#be more chill original broadway cast recording

[annabelle--cane]

okay new blog rule: followers, as your niche internet microcelebrity overlord, I ask you to open up your music streaming platform of choice and listen to the song "michael in the bathroom" as sung by george salazar. ideally either the version from the be more chill original cast or original broadway cast recordings and not the version from two player game album so you can get the full effect in the ensemble sections. I need this base level of audience familiarity with be more chill the musical in order to continue as a blogger. xoxo

[emberdew]

Be More Ghost

Here's my Be More Chill Danny Phantom AU, partially inspired by this comic by @spookberry. Danny gets a Super Quantum Intel Unit Processor (or Squip) to help him become cool and win over Valerie, but things don't really go as planned. It's a fic based on a musical based on a book, except slightly kidzbopified to fit better with Danny Phantom canon. This is mostly based on the original cast recording version of the musical but also includes some things from the Broadway version and a couple references to the book. Also this is set before/in place of Danny Phantom season 3.

Tags: Danny Fenton/Tucker Foley, one-sided Danny Fenton/Valerie Gray, Danny gets a Squip, Trans Danny Fenton, Pansexual Danny Fenton, Bisexual Tucker Foley, Aromantic Sam Manson, Good Parent Jack Fenton, Danny Phantom Season 3 didn't happen, Be More Chill typical non-con kissing, Underage Drinking, Minor Celebrity Death

AO3 Link

Chapters (1/20):

More Than Alive

[filipinfodump]

Kabesang Tales - Isang Rap en Rol Musical

A Filipino Musical that hasn't left my mind since the mid 2010s

Poster for Kabesang Tales posted by Palakat Batangas City via Facebook

Although the Philippines is known for its many talented singers which include many that had crossed over to Broadway such as Lea Salonga, and Rachelle Ann Go, alongside many other Filipino-American talents like Conrad Ricamora, Arielle Jacobs, George Salazar, and Darren Criss just to name a few, the musical scene in the Philippines itself isn't as popular nor as successful in the country as it really should be.

Even with Filipino-majority musicals in states like the controversial Broadway musical "Here Lies Love" which narrates the life story of Imelda Marcos, one of the most controversial figures in Filipino politics and history today, and with Filipino stars often taking in lead or secondary roles in major productions, the musical boom of the 2010s did not come with a boom for the musical industry in the local level compared to the sudden popularity of American musicals like Hamilton, Heathers, Dear Evan Hansen, or Be More Chill to name a few.

The very few musicals that did garner the spotlight did not receive the same notoriety of these foreign productions save for one of the few musical movies to have gotten major media acclaim Loy Arcena's Ang Larawan (2017) (en. The Portrait) based on the 1997 play of the same name by National Artist Nick Joaquin which became a media frenzy as being maybe one of the few if not the only original movie not based on major series or created by a large production company to be released that year for the Metro Manila Film Festival. One of the things that had skyrocketed it to media attention was the fact that most theaters did not screen it and it was only shown in very few cinemas, but that's a story for another time.

Despite the time and devotion Filipino musical fans may have for theatre, rarely do Filipino made and produced musicals ever enter the pop culture zeitgeist due to many factors like the lack of advertising, accessibility issues, and honestly the lack of cast recordings. Out of the many throughout the 2010s, one of the few I was able to watch that I still think about at times is Ricky Lee's very own rap and rock musical Kabesang Tales.

Background

Photo of Ricky Lee, the writer of Kabesang Tales the Musical via Inquirer

Kabesang Tales - Isang Rap en Rol Musical) (en. Captain Tales - A Rap n' Roll Musical) is a rap and rock musical first performed in the year 2015 and was written by renowned Filipino writer and National Artist Ricky Lee. The musical was directed by Alejandro "Bong" Ramos, with music by Jeffrey Hernandez and Alfredo Ongleo, and produced by Red Lantern Production (Inquirer, 2015).

Photo of John Arcilla, the lead actor for Kabesang Tales the Musical via Inquirer

The musical stars John Arcilla as the titular character Telesforo Juan "Kabesang Tales" De Dios, famously known for his breakout role as Hen. Anotnio Luna in the historical film Heneral Luna released the same year as the musical, alongside other talents such as Dio Marco as Karyo, Kevin Posadas as Tano de Dios, Alecx Lorica as Juli De Dios among many other talented actors (Inquirer, 2015).

A cover of one of the book's translations posted by twitter user El Filibusterismo (@/joseriz15155899) via X/Twitter

The play is based on Jose Rizal's El Filibusterismo (en. The Filibuster) and more specifically, the character of Kabesang Tales, the head of his barangay (a sort of Filipino village) and father of Basilio's main love interest Juli, who had turned into a guerilla bandit after his family and life were ruined by the Spanish friars. He becomes the feared Matanglawin (en. Hawkeye) who terrorizes the countryside. He plays a minor but important role in the books, being the father of one of the main secondary characters as well as being one of the main allies of the primary characters as they tried to start a revolution in the country.

The play primarily focuses on his perspective throughout the whole book with some scenes focusing more on the main protagonists Simoun and Basilio as well as his daughter Juli.

