Quick Synopsis: Rebecca Steinberg (Sierra Boggess) and Brian Howard (David Burtka) are about to get married, but not without a few obstacles to overcome, like religion, class, feuding mother-in-laws (Tyne Daly & Harriet Harris), scapegoat sisters (Lisa Howard), and ex-boyfriends (Josh Grisetti). As the two respective families come together for the nuptials, hilarity and shocking revelations ensue.
1.) The amazing cast.
This production boasts the talents of many Broadway theatre veterans: Tyne Daly, Harriet Harris, Chip Zien to name just a few from an impressive list of actors. It’s quite a thrill to witness these actors share one Broadway stage, as well as see the respect with which they regard one another on stage. The cast is also comprised of many Broadway favorites like Sierra Boggess and Montego Glover and the musical is directed by none other than David Hyde Pierce. These names alone make the show worth checking out!
2.) LOL
This show does not merely elicit a chuckle here and there; it’s a laugh-out-loud kind of musical. If you don’t laugh out loud during this show, I can only conjecture that you are a terribly unhappy human being. On Broadway, there is a place for shows like Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera, and then there is a place for It Shoulda Been You. If you want to temporarily relinquish life’s problems and laugh with reckless abandon, check out It Shoulda Been You. If you are in the mood for something dark or dramatic, go see Les Mis or Phantom.
3.) A rare original musical.
As I’ve stated many times in this blog, it’s refreshing to see a musical that is not based on a movie, book, or some pre-existing story. While many wedding stories have been told on stage and on the small and big screens, this one is surely unique and presents a simple and subtle message that, fortunately, is not overly sermonizing.
4.) It rejects expectation.
The buzz surrounding this musical has focused on its “surprises”, implying that the characters are not quite what they seem to be. Fortunately, I did not encounter any spoilers prior to seeing the show! I would agree that the story begins slowly and with a certain expectation, but then deviates from the expected course in the best way possible. Expect the unexpected!
5.) Lisa Howard.
What I like about Lisa Howard is that she was virtually unknown to me prior to her performance as Jenny (Rebecca’s reliable and sturdy sister), and this production really showcases her great talent, even earning her the opportunity to stand out at this year’s Tony Awards. As a plus-size actress who plays the “underdog”, the audience is undoubtedly rooting for her happiness. She is really the heart of the show.
Check out It Shoulda Been You at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre before it closes on August 9!!
Broadway Circle in the Square Theatre May 23, 2015 Fun Home the musical is based on the 2006 award-winning graphic memoir by Alison Bechdel, who recalls the unique challenges faced by her family during her childhood and youth. Titled “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic”, the memoir is centered on Bechdel’s experiences with coming out as a lesbian while her father remained a closeted homosexual in a heterosexual marriage. Both the musical and graphic memoir focus predominantly on the relationship between Alison and her father, but also acknowledge the larger dysfunction within the family as a whole. There is no particular arc or climax to the storyline; rather the musical is a sequence of memories and snapshots of Alison’s life which are portrayed on stage. Fun Home was nominated for twelve Tony Awards, and (in case you live under a rock!) it won the Tony Award for Best Musical!
I was extremely impressed with the cast because it is obvious that they really believe in this story and its message, and they are working hard to portray these characters genuinely and respectfully. Michael Cerveris, who is one of my favorite actors, won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his performance as Bruce Bechdel, Alison’s closeted father. He embodies the persona of a loving father who periodically morphs into that of a distant and tormented man. Cerveris portrays the complexities and layers of this unique character impeccably. In many ways, Fun Home is Bruce’s story more than it is Alison’s story.
Fun Home portrays many universal themes and emotions which are relatable for any human being and you don’t have to be gay to appreciate the message and value of the story. At first, I felt that I would have connected to the story on a greater level if I was gay; however, it has been over a month since I saw Fun Home, and after reflecting on the story, I find myself connecting strongly to some of the more general family and relationship-related themes. So, in other words, you don’t have to be gay or have a gay parent to connect to the story and characters. I firmly believe that this musical has the potential to be life-changing for many people. Nothing like Fun Home has ever been conceived before on stage and it will undoubtedly have a monumental effect on people who really connect to the story and to the struggles of the characters.
