Now, we reach the finale of this review and of this blog. If you aren’t familiar with my reviewing layout, I am going to now cover the set design, musical soundtrack, and overall experience of The Phantom of the Opera. The set design and overall experience reviews are going to be in regards to the time I’ve seen the show on Broadway. And the music review is going to be in regards to the movie soundtrack (which I own). So, with Legally Blonde: The Musical stuck in my head for some reason, let’s start this Phantom review!

Set Design: 9.5/10- It’s mystifying. Every piece is ornate and intricate, very deserving of an Opera House. The whole theater truly becomes the set, with an exquisite chandelier set piece hanging above your very heads. Not only does the set captures the majesty that is the Paris Opera House, but the set captures the eerie yet romantic aura of the Phantom’s lair. The fog lake, the detailed boat to travel back and forth, the candles upon candles everywhere. It’s truly a beautiful and appropriate set design.

Music: 8/10- Technically speaking, it is a masterpiece. Especially near the end, when multiple songs reappear in subtle ways and three different songs become interwoven in a grand explosion of emotion and music. This might be the more “classical” of the musicals I reviewed: it draws more on orchestral works instead of contemporary rock. However, I believe it has quite a range of emotion an depth. Then why did I give it an 8, you say? I gave it a moderate score because some songs are, in my opinion, overly Opera (which I can enjoy in small doses) and some songs aren’t for listening to over and over again (as I often do with musical soundtracks).

Favorite Songs: The Point of No Return,  Down Once More/ Track Down This Murderer, and, of course, Phantom of the Opera 

Overall Experience: 10/10- I remember seeing this for the first time on Broadway. I was so excited: for years I had been obsessing to my parents about the movie and the musical. And, getting there, we even left our tickets at the hotel room. After rushing to and fro, we did get to see the show in time. And I was enraptured. I believe it truly blossomed my love for Broadway and musicals. Though I do have musicals that I love more, Phantom will always have a place in my heart.

So thus concludes our show. If I had any last words, they would be this: Keep your hand at the level of your eyes.

Till next time(?)

 For those unaware, my blog’s name “The Phantom of PSU” comes from the iconic and historic musical “The Phantom of The Opera.” Phantom, not only being one of the longest running musicals, was my introduction and spurred my love for musicals. While it might not be the top musical on my list, it will forever remain in my top 5. I have personally seen it on Broadway and on its final touring (in Pittsburgh). Also, I own and adore the movie version of the musical as well.

So now we shall commence the normal reviewing!

Background: Created by the fairly renown Andrew Lloyd Weber, The Phantom of The Opera (or Phantom as I will from now on call it) is based off of the french novel—of pretty much the same name. Winning countless awards and opening up in a variety of theaters, Phantom has been considered one of the most successful, if not the most, successful musical.

Plot: 9/10- It may not be as complicated as a lot of musicals, but Phantom seems to enough of everything: Romance, Drama, Horror, Theatricality, Action, Comedy. While, in my opinion, it doesn’t boost to be the most prominent of any sub-genre, Phantom is certainly enjoyable and addictive. The plot, in essence, revolves around young, aspiring dancing named Christine, who has a voice of an angel. As her prominence in the Paris Opera House grows, she attracts the attention of two notable people, a friend from her past and the “Phantom of the Opera,” a dark and mysterious figure whose face is hidden by a mask. Trouble and other antics ensue as well as a chandelier’s crashing.

Acting: 9.5/10- I’m basing this off of the first rendition of Phantom that I saw, the movie version from 2004. I’m sorry to those who wanted me to review the original Broadway cast or any other one. To be honest, the actors and actresses in the other versions I have seen of Phantom have never stuck out to me in my mind. It’s even difficult reviewing the acting of the movie version because I think more in terms of characters than actors. That being said, I secretly love Gerard Butler as the Phantom, despite the hate I get from that. And Emmy Rossum is a beautiful and mystifying Christine.

Thus concludes part one of my Phantom of the Opera Review, tune in next week for part two (and the last passion blog of this class).

The Macy’s Day Parade showcases many a talent from dancers to marching bands to singers and more. Being that it is centered in the heart of New York City, the parade also displays a series of musicals on their stage. These musicals are typically on Broadway or about to be. The cast will perform a number or a medley of songs from their show: ones that don’t reveal much plot, are catchy, and don’t need much explanation while still giving the audience a taste of their musical.