Performances and Releases

The musical had limited performances throughout some parts of the CALABARZON Region or Region IV-A, with some select performances in Metro Manila as well as some other provinces like in Mindoro, sometime during the years 2015-2017 with some being done in local cultural centers and schools throughout the region with very limited promotion outside of news stories.

The only promotional material I could really find are some posts on Facebook and a trailer in the Red Lantern Production's YouTube channel which could be seen here:

Trailer uploaded by Red Lantern Production via YouTube

There are no original cast recordings that I could find of any of the songs and the only material that I could find besides this are uploads on YouTube of scattered scenes from different parts of the play:

Full Playlist uploaded by YouTube channel pheejaypi here

I was also able to find a collection of clips of Karyo, a character possibly named after Karyo from Mga Ibong Madaragit which is a continuation novel of the El Filibusterismo written by Amado Hernandez, played by Terrence Guillermo.

Video uploaded by YouTube channel pinoy music maestro here

I remember some time in the 2010s seeing uploads of members of the cast singing in interviews I believe but I could no longer find any of these videos.

As of now, it is unknown if the production will ever come back with the last post on the Facebook page having been in 2021 with a post prior to posted on July 2019 calling for auditions in August 2019, possibly hinting that there was a planned 2020 tour for the musical before the pandemic hit.

Photo of the audition announcement posted on Facebook

The Plot (mostly from memory)

As there's barely any material of the live musical, I'll do my best to recollect what I could remember with the aide of the actual books to guide me. Of course, spoilers for Rizal's books Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo if you haven't read them.

The plot follows the events of El Filibusterismo but mainly from the perspective of the titular character Kabesang Tales. It begins with an extremely happy and optimistic scene with him, his family, and barangay as well as the visit of Basilio, Tales's daughter's lover to their house. I remember that there was an extremely cheesy song here between the two that a lot of people squealed over.

Photo of the mentioned musical number between Basilio and Juli posted by Jayson Pascua

The perspective switches over to Basilio and his visit to his mother's grave where he is shocked to see a man there who is revealed to be the thought to be dead fugitive Crisostomo Ibarra who now goes by Simoun, a jewelry merchant from the United States. The two have a bit of an argument where Simoun tries to convince Basilio to join him and his rebellion and I don't recall exactly if there was a song, but it seems likely.

Perspective switches back to Tales as tragedy strikes as his entire family gets struck with malaria resulting in the death of his wife. I don't remember all the details here or if there was a song, but I remember a sort of depressing atmosphere for the rest of this part.

Photo showing all of the actors playing the De Dios Family posted by Jayson Pascua

The family struggles with money and friars come over to cause even more problems for them. There's a rap battle here between Tales and a friar. Here starts his downward spiral as he struggles to make ends meet as well as handle the friars that had been trying to gain his land. I don't recall if it's shown that he has to pay for a lot of lawyers, but he starts paying more and more for legal fees because of the legal drama with the friars and the government.

My sister tells me that there's a song about how good the friars are before they get properly introduced and I have a hazy memory of three friars wearing varied outfits typically associated with friars posing for the stage as people sing songs of praise and goodwill. My sister tells me that Basilio was in the ensemble here.

His son, Tano, gets drafted to the Guardia Civil (en. Civil Guard) and sent to the Caroline Islands because Tales could not pay money to prevent his draft due to their financial struggles. This is shown as a heart wrenching scene in the play where the rest of the family is left distraught.

He starts guarding his property in fear of bandits possibly taking his fields and taking whatever he has left.

Tales then gets taken by these bandits who demand ransom money for his return. There he meets Karyo, one of its leaders who tells him about the struggles of the working class and why he and the others had resorted to being bandits in the first place (?). I don't actually remember if this is the first they meet or what since I do remember that the two have a philosophical discussion about violence later and that Karyo is definitely a member of the bandits but there are scenes where he acts as the emcee during Tales's rap battle with the friar.

The bandits later lets him go back to his family where he finds that he has no one left.

Juli, in order to help with her family's financial struggles as well as pay for her father's ransom, leaves home and asks for loans and find work.

If I'm not mistaken, his father Tandang Selo goes mute with the grief of the continuous tragedies that had struck the family as well. It's hard for me to remember if this was shown in the musical.

When Tales returns, he finds himself at a loss for what has happened to his family. He is left with his daughter forced to work and his father mute. He is then met with Simoun, who comes to him as a jeweler. Simoun tempts him with some ideas of radicalization against the friars and he refuses at first before spiraling further and joining Karyo and his bandits, becoming the feared Matanglawin.

I genuinely don't remember if his meeting with Simoun was also in the musical or not but it's important context for the story.

The musical then switches perspective to Basilio, who gets implicated with a conspiracy against the government and gets arrested. A heartbroken Juli goes to Padre Camorra, a creepy priest that's been trying to corner her, to beg for his help since she saw no one else that could help her. This leads into a rather intense scene acted in shadows and lights where it is heavily implied that Juli gets assaulted.

After this, Juli sings a song about her assault where she contemplates getting revenge or retaliating but instead chooses to jump off to end her life.

The scene switches back to Tales who, unlike in the books, meet with his son again who has returned to the Philippines. This one, I know had a song in it since I remembered the extreme daddy issues punk rock vibes the scene gave off. He sang about how he no longer respected his father and that it's too late to repair things if I recall as he's now a bandit and he's a member of the Guardia Civil.

