"... well I know I wouldn't bother going on no spending spree."
Damn straight.
You know what I would do?
Ten words, two things, one purpose: Traveling to New York City and seeing "In The Heights."
Now, I'm a Broadway Spaz. Seriously, I geek out in the worst way whenever I stumble upon a new musical that becomes my "15-minute" obsession.
"Movin' Out" was one of the first modern Broadway musicals that I had spazzed out over and was also the musical that helped inspired my last-minute-getaway to New York City (mainly because I had heard it was closing and needed to see it before then).
(the genius of Billy Joel's lyrics sung by the incredibly talented musician Michael Cavanaugh, whom incidently I have on Facebook)
Another musical I had come to love and familiarize myself with was "Avenue Q". A saucy, witty, enjoyable "Seasame Street" meets "South Park" show about life, love, work, finding your purpose, and puppet sex all under the great New York sky!
(the musical that started my ill-attempted love affair with John Tartaglia, whom could thoroughly relate to the character of Rod)
Of course I was also one of those that fell under the wickedly beautiful spell of "Wicked" because quite honestly whom doesn't love the chemistry and the power house voices of Idina Menzel (whom originally played the Wicked Witch, Elphaba) and Kristin Chenoweth
(seriously, I dare you NOT to get chills watching this! Idina so deserved her win!)
Then, of course, there was "Rent". I'm not a die-hard Rent-head, but I certainly am not one of those last-minute bandwagon jumpers that had become a fan the moment it debuted on the big screen. Granted it made it more accessible to yours truly to seeing it, but I honestly loved the Rent - Live on Broadway version a lot more than the mainstream movie (and I also love it as well)!
(THE anthem to young people alike WORLD-WIDE)
And of course like any fans of Broadway (or musicals in general), I extremely geek out at individual artists like Gavin Creel (Hair, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Aaron Tviet (Next to Normal), Karen Olivo (In the Heights, West Side Story), Idina Menzel, John Tartaglia, etc... etc...
My newest obsession is no different.
Picture this; April of 2009, yours truly surfing through youtube and stumbling upon this:
"What is this?" I had wondered. "Rap in a musical?!" I was initially stunned! This was not your traditional musical to say the least.
In the Heights tells the universal story of a vibrant community in
Manhattan's Washington Heights – a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open, and the breeze carries
the rhythm of three generations of music. It's a community on the brink of
change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures, where the biggest struggles can be
deciding which traditions you take with you, and which ones you leave behind.
(http://www.intheheightsthemusical.com/story.html)
Most especially I was smitten, nay blown the f* AWAY, by the exceptional talant that is Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator and lyricist for the musical (and the original Usnavi).
Not since my teen years of falling under Eminem's lyrical spell have I fallen for a rapping wordsmith like Lin! And hot damn can this bastard spit the rhymes!
And this is just one of the few promo videos he's made to promote his musical. This Tony-winner also performs with a rap-improve group called Freestyle Love Supreme.
Seriously! How sick was that?!
But what definitely had gotten to me wasn't just his performance as Usnavi. It was the words and the music he had created that spoke to my heart! From the moment the lines of "Lights up in Washington, Heights at the break of day..." he's created characters that I could relate to!
From Nina, the young woman back from her first year of college and fearing that she's letting everyone down because she didn't believe in herself to handle the world outside of home....
"This is my street
I smile at the faces I've known all my life
They regard me with pride
And everyone's sweet
They say, "You're going places!"
So how can I say that while I was away, I had so much to hide!
Hey guys, it's me!
The biggest disappointment you know
The kid couldn't hack it, she's back and she's walkin real slow
Welcome home
Just breathe... "
to Vanessa, wanting more to find "home" away from the crappy environment she'd grown up around and desperately needing to escape...
"The neighborhood salon is the place I am working for the moment
As I cut their hair, ladies talk and share-
Every day, who's doing who and why
The neighborhood salon doesn't pay me what I wanna be making but I don't
mind
As I sweep the curb I can hear those turbo engines blazing a trail
through the sky
I look up and think about the years gone by
But one day I'm walking to JFK and I'm gonna fly!
It won't be long now
Any day..."
to even the character of Usnavi himself...
"Yeah, I'm a streetlight
Choking on the heat
The world spins around
While I'm frozen to my seat
The people that I know
All keep rolling down the street
But every day is different
So I'm switchin up the beat..."
Lin-Manuel Miranda had gone beyond giving everyday people a voice, he's given them a musical that gives young people hope for something beyond more than pride, money, success... a chance to find their home and where they truly belong.
Anyway, coincidentaly, when "Movin' Out" moved out of Broadway, guess what musical now occupies the Richard Rodgers Theatre?
Uh huh... I am destined to see this show before it closes! Full circle for yours truly to return to the theatre that she first popped her Broadway musical cherry. If it's not serendipity saying that I should see this musical before it leaves, I give up all rights to lovin' John Cusack!
--------------------
Musical Footnotes:
- Quote in Header - "96,000"; Benny
- Nina - "Breathe"
- Vanessa - "It Won't Be Long Now"
- Usnavi - "In The Heights" opening number
0 Comments:
Post a Comment