Seeing as I had the fortune to wake up early enough to catch a couple of musical performances, I will give a mini-review of the ones I saw.

1) Nice Work If You Can Get It

From the performance, it seems to have an element of romance set in the midst of the Jazz Age. The jazz dancing scene they started off with was phenomenal and the subsequent song with the well-known Matthew Broderick. It was overall pretty good, reminds me of something my high school would perform. Certainly a nice start off to the series.

2) Annie

Well… what can I say: it’s Annie. It’s a classic that’s probably been on Broadway almost as long as Phantom of the Opera. I really have no qualms about their performance, but it really didn’t draw me in; I’m just not a big fan of Annie. It had a cute dog though!

3) Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s Cinderella

I LOVE this movie. I would recommend it to you if you’ve never seen it (it’s on youtube). When the commentators announced that it would be coming to Broadway, I about squealed. Then I saw the cast: All white Europeans. Now why am I upset about this? The movie was groundbreaking in the amount of diversity that was in play: Cinderella and other key characters were African American; the Prince was Asian with an African American mother and a Caucasian father. It’s a weird thing to be put off by, but the monotony of the Broadway cast compared to the previously diverse movie cast just made me…. sad. Don’t get me wrong though, the performance and subsequent waltz scene were beautiful, especially in their costumes.

4) Bring It On: The Musical

So you know how I said I wanted to see this? Well… I take it back. After their performance of their finale song “I Got You,” I was immediately put off by the musical, which is odd seeing my normal love for all things musical. Their costumes were tacky and stereotypical (the “African American” school had graffiti on their uniforms while the “white prep school” had those cliche sweaters tied around their neck). The song was performed probably the worst out of the bunch and just reminded me of the naivety and over optimism of High School Musical. They even talked about high school…. it just made me grimace.

Now onto the parade! I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. Did anyone else catch these performances? What did you think?

Well I’m sick and pretty much stuck in bed so what better time to finish my review!  Once again, to keep with the last review and because I’m under the weather, this part will not be in depth or anything.

Set Design: 10/10- I absolutely love Wicked’s set design: it constantly changes and morphs and shifts in a mystical and steampunk-esque way. It matches the mood and the overall setting of the story. In combination, the set has a map of Oz which serves as a curtain in between and the dragon sculpture floating above the stage and audience just makes the set an integral part of the action. It engages the audience and further immerses them into the musical.

Music: 9/10- I love listening to this soundtrack, especially when programming for some reason. The music has its ups and downs, an ebb and flow: you need to just listen to it in order, in its entirety. It’s overall a great score and quality lyricism; it’s catchy, emotional, and memorable. However, that being said, I do think there is just something extra it needs. I can’t quite put my finger on it but, as much as I adore this soundtrack, I couldn’t give it a 10 out of 10. BUT YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY STILL LISTEN TO IT!

Favorite Songs: No Good Deed, Defying Gravity, and As Long As You’re Mine

Overall Experience: 9.5/10- This is a musical that I can watch and have watched over and over. It never fails to entertain and immerse me. My mom, who has personally seen the production in numerous settings and with numerous casts, still loves the show and will always be reduced to tears if you play “I’m Not That Girl.” If you are a newbie to theater, then I would suggest this one as your starting musical. And if you are a veteran, well, then you already know the magic that is Wicked. It is certainly a must-see and it shows by how long it has lasted on the Broadway stage.

Anyway, that is all for Wicked! Till next week!

Now, we all know the story of the Wizard of Oz: Dorothy of Kansas gets swept up by a tornado, taken to a mystical new world, blah, blah, blah, et cetera, et cetera. But, just like every story, there is another side to it. Wicked, based off of the novel of the same title, is a musical which depicts the “Wicked” Witch of the West and her struggles. I personally love this portrayal much more than the classic Wizard of Oz (or any other spin-off for that matter).

In this edition we will, as always, talk about the plot and acting of the show. Now, I’ve personally seen it multiple times, so my acting depiction will be of the latest time seeing it (Summer of 2012) in none other than the great Broadway stage.

Anyway… off we go! (And no cut because I just can’t be bothered.)