Photo of the confrontation between Tales and Tano where Tano sings about his frustration with his father posted by Jayson Pascua

Desolate and distraught at the loss of his family, Tales gets visited by a diwata (a forest spirit/fairy) and this part was extremely out of left field and absolutely not in the books.

Here, the diwata shows Tales visions of the future (???) and directly tells him, without any sort of subtlety, that the working class, and especially farmers like him, will continue to struggle in his country in the future. He is then shown a scene of farmers in a protest who were then taken down by police in what I remember as riot gear. He contemplates the future and is further given resolve to continue his rebellion.

Photo of the mentioned scene where Tales first meets a diwata who will later send him to the future posted by Jayson Pascua

Photo of the mentioned scene where Tales is sent to the future by a diwata to witness farmers being taken down by cops in riot gear posted by Jayson Pascua

Another photo of the mentioned scene where Tales is sent to the future by a diwata to witness farmers being taken down by cops in riot gear posted by Jayson Pascua

I need to cut in and say that this was so on the nose and is by far the weirdest and personally maybe the worst part of the show. I'm not even against the message, it just ruined my immersion and just left a weird taste in my mouth. I think the play was doing a plenty good job driving that point across already without the time travel diwata scene but maybe that's just me.

The scene cuts back to the climax of the story where Basilio, distraught over then death of Juli, finally joins Ibarra as they plant a bomb in a wedding reception that the Governor-General of the Philippines was attending. The scene plays out like it was in the books where the lamp gets tossed out by Isagani and the revolution doesn't start.

It goes back to a scene of Tales and his men trying to fight the Guardia Civil where he is shot and killed in action, by the gun of his own son. Tano realizes what he has done and is horrified. This leads to a song which later leads to a finale that sings about Tales as the cast come together for the curtains to close.

Photo of the mentioned scene where Tales is shot and killed by his son Tano posted by Jayson Pascua

Another photo of the mentioned scene where Tales is shot and killed by his son Tano posted by Jayson Pascua

The musical ends and the cast is called on to the stage one by one, with the loudest applause going to Basilio who a lot of the girls found hot, and of course, the man himself, Kabesang Tales.

Photo of the closing song with Tales being shown front and center posted by Jayson Pascua

After the play and final thoughts

Ricky Lee actually attended the performance I watched and I remember so many people crowding around the actors to get their autographs. My sister bought one of Ricky Lee's book, his script writing guide "Trip to Quiapo" and had it signed but she genuinely can't find it anymore sadly. My sister also got the autograph of some of the actors and the director on that same book so I'm a little miffed that we can't find it.

I would discuss more things and even show off my old ticket but I'm pretty sure that I would end up doxxing myself if I speak any more details.

That's all I remember from it and I would love to say more or even discuss the songs but as you can see, I could barely remember them, with only maybe a solid grasp in about maybe four songs.

It's a shame that it doesn't have as much of an established release and media presence because despite that one glaring issue I had with the weird diwata scene, I quite enjoyed the musical and it remains one of the few that I actually got to experience live.

It isn't Les Miserables or Hamilton, but it's still a musical I'll probably fondly remember especially since El Filibusterismo is one of my favorite books of all time with the character of Kabesang Tales being one of the most interesting — a man of honor and virtue who slowly descends into extremist violence because society had failed him. It's sad to see this musical barely recognized and very little talked about today and I do hope that it will one day return to the stage.

References

Introduction

Palakat Batangas City. (2015, May 29). "The Batangas City Government and Red Lantern Production present Ricky Lee’s KABESANG TALES - Isang Rap en Rol Musical." [image]. Retrieved on 17 February 2024, from https://web.facebook.com/palakat.batangascity/photos/a.1543377512565520/1636600273243243/?type=3&_rdc=1&_rdr

Background

El Filibusterismo (@joseriz15155899). (2019, November 13). "#TheFilibuster Ventura's salvificact made Rizal gave his original manuscript of El Filibusterismo, a pen and an autograph printed copy." [image]. Retrieved on 17 February 2024, from https://twitter.com/joseriz15155899/status/1194459895657041920

Inquirer. (2015, December 12). John Arcilla stars in Ricky Lee ‘rap en rol’ musical ‘Kabesang Tales’. LIFESTYLE.INQ. Retrieved on 17 February 2024, from https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/215824/john-arcilla-stars-in-ricky-lee-rap-en-rol-musical-kabesang-tales/

Inquirer. (2015, August 29). Ricky Lee writes rap, hip-hop libretto for new musical ‘Kabesang Tales’. LIFESTYLE.INQ. Retrieved on 17 February 2024, from https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/204943/ricky-lee-writes-rap-hip-hop-libretto-for-new-musical-kabesang-tales/

Lee, R. (2015, August 29). Ricky Lee: “I have been longing to do a musical, music being a driving passion in my life.” PHOTO FROM RICKY LEE [image]. LIFESTYLE.INQ. Retrieved on 17 February https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/204943/ricky-lee-writes-rap-hip-hop-libretto-for-new-musical-kabesang-tale

