comedy piece by the South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker. If comedy is not your thing either, then try diving into the Greek tragedy of Hadestown.
Besides the music, the elaborate dance numbers help to captivate the attention of the audience. Each main and background performer is highly trained in their stunts to the point where the line between reality and fiction blurs. These acts are mainly done to accompany the current song, but they also use these skills to fill the background of a scene to further give the illusion of looking into the mirror of their world.
Another detail that pulls the viewers into the world of the musical are the costumes. From the simple 18th century inspired designs of Hamilton to heavily prosthetic filled designs of Shrek: The Musical, each costume breathes life into the performance and furthers the intentions of the other stage elements.
While musicals can be an experience of a lifetime, it can be hard to attend them due to finances and time. There may be free recordings online, however, most of the time they are not the best quality or they were recorded on someone’s grainy camera. In the meantime, there are other high quality productions that you could check out elsewhere.
Created by graduates of the University of Michigan, Team Starkid has an array of different stories, including stage parodies of Disney cartoons and their own original stories from the fictional town of Hatchetfield. Another original musical that is worth getting into is Epic. While a stage performance has been fully formatted yet, all of the concept albums are out and are definitely worth every listen.In conclusion, while not all know the joys of the signing world of musical theatre, it is worth it to give it a try. From the catchy tunes, to the meaningful lyrics, and the eye catching costumes, musicals both create a world and take you on a journey. No matter where you start off with, be it online or in person, these performances are sure to capture your interest and to become a classic in your home. So with this all in mind, if you want to start in person, why not give SVSU’s production of Legally Blond a try. I am sure that you will be singing along in no time!