For me, the show was extremely thought-provoking, the performances were absolutely heart-wrenching, and the score was outstanding. Further, this musical has deservingly made history, as Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron are the first female writing team to win the Tony Award for Best Original Score (and Kron also won Best Book of a Musical). In conclusion, this musical is a must-see for all true Broadway fans because it is a trailblazer in the world of musical theatre. Moving forward, I don’t think musical theatre will ever be the same…
A few days ago, I pulled into the parking lot of my local Target with my car windows rolled down and the stereo blasting the Side Show cast recording. As I pulled into a parking space, I noticed there was a 20-something year old girl standing on the sidewalk watching my car. I was applying some lip gloss in my rearview mirror when I realized that the girl was giving me a very strange look, half smirking/half laughing. I suddenly became aware that my stereo was still playing Side Show and of how odd the lyrics must sound to someone who is unfamiliar with show-tunes and musical theatre. “Scientists tell me that Siamese twins come from the same life germ and that their complete separation was retarded in some way. Perhaps while pregnant, their mother witnessed dogs stuck together, copulating…” I suppose people don’t expect to hear that when they go to Target.
However, show-tunes encompass a broad range of musical genres: country, pop, hip-hop, rap, alternative, and classical, just to list a few examples. Perhaps the salient difference between show tunes and mainstream popular music is the capacity for story-telling. Nothing can tell a good story like a show tune. For example, “Come Look at the Freaks” introduces the story of the sideshow, but when taken out of context, the dialogue sounds odd (and may elicit strange looks from unintended listeners). Unfortunately, I don’t believe that the majority of Americans are accustomed to this method of story-telling.
So when I acknowledged the strange look from the Target girl, I was initially a bit self-conscious for about… 2 seconds (because of the lyrics) and then I felt… amused and proud… and then a bit sad. Allow me to explain. My Target experience brought me back to a time in my life when I was shy about my love for musical theatre. When I was 13, I was introduced to Grease and promptly fell in love with the Broadway “genre” and have never turned back. (Yes, Grease is not the most profound or life-altering musical, but it compel me to explore other cast recordings and live theatrical productions during my adolescence.) Since the moment I discovered musical theatre at 13 years old, I have not listened to the radio on a regular basis.
In college, I felt disconnected from my peers and even my closest friends at times because I was unfamiliar with their musical preferences. After all, music is one way that human beings bond with one another. I loathed clubs, bars, dances, and parties because I would sit back and watch my friends dance enthusiastically to music that, in all honestly, bored me to tears. I think that my unique musical preferences made me more introverted as a young adult as I spent more and more of my free time alone listening to Broadway music or listening to show tunes in my dorm room with headphones on because I didn’t want to “subject” my roommates to what I considered to be “unpopular” music. Oddly, I became apologetic for my taste in music.
My initial self-conscious reaction to the Target girl triggered some of these memories, but fortunately, I’m no longer embarrassed or apologetic for my taste in music. I think my love for Broadway is an awesome thing and I only wish more people had the opportunity to love it as much as myself, but sadly, many young people are never exposed to theatre for educational, financial, or geographical reasons. Music programs are being cut out of school systems every day and I will be forever grateful that my educational experience was rich in music education that fostered creativity, self-expression, an appreciation and love for music, as well as the ability to cope with life challenges. Other young people face financial barriers because- let’s face it- live theatre tends to be expensive. A movie at the theatre costs $10, but live theatre can cost anywhere from $15-$30 for community productions up to $150+ for professional productions on Broadway. Most young people cannot afford that. Actually, let me rephrase that. Most people in general cannot afford that. Geography may present the most challenging barrier- many young people do not live in an area of the country where musical theatre is readily available. All of these factors discourage widespread acceptance of the musical theatre genre into mainstream pop culture. I wish we lived in a society where I could drive into a suburban Target parking lot playing Sideshow on my stereo with my car windows down, and someone walking by would recognize the music. But…. that won’t be happening any time soon.
My wishes for the future of Broadway music:
*that local radio stations would play show tunes regularly AND/OR that a local radio station would be devoted solely to Broadway music.
*that Broadway music and musical theatre would be included as part of the core requirements in all levels of education (elementary, junior high, and high schools). Specifically, MODERN MUSICAL THEATRE should be emphasized in an effort to discourage the stereotype that musical theatre is limited to My Fair Lady,The King and I, and Fiddler on the Roof (but not to exclude old musicals either).
*that Broadway music would be played at high school proms, middle school dances, and other school events in addition to popular music.