Red Lantern Productions. (2015, December 2012). John Arcilla. PHOTO FROM RED LANTERN PRODUCTIONS [image]. LIFESTYLE.INQ. Retrieved on 17 February 2024, from https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/215824/john-arcilla-stars-in-ricky-lee-rap-en-rol-musical-kabesang-tale

Performances and Releases

Kabesang Tales - Isang Rap en Rol Musical. (2019, July 27). Picture of the audition announcement posted on Facebook [image]. Retrieved on 17 February 2024, from https://web.facebook.com/kabesangtalestherockmusicale/photos/a.459803204196123/1309076952602073/

pheejaypi. (2016, October 3). Kabesang Tales: Isang Rap en Rol Musical clip 1 [video]. Retrieved on 17 February 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jftRyZOpxAA&list=PL1Yv-w-s-ETvRYsDWtaMPw2q0QO0q8Nfc

pinoy music maestro. (2021, January 1). Kabesang Tales excerpts feat. John Arcilla and Terence Guillermo [video]. Retrieved on 17 February 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlOkDi8_D_A

Red Lantern Production. (2015, August 15). Kabesang Tales Trailer [video]. Retrieved on 17 February 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CKKJsuBiuc

Plot

Pascua, J. (2015, October 11). Various photos [images]. Retrieved on 17 February 2024, from https://estranghero.weebly.com/photo-blog/john-arcilla-on-ricky-lees-kabesang-tales-isang-rap-en-roll-musical

[fictionkinfessions]

i feel truly deeply haunted every time i hear the broadway version of my source instead of the original cast recording

what do you MEAN jared kleinman is playing me?? no way man, that's not me bro please get out of my clothes

-jeremy heere (be more chill)

x

[moon-jellie]

what is hamiltome

I know this was re: a couple days ago but I have been quivering with anticipation for getting a minute to answer it since then

SO

This book was like the BIBLE for hamilton fans. Arguably moreso than the actual biography that inspired the musical (from my middle school musical theatre kid perspective). Not only did it include annotated lyrics to the entire cast album (PLUS the bonus song that is not on the recording), but it told the entire story of how the musical came to be, narrated by lin manuel miranda, with SO many cast photos. I knew every ensemble member of the original cast by name. I could tell you exactly how each of the leads came to get the role, and what they were doing beforehand. This book was everything. This was the essential reading.

AND THEN dear evan hansen got huge and they released a hansen-tome (this was not a real name that caught on for obviously clunky and nonsensical reasons), but similar concept to the hamiltome. Not quite the same cultural phenomenon, but avid broadway fans at the time (read: my sister and I) probably had a copy of this too.

Then like. Come from away did a "tome" of their own. Now I LOVE come from away, and it's got a super interesting creative history, but this show is and has never been on the fandom caliber of hamilton and dear evan hansen. Cool that they made a book for it but like ??? what was the audience here??? I remember wanting it when I first heard it had come out because I had listened to the show a couple of times and hey I had the hamilton and deh ones!

I fell out of touch with broadway news after that so I'm not sure if other musicals did this, but now I'm super curious -- I feel like I would've known if mean girls or be more chill did one, since they had a similar fangrip? but also neither of those can claim the same kind of taking-themselves-seriously as hamilton or deh, so idk if it would've made sense. Anyway thanks for letting me reflect on this

[questfriendspodcast]

Alright, how many of you have listened to Hadestown and what is (are) your favorite song(s)?

KYLE I've seen it performed live, and the ending's always stuck with me. The abruptness, paired with the song lyrics, just work so well.

EMILY I first listened to the original cast recording and like it all, but if I have to pick some of my favorite songs I particularly enjoy Road to Hell, Chant II, and Why We Build the Wall with an honorable mention to Our Lady of the Underground

TOM THATS A TOUGH QUESTION CANT JUST PICK ONE

ARI I have not really seen hadestown however I have listened to a single song from it and I really like it Which is You know Like it’s a bit awkward this is the song that I personally like Because it’s the wall one

TOM NO ITS ONE OF THE BEST

ARI LIKE ITS REALLY GOOD But it’s like god I’m the one from Mexico and that’s my favorite song you know but also I haven’t listened to any of the other ones in full

TOM SO as a disclaimer for my answer I listened to Hadestown The Myth the Musical first Which is the off-broadway album So most of my favorites are drawn from there even though you’ll never see a production play them exactly like that anymore

ARI Oh my god do you also have the I like the off broadway versions more dilemma Because that’s me with both the SpongeBob musical and be more chill

TOM YES

ARI I love the off broadway versions of those musicals so much more Like to be fair they did a change that makes more sense in the SpongeBob musical intro song but I like the off broadway version the most anyways

TOM So to narrow it to a top three (in no particular order) Why we Build the wall (broadway version), Chant 2 (the myth the musical), and Epic 3 (the myth the musical) With an honorable mention to the final lines of Way Down Hadestown 2 from the myth the musical ALSO NOPE COULDNT DO IT. A FOURTH FAVORITE. CHANT 1 FROM THE MYTH THE MUSICAL ITS SO FUCKING GOOD I CANT LEAVE IT OUT

[rippedstitch-s]

🤔 hans (lmao)

Favorite Picture/Gif of your muse: @hstarke

What color my muse associates yours with:

A song that reminds my muse of the relationship between them and the sender:

A Guy That I'd Kinda Be Into - Be More Chill Original Broadway Cast Recording "And there are so many changes I'm going through And why am I telling this to you? Guess there's a part of me that wants to. I guess a part of me wants to Who knew?"