Plot: 9.9/10- I love the plot! It’s original, subtly thought-provoking, engaging, humorous and just…. AWESOME. The continuity it also maintains between the ongoing story and the previously established canon of Wizard of Oz is just well executed. My only criticism would be that it moves slightly too fast for my liking and doesn’t have long enough acting interludes. The multiple loves stories, fight and stunt scenes, and the twist ending make it easily an appealing story for all types.

Acting: 9/10- Nothing overly spectacular but nonetheless very well done and well acted. As I said above, it doesn’t have that long of acting time for me to really get an accurate or specific judgement in regards to this aspect. Though, I must say, this version’s Fiyero is by far the best one I have ever seen (Sorry Norbert Leo Butz!). Though, the leading gals(Galinda/Glinda and Elphaba) of this showing’s Wicked have really nothing on the excellence that is the original Broadway cast—Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth.

Well that’s all we have today for this quick half-review. Till next time!

Now, being the Broadway/musical enthusiast that I am, I have taken a liking to certain actors that keep appearing and reappearing in my searches and soundtracks. And, because I don’t feel like writing a review right now, I am going to tell you about some really talented and diverse actors.

1) Norbert Leo Butz

Only recently have a found him popping up in every show and song I listen to. Leo Butz has performed in many Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, notably (and how I found him) Wicked–as Fiyero–and The Last 5 Years–an off-Broadway show which frequents my Pandora station. His wonderful acting capability, as well as his slightly distinct voice, make him an ideal performer. When I saw him on Smash (as himself), I literally shouted “YOU!!” and pointed at my screen fanatically: needless to say, that drew some stares.

2) Adam Brian Chanler-Berat

This adorkable lover-boy is best known for his portrayal as the Original Broadway version of Henry in Next to Normal. Wherein he just captured my heart with his awkward yet sweet and endearing demeanor… which he seems to even have outside of acting. It was only until I saw snippets of his performance of the Boy in Peter and The Starcatcher till I observed his versatility; I can definitely see a bright future for him!

3) Christian Borle

Out of all of the above, Christian Borle was the first performer whomade me take notice. After

watching MTV’s televised version of Legally Blonde: The Musical, I absolutely enjoyed and was enraptured with her portrayal of Emmett. However, as time passed, I forgot about Christian Borle. That is, until I spied him played the lyricist Tom on Smash (which is musical enough to be on this blog). Immediately, I took notice again: his voice, dance skill, and acting diversity (going from geeky, rough-around-the-edges Emmett on Legally Blonde to suave, picky, and snarky Tom on Smash took some serious skill). Only furthering my love for him was when I realized he was on the original Broadway cast of Peter and The Starcatcher (as the funny but deranged Black Stashe). He is definitely and without a doubt my favorite Broadway performer.

Though, all in all, Broadway performers are the best of the best; you just can’t go wrong with loving any one of them! They are quirky and talented and typically very modest.

Till next time!

Yes, I changed it: there are just so many good musicals out there and I just have a thing for symmetry. So here we go! Numbers 4 through 6 (again listed in no particular order):

4) Once

Based off the movie-musical of the same title, Once is a romantic yet realistic tale of a Guy and a Girl (they never receive names). It is more Indie based music, with quirky and lovely lyrics. It will make you sad and yearning, but

ultimately satisfied. As an added bonus, this musical combines both its pit and its actors: the actors all are trained musicians and play onstage as well as perform the play aspect of the musical. Certainly an interesting reinvention on the classical Broadway set up!

5) Peter and the Starcatcher

I discovered this musical mainly after hearing that two of my musical favorites (of which I will talk about next week) were in its cast. It’s a prelude of sorts to the classically known story of Peter Pan. While I haven’t heard much of the music, or at least didn’t seem tointrigued at what I have heard, the plot certainly seems original and refreshing, well worth wanting to see. Also, the dialogue, while breaking the forth wall at times, is insanely funny, managing to be childishly humorous while still seeming “adult.”

6) American Idiot

Now we are going to the opposite end of the spectrum: I picked this musical based solely on the music rather than the plot. It’s entire overture/soundtrack is from the American Idiot album by Green Day. Now, American Idiot was the only Green Day I bought or enjoyed (but that’s a different story). And, listening to the soundtrack on my broadway musical Pandora station, the cast of this musical makes Green Day even more intense, emotional, and haunting.

Now that’s it! Verdict? Opinions? Other nouns?

We are switching things up here, since most of you are probably bored with the straight-forward and overly in-depth reviews of musicals. So, here we are! I made a list of musicals I have yet to see live or online completely, put in no particular order.

