The Stages of Becoming Obsessed With A Musical

Hello, my dear friends!

I am so sorry I haven’t been writing. School has been a bit crazy and I’ve been a bit stressed, but I missed weirdo blog!

Today I want to discuss something quite Vital and Important.

Let me set it up:

You hear two bars of its opening song and burst into tears. You stay awake all night penning what you feel are “humorous and insightful” tweets about it. You see a random guy with ponytail in Target and embrace him, thanking him loudly and tearfully for his “contribution to the American Theatre as we know it”-

Okay, that was obviously about Lin-Manuel Miranda, but you get the idea. Also, you don’t have to remind me that Lin doesn’t have a ponytail anymore. I am aware. I have been made aware of this fact.

I’m fine. Okay? I’m fine. Stop making that sympathy face. I’M OKAY NOW!

Moving on.

Basically, if you were, are, or are planning to be, a theatre geek of any shape or form you will know the magical, marvelous, honestly really tiring process of becoming obsessed with a musical.

There is screaming, there is crying, there is writing of detailed plot analysis by…

Or you know what? I could just make a list. One of my Pulitzer-prize winning lists.

I’m good at lists.

 

Ahem.

Step One: Denial and Resitsence

 

Victim aka Theatre Geek somehow hears/reads/instinctively knows about a new musical (this is also applicable for plays). They either express slight interest or general neutrality. There is no obsession yet, in fact sometimes the opposite.

I’ve always said (since now) that theatre geeks are like broken hearts: The more they break, the more insane they get, but they never stop falling in love.

Per this mind-blowing metaphor, theatre geeks, at least the ones I have met, sometimes have an aversion to becoming attached to a new musical. They are already obsessed with many musicals, and if only simply to conserve space on itunes that would go towards the newest Broadway obsession album, they distance themselves from whatever it is their friends are freaking out about. This never works, but this is beside the point. In the words of Irving Berlin, it’s the thought that counts.

P.S. He didn’t actually say that.

 

Step Two:  Joyful Acceptance

Something happens. Usually it involves Twitter or the Tony Awards. The Theatre Geek, in spite of their attempts to prevent it, somehow sees a snippet of a song, a photo of a rehearsal, a beautiful poster, and they are sucked in. They realize that they will not be able to continue to live without purchasing the entire album to said musical and listening to it on repeat.

 

Stage 3: Getting Costumed 

They feel the need to get apparel. They will somehow get their hands on a t-shirt that has the name of, or even better, a deeply veiled reference, to their new favorite show.

Some will even start their own clothing lines. I haven’t gone quite that far, but I did have this great idea for musical-scented lip balm. How I would achieve the exact scent coordinating to the exact musical is a bit questionable.

 

Stage 4: You’ll never be the same.

In case you aren’t aware by now (and I’m sure you are, my theatrical pallies) musical theatre is utterly life altering. Once it finds you, you will never get away, and more importantly, you will never be the same. What I love about musicals is that they give people hope and a different look at life and all while huge voices belt out the best songs ever written. In the words of the great Stephen Schwartz (who I know, btw): Because I knew you [my darling new musical obsession), I have been changed for good.

Love,

Lil🎭

xoxo