What my muse thinks of yours:

Asa thinks he's kind of an asshole? But he keeps running into him and gets kind of weird advice, and he likes hearing from other people and getting different perspectives. So even if he finds him to almost always be a dick to him, Asa's fascinated by him enough not to run away every time he sees him.

Something my muse wants to say to yours but can’t:

How do you do it? Just... not care, about so many things? Not give a shit? I care about things so much, all the time. I wish I could turn it off.

Where my muse sees their relationship with yours in five years:

Probably the same as it is now? Asa's not exactly tracking him down to spend time with him considering. Maybe an occasional bumping into each other, a weird conversation over drinks. Asa leaving feeling a little bit insulted, the usual.

[sunshine-embry]

Because I need to yap part 2

Part 1: https://www.tumblr.com/sunshine-mari/757294549550891008/just-because-i-need-to-yap-about-my-opinions-3

I'm not going to explain what this is again 🙄

Halloween: I really like both versions of this song :)

The Broadway instrumental, specifically adding the saxophone is really cool to me :)

I don't like how the Broadway version combined the first chorus and second chorus and got rid of the Jeremy and Brooke conversation.

I really the part they added to the end, foreshadowing that Rich sets a fire (and burns down the house)

Do You Wanna Hang?: I think we can all agree this song is uncomfortable, and thus the following I'm about to say doesn't mean I support sexual harassment or like this song.

Don't kill me, but I actually kinda like this song?? I don't know how to describe it, but I kinda relate to it? (I have been sexually harassed before 😞)

Besides that, I actually really kinda like the conversation part they added in the middle. Idk why, I just do.

That's enough of that.

Michael In The Bathroom: It's kinda the same in both versions?? I mean, I kinda like the Broadway version better but idk why.

The Smartphone Hour (Rich Set A Fire): When I first listened to the Broadway version, I didn't really like it. I don't exactly remember why, but I think it was because of Broadway Jenna?

Now it is my preferred version. We love the smartphone hour girls <3 That's about it though.

The Pants Song: I fricken love the Broadway version. I think it might be because during the conversation between Michael and Jeremy's dad, a guitar cover of Michael In The Bathroom plays.

I just wish my vinyl of the Broadway cast of BMC (only during the pants song) didn't come completely scratched when I got it 😒

The Pitiful Children: Where do I even begin?

First, I really like the electric guitar added in the Broadway version at the beginning.

The new lyrics are fine. They go along with the story better, but I prefer the original lyrics.

Also JASON TAM'S SINGING VOICE IS SO FRICKIN GOOD WTF. (I just wish the voice he does matched better with it 😞)

The conversation between Jeremy and Jenna makes me laugh so hard wtf. ALSO, SPEAKING OF JENNA, THE RIFFS SHE DOES IS SO GOOD WTF LET ME HAVE THOSE VOCAL CHORDS.

Also you can hear Jeremy and The Squip during the last chorus singing together better in the Broadway version.

Also, I love the random addition of Rich in the end. It's so fricken funny for no reason, I'm literally laughing while thinking about it (no offense, it's just funny to my broken humor brain)

I think that's it?

The Play: Once again, this is just six minutes of talking 😔 (Also I never listened to the two river version, but shhh 🤫(I might make a separate post of all of the song references in this tho bcuz I am mentally unwell))

OH also btw I like how Christine's voice at the end smoothly transitions into a synth.

Voices In My Head: Can we all agree that all of the characters in BMC need to go to therapy 🤠

Anyway, the new lyrics in the second verse are fine. All of the changes are just fine. idc about the Broadway version that much, but I do like how Jeremy asks out Christine using bowling alley performance arts even though it sounds like he's saying it sooo quickly to fit in with the rythym 😭

What I DON'T like however, is that the beginning sounds sped up so I think I accidentally bumped the tune thing or whatever on my record player because that is the only way I listen to the Broadway version.

I also like how Rich's lisp is more pronounced.

Jerem'ys WOOHOO MAKES ME SO DAMN HAPPY WHAT?

The Squips sounds like a vaccum in the Broadway version

"You ready?" MY HEART CAN'T TAKE IT!! JUST TWO WORDS MAKES ME START CRYING WHAT THE HELL?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? /srs

I cry at the end every time

Ranking

Idk, a ranking of all the songs in both versions because this isn't long enough.

Two River Ver

Upgrade

Halloween

Do You Wanna Ride?

The Squip Song

Michael In The Bathroom

The Smartphone Hour

The Pitiful Children

Be More Chill Part 1

More Than Survive

I Love Play Rehersal

The Pants Song

Two-Player Gae

Be More Chill Part 2

More Than Survive Reprise

The Play

Voices In My Head

Do You Wanna Hang?

A Guy That I'd Kinda Be Into

Broadway Ver

Loser Geek Whatever

Upgrade

Sync Up

The Squip Song

The Smartphone Hour

I Love Play Rehersal

Michael In the Bathroom

Halloween

Do You Wanna Ride?