1) Book of Mormon

If you’ve never heard of Book of Mormon, shame on you. It has probably been sold out or only selling with incredibly expensive tickets for years (I wanted to see it very much when I was in New York). Made by the infamous South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, Book of Mormon is a hilarious, satirical comedy with wonderfully catchy music. It not only parody’s some religious material, but also other elements from musicals (i.e. one of the songs in Book of Mormon has the exact same melody as the popular Wicked song “The Wizard and I”… along with other songs). If you enjoy South Park, you will probably love this, even though I believe it to be much more mature than the duo’s previous work!

2) Next to Normal

I’ve only recently got into this musical, but I really, really like it. It, like every other musical on this list, is more contemporary and has also

won its fair share of Tony awards. This one, in stark contrast to Book of Mormon, is a serious take on a family wrecked by mental illnessand loss. It takes on love, both familial and otherwise, in a different way, not always ending happily. It also shows another side to therapy and the effect it can have on everyone, not just the person afflicted. The musical seems like a cathartic and thought-provoking ride with a good soundtrack to boot.

3) Bring It On: the Musical (WILDCARD)

I mean come on! You haven’t lived until you’ve seen this movie. The

fact that they “converted” it into a Broadway musical still baffles my mind. I hear that, despite sadly having literally NOTHING to do with the movie besides the fact that there are cheerleaders who compete with each other, that the choreography is to die for: actors doingtwists and flips in the air? Sounds awesome despite leading me to believe this would be a carbon copy of a great film. I have yet to watch or listen to a clip of this musical–there seems to be nothing online too–but I would just go watch it anyway just for the kicks(if only I had the money).

That is it for this edition. Now… for you lovely readers, some questions: Have you seen any of these? Any of these sound like your cup of tea? Should I just go back to reviews or do more of these? (certainly they are easier to read)

But it’s….. awakening on this blog. Yeah, I know that was pretty bad, thought I would do it anyway. Now let’s look at the check list. Terrible pun…. check! Background, plot review, and acting review… check, check, and check! Now all we have to talk about is the set design, the music, and the overall experience.

Set Design: 7/10 –There really isn’t much of a set to give that much of a judgement. All I would advise to anyone seeing it is this: look at the background/walls. Also, if you are epileptic, you probably shouldn’t be seeing this musical.

Music: 9.999999/10 –I would give it a perfect except that I am not too terribly pleased with the last song of the show. Otherwise, it’s a soundtrack that goes where other musical soundtracks never even think about going.

Overall Experience: 8.5/10 when I saw a company perform it in Pittsburgh. There is a full taping of the show on youtube[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7EN8QceszA], but I haven’t had the fortune to see it on broadway or anything official. Though, there may be a film adaptation of the musical in the works and I would definitely recommend this show to anyone.

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When you tell someone you are into musicals, the first thoughts from an outsider are that you are into happy-go-lucky, high-school-musical-esque shows with cheesy show tunes, no thought provoking message, and a happy ending. And, wow, could they be any more wrong?

I mean, yes, a lot of musicals are the stereotypical, happy ones, but look at some of the top musicals: Phantom of the Opera (dark), Les Misérables (which literally means “The Miserables”), and Next to Normal (a more modern musical which takes on a family ruined by mental instability). Heck, Grease even has many dark and sketchy undertones behind that seemingly happy exterior [see this article: http://www.cracked.com/article_18431_8-romantic-songs-you-didnt-know-were-about-rape.html].

As a self-proclaimed lover of all musicals, my favorite ones, though I love happier ones, are the darker, edgier ones. And we are here today to talk about the darkest, edgiest one I know (and my favorite musical!): Spring Awakening.

Below the cut, I will give the background of the musical as well as discuss the plot and acting (of the original Broadway musical cast… though I have seen a theatre company adaptation in Pittsburgh).

For the “tl;dr” crowd, here is a quick run down:

Plot: 9.5/10–You will audibly gasp and cry and yell. This musical draws you in and spits you back out, feeling drained but “satisfied.” WARNING: NOT for family crowds or the faint of heart for some of the characters do many suggestive things on stage and the musical, in general, can have a tendency to trigger. Also, it doesn’t have a real “happy” ending.

Acting: 10/10 –Glorious. Glorious. I cannot praise the acting any more.

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