In this time of constant change, it’s so important to spend time away from social media and the news. While those are two extremely important sources that allow us to stay informed, at times like this, they can all be too much. 

I am a big believer in the arts. The arts in all forms (whether that be theatrical, visual, literary, or musical) allow us to take a step outside of ourselves and stimulate our minds. One of my favorite art forms is that of musical theatre. Ever since I was  little, I’ve loved musicals. I would watch movies like Hairspray, Aladdin, and Grease whenever I could. I would even say that I’ve been a fan since before I was born. My parents used to listen to The Phantom of the Opera cast recording when my mom was pregnant with me, and she would play it when I was little, instantly calming me down when I was fussy. 

Musical theatre is so great because, no matter how simple the show, it speaks to humanity and the struggles everyone faces in their daily lives. While the shows are often out-of-this-world grand and intricate, at their core, the stories they tell and the characters they house are 100% human. 

One of the sad things about this pandemic is how the musical theatre industry is being affected. With the whole of Broadway down and multiple tours being affected, people are not able to see these shows. This is where the cast recordings come in. Amazing works of art in and of themselves, these albums include all of the music from each show. The catalog is extensive, with a little something for everyone. 

Because I am one of the many people that miss musicals, I decided to make a list of my top five cast recordings along with the Spotify link for each. If anything sparks your interest, check it out!

The Phantom of the Opera

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3LfD2yRlfHAtTryX8rFp25

The show I was conditioned to love and one of the first professional shows  I’d seen, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s masterpiece based upon the novel of the same name by French writer Gaston Leroux is as grand as it is human. The story of Erik, the “opera ghost”, residing in the Paris Opera House in the 19th century, this piece looks into the core emotions we feel through his interactions with the other characters in this piece. Love, lust, fear, suspense, exclusion, and the basic want of belonging are felt in droves both when watching the show and just from listening to the cast recording. This show is the longest running in Broadway history and it’s easy to understand why. 

Dear Evan Hansen

https://open.spotify.com/album/0LhDyJXelg31FKLW5GDcKi

This is probably the show that I relate to the most personally. This show puts mental health on a world stage and has become one of the most treasured shows on Broadway because of it. A high schooler who suffers from social anxiety and depression, Evan Hansen, gets close to the family of Connor, one of his classmates who just passed. It’s all a big misunderstanding, and makes the audience question whether or not what Evan does is okay. It’s emotionally investing and there is at least one song on this album for everyone to relate to. 

Aladdin

https://open.spotify.com/album/4tPmCvpXwBaqbl3ECGbt6T

One of Disney’s Broadway adaptations of their films, it’s just as grand and colorful as you’d expect. It’s very true to the film with a few welcome, amazing additions to the song list (my personal favorite is “These Palace Walls”). This story is one of self-acceptance, self-discovery and magic. Check out this album’s version of “Friend Like Me” for a few Disney surprises!

Mean Girls

https://open.spotify.com/album/6m7n9JuAOMcy8X3ntO0Ktf

I’m just going to say it. I’m not that big a fan of this musical’s source material. I’ve only seen the film once and I’m satisfied. However, this musical is a completely different story. The cast is incredible, and while some movie-musicals seem weird or unnecessary, this show is perfect. The humor is there, the inside jokes are worked into catchy songs, and it’s so much fun! This musical adds extra layers of meaning that we don’t see in the movie, and I love that about it. It makes this story much more human. 

Wicked

https://open.spotify.com/album/1woCvthHJakakroP6dXNxs

This was a show that I always wanted to see, but I was actually nervous about it. The 1939 film The Wizard of Oz is my favorite movie, so I’m protective of it and a harsh judge of adaptations of the story. Despite those fears, this show was a worthy successor of the classic film. It’s spectacular and holds the same magic that the film did. I went into this show not knowing much about it besides the basic story line and the few songs that were featured on Glee, and I’m so glad that that’s how I decided to approach this show. Elphaba is the woman that I aspire to be: fearless, strong, and 100% certain of the power that she holds. 

Bonus Mention: Waitress

https://open.spotify.com/album/1E1tdqqLmyi03P0TJhGuw8

Seemingly random because of the title, this show is anything but. Based off of a film from 2007, this show is helmed by women, both on and off-stage. Sara Bareilles is the songstress behind this piece. A show about best friends, mothers, daughters, and a woman who finds herself, this show and its songs are a dream.

There’s that saying that “life imitates art”, but I would argue that it’s the other way around. “Art imitates life”. Each of these shows, and all of the others that have come and gone, reflect the emotions and experiences of people at different moments in time throughout history. No matter what we’re facing, there’s a show with a cast of characters that reflect whatever it is that we are going through. That fact and aspect of musical theatre are so important at a time like this. Anything that we can anchor ourselves to will undoubtedly provide a bit of stability, and most importantly, sanity for us as we deal with this constantly evolving situation.