Do You Wanna Hang? (Again, I don't support sexual harassment. Read the blurb about it above for details why it's at number ten)

Be More Chill Part 1

The Pitiful Children

More Than Survive

The Pants Song

Be More Chill Part 2

Two Player Gae

The Play

Voices In My Head

A Guy That I'd Kinda Be Into

I you want me to go in depth about my opinions, maybe I will in the future, maybe I'll never bring this up again.

[waiting-makes-me-antsy]

okay guys one more question about the shop im opening on saturday (sorry it wont be online)

SO, i'm thinking of doing commissions while im there. for example, i'll have a list of musicals I know really well (newsies, dear evan hansen, be more chill, etc). Now there will be a standard price for a piece of art that has to do with these shows (ex: $3.50 for a fullbody character reference (with color), $5 for a custom sticker headshot of that character, etc).

you could ask for a certain version of the character (like, "oh i only want the west end version" or "the broadway version with [insert name]" or "i want the 1992 version of racetrack" which would cost you an extra 50 cents because I would be doing the original versions of the characters (so like original broadway or original cast recording version but for newsies since the 2017 version is more popular that would be the default))

then, if you want a character from a musical I don't know as well (like say moulin rouge) it'll cost like, a dollar or two extra (just because I don't have too much of a general idea of these characters and i would need to spend more time researching them).

what do you guys think? would y'all buy smth like this?

[jeremy-queere]

Been asking around random bmc blogs to see what their favorite bmc song is. So you’re next! A full rant and everything would be nice >:)

I'm answering this 3 weeks late. sorry. don't @ me

Shoot, okay, that's a toughie. I think I'm going to go by "odds of me skipping when it comes up on shuffle" rules. So unfortunately, that immediately knocks out many of them - The Play (obviously...), Do You Wanna Hang; both Christine songs (SORRY CHRISTINE I HAVE NO EXCUSE) (i just like singing dude songs ;-;); the instrumentals. Do You Wanna Ride may well be called Do You Wanna Singreallyhigh :/

More Than Survive is the best for when I want to sing along loudly and flex my "acting" but it's also a million years long and starts out with porn, making it harder to play in mixed company.

Two Player Game - OK, so this one is good but. But. If we're including the big band version in our ranking, it might manage to eke its way out on top.

I'm calling this an unfair advantage since the other songs, if similarly arranged, might also slap this hard. Might.

Michael in the Bathroom and the Pants Song are on the same tier for me (SORRY AGAIN!!!) in that they are both very easy to get stuck in your head, you gotta get weirdly heartfelt singing them, and you really gotta be in the mood for them specifically. MitB is iconic for a reason but I'll skip it more often than not if I want to keep my energy up (which is usually the only reason I listen to music whoops). Loser Geek Whatever is also in here if it's the Broadway version. I know in my heart that the Christine songs also belong here.

Halloween, Smartphone Hour, Pitiful Children, and hell, Be More Chill Pt. 1 - These are all bops that are really plot important but that also means you gotta be willing to engage with the story if you want to jam out about it. I dunno if that makes sense? But like you can't sing along to Halloween without paying attention to what's going on with Jake's house during the song. (Sync Up may also fit in here but like. it doesn't go quite as hard as these 4)

Upgrade also fits in with the above category because um. Sorry to all again but. I used to love the first half and then just skip it as soon as the SQUIP verse was done. Again, for singing-along hype building.

So I think that narrows us down to Voices in My Head and the SQUIP Song.

Voices in My Head is an all-mood all-ages fun ditty. It's got heart, dammit. Does anyone not like this one?

But the SQUIP song......... That's the moneymaker, I think. I used to not be able to get my voice low enough, but either I've gotten better at it or I've stopped caring. This one is just fucking FUN. BUT. But but but but. But it has to be the original cast recording.

The Broadway version, someone send me an ask and I'll give my opinions on it. tl;dr they cut out a section of the song for NO reason.

HOWEVER, ON THE FIRST HAND. I have incorporated the Broadway version's little fake audio glitches into it whenever I sing the SQUIP Song. That's good shit.

If you were asking me what my fav is to listen to and not to sing along to, I couldn't tell you. If BMC is playing and I'm not singing along, there is something wrong with me. I don't say that jokingly. That's literally how I realize I'm in a bad mood/really tired is if I'm not singing in the car lol.

[wildernezz]

PLEASE LISTEN TO 13 THE MUSICAL PLEASE

okay so there's this musical called 13 that i have an emotional attachment to specifically bc it was the first musical i ever performed but it's honestly such a silly goofy musical and i absolutely need it to get more attention.

im just gonna rattle off some things about the musical please stick with me i swear it's silly pleaseplease

plot overview: Evan Goldman, a 12 year old boy who's just about to turn 13. he's just moved from New York to Indiana because of his parent's divorce and he's set on becoming popular in order to make sure his bar mitzvah isn't lame. he ends up meeting a bunch of new people and causing a bunch of chaos and i have no idea how to explain the rest of it other than "average middle school drama" but i swear it's good in the "wow this is so stupid i love it" way.

musicals it's pretty similar to: Be More Chill, Dear Evan Hansen (except without the weird "pretending to be a dead kid's best friend" stuff), Heathers (again, without the killing bits)

other things to note before getting into it (basically my thoughts and me explaining what versions to avoid): DO NOT WATCH THE NETFLIX VERSION. PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DO NOT WATCH THE NETFLIX VERSION. i also haven't found many bootlegs of the musical on YouTube that were good (honestly the cast i was with when we performed it were my favorite but i'm pretty biased and there's no public recordings of it anyways), so i'd recommend just listening to the soundtrack on Spotify. SPECIFICALLY LISTEN TO THE ORIGINAL BROADWAY RECORDING THO, THE OTHER ONE IS MID IN MY OPINION SO I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND IT.

some other things to try convince u plsplsplspls: THE SHOW HAS A LOTTA OFF-HAND KINDA OFFENSIVE HUMOR SO KEEP THAT IN MIND. IT'S A LITTLE SOUTH PARK-Y IN A WAY BUT I'M NOT SURE HOW EXACTLY TO DESCRIBE IT?? THE BEST EXAMPLE I CAN GIVE IS THAT THERE'S A WHOLE SONG CALLED "TERMINAL ILLNESS" WHERE EVAN JUST CONVINCES THIS ONE KID TO EXPLOIT HIS DISABILITY INTO GETTING THEM SOMETHING THEY BOTH WANT. SO LIKE JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND.

other than that though, the characters are really silly. like they're all super weird, awkward, and goofy because of the fact that they're all young teens and even though some of it gives second-hand embarrassment, i feel like the fact that they're just silly little kids is what makes them all so lovable. there's also a bunch of songs that do kind of hit hard in the "wow i remember feeling that way and i still kinda do feel like that damn" which i think just adds to the charm. "Good Enough" is definitely one of those songs imo, but listen to the full soundtrack first before just skipping to it i swear it hits hard with an emotional attachment first.

also uh ariana grande was in it or sumn. she didn't even have a major role tho which is funny. and you can tell that at the very end the writers were like "FUCK WE GOTTA EXPLOIT HER TALENT" and let her riff for the entire ending song which i think is funny LMAO.

i've got no idea what else to put here just please listen to them i swear theyre silly guys please.

[seasosworld]

Favorite Ten Albums

Thank you @two-hands-toward-the-sun for the tag 🫶🏻💕 i love doing these haha theyre so fun.

1. Hadestown by Anais Mitchell, Original Broadway Cast (thanks to @two-hands-toward-the-sun for inflicting this on me)

2. The Unheavenly Creatures by Coheed and Cambria

3. The Horror and The Wild by The Amazing Devil (courtesy of @two-hands-toward-the-sun <3 changed my life)

4. Ever After by Marianas Trench

5. The Peace and The Panic by Neck Deep

6. Take Me Back to Eden by Sleep Token

7. Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge by My Chemical Romance

8. You Don’t Mess Around With Jim by Jim Croce

9. Ghettolimpo by Mahmood

10. Be More Chill by Two Rivers Original Recording Cast

this honestly changes a lot so it’s just what i’m feeling currently!

tagging @theywithnoname @cult-of-the-eye and @rkiveofourown but no pressure <3

[arrow-dodger]

When I was 12, my mom bought the soundtrack to The Phantom of the Opera movie with Gerard Butler. She must have gotten the CD from the bargain bin at Wal Mart or something. She started playing it all the time in the car, insisting she loved that kind of music (which she had never listened to before, as far as I'm aware).

I became obsessed with it almost immediately. I made her get me the movie and I watched it almost every night. At that age I hated Raoul because I thought he was lame and weak. The Phantom was my sexy sad boy and for some reason I thought I could fix him. No offense to Christine, but I was built different. The idea of being someone's entire world was very appealing to me, because I never felt important to anyone. I wanted someone to take me away to be theirs forever. That was a romance I could read fanfiction about for years to come.

I've always listened to it and watched the movie from time to time since, but I revisited it more specifically recently. It occurred to me that I only know the movie version of the songs, which are probably the worst ones, so I started listening to the original Broadway cast and the 2011 recording.

The vibe is... very different. I am very different. Gerard Butler's Phantom IS kind of a sexy sad boy in comparison, and the stage Phantom has much more "muahahaha" energy. I mean, he's a devious, cringe little bitch. But the thing is that he's also scary as hell. Actually, this entire thing has always been scary, and I was kind of blind to it because of how sexy Gerard Butler is, maybe. Listening now, it's a horror that sends chills down my spine.

Now as an adult the romance angle doesn't work the same. I've had men make me their entire world before and convince me they'd die without me living to care for them. I've had men give me things without me asking and then use that against me later. I've had men seek out my very specific weaknesses to exploit them in their favor. I've had men threaten violence and violate my personhood because they wanted to own me so badly. I had a man essentially brainwash me for so many years.

I always hated Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again as a kid. I thought the song was boring and would skip past it sometimes, because I just didn't get what it added. Now I get that it's the entire linchpin to the plot of this thing.

When I watch that scene now, I realize that Christine's trauma about the death of her father IS the plot. That's what all of this is about, in the end. During the Wandering Child bit afterwards, when I see her say "wildly my mind beats against you, but my soul obeys," I know that very feeling... and it isn't romantic, it's DARK. When she says she has endless longings, she doesn't mean she longs to have a sexy phantom boyfriend, she means she longs to feel safe! Feel loved! Protected! She wants to feel like her father is still around and looking out for her! And she spent all these years thinking she would get these things from this person who's convinced her he's an avatar of her dead father, who spends this song calling her a lost child who needs his guidance, specifically poking at the wound he knows she has to give himself the upper hand. That isn't hot! That's awful!

When I see Christine crying as she turns away from the Phantom at the end of the 2011 production, I don't think she's sad because she's in love with him too. I think she's sad because she's leaving behind this person who is the architect of her entire consciousness. Someone who has convinced her that they need each other, that they're each other's destiny. She's realizing that she needs to leave her father behind. When he says "Christine, I love you," she's hearing her father's voice. She doesn't know who she is without him, or if she'll completely collapse if she takes another step away. And bitch, same. I've been there too. I thought I'd die myself.

The angles that art can stab you from change with you as you age. Stranger than you dreamt it!

[thenightlightpeep]

I always listen to the same song over and over again because I like it when a sound is predictable and listening to a new one is not... Quite predictable. So that's why I only listened to the 2015 album of BMC for a long time, but this week I decided to listen the 2018 checks name "Original Broadway Cast Recording", today starting with More Than Survive.

I was chatting with a friend and writing observations about the song to be less nervous about it, which worked! So here's my best notes about it, direct from my Discord.

Marking blue for my observations and... Leaving it in the normal colors when I'm quoting the song, also, my friend's little observations as pink

———

The new singer is pretty good-

Holy shit I already love this guy

———

Like I mentioned before about his voice getting suddenly high

uhh oh goOD I wish I had the SKILL >:(

to just be FINE and cool and chill

———

The voice casually cracking dkdk

———

- Um what are you staring at? 🤨

- I am just trying to get to my locker :(

- That guy is so weird

A regular day at high school

KKDKDKD I don't have lockers:)

I have :)

———

OH IT'S a sign up for the after school play!

. . . It's a sign up ship for getting called gay

———

Christiiiine caNIGULAA

CHRISTINEEEEEE

- Um excuse me... I think someone wrote "boyf" on your backpack.

- I.... hhhhhh 😰 😵

I'm sorry to inform you that he died after this dialogue

What- the... Socialization?

Yeah he- at the end it sounded like he was having an asthmatic crisis lol

———

Aww Micheal sounds more shy in this version

His voice got so cute ohmygud- he sounded like a little kid when saying

"No I... Was going to say getting stoned in my basement but...."

———

nOOO I MEAN look who's signing up for the playyy 🥺

- Jeremy, 2018

(This one was my favorite line from the entire song)

———

The end, I will listen to the rest of the songs, I don't know if I will make more observations, if I do, I won't bother my friends this time.

I FORGOT ONE OF THE OBSERVATIONS LET ME KEEP EDITING IT- now it's good :)

[effeminatenightmare]

so, this is a more solidly written review on my thoughts on the new 2021 Cabaret West End Revival cast recording.

i'm very intrigued by some of the creative / acting / casting decisions made. i've been listening to it So Much and can't seem to stop myself. 🥴

• eddie redmayne's portrayal of the emcee feels like a mix of both pavi largo from repo! a genetic opera and alex delarge from a clockwork orange. weird, wonderful, otherworldly, and childlike are just a few descriptive words to describe him.

• the way in which he switches from a haunting tenor with vibrato for days, to a more animalistic snarling is ✨ nightmare fuel ✨. seriously, his singing is outstanding!!!! i don't know why people hate it so much.

• his interpretation of "money" is astounding, probably My Favorite version of the number.

• "i don't care much" has been warped to a more slightly more villainous tone than Alan Cumming's the original. it's been transformed into a seductive almost incantation. which is certainly a choice, and it works.

• jessie. buckley. need i say more?

• her rendition of the title song "cabaret" is spine-chilling and made me think that ✨ THIS ✨ is how sally bowles should be played. sally's NOT supposed to be a good singer. jessie manages to pull this off perfectly. i absolutely love what she brought to sally. *chefs kiss*

• i could go on for days about how heartbreaking her "maybe this time" was. 🥲

the other voices from the other cast members are just as alluring as eddie and jessie are.

i'm hoping and praying this'll transfer over to broadway. i need to be able to be a part of something this special and be present in the kit kat club at least once.

i hope you've enjoyed my little review and will listen to it yourself, if you haven't yet. it's worth it, trust me.

[writerchickmarie]

John Lloyd Young's Favorite Broadway Things At 54 Below - The Possible Dream, The Reachable Star

If you believe in yourself, the dream is possible, and the star is reachable.

As John Lloyd Young recounted his path to Broadway success to all of us at 54 Below this week, that message was evident - and inspiring.

His carefully curated set was woven seamlessly with stories about his family, his childhood dreams, acting experiences, and the transition through time from LPs to cassettes and CDs as he grew from hopeful young boy to thriving triple threat.

JLY began his set with "So You Wanted To Meet The Wizard" from The Wiz, his first favorite show and the Tony-winning Best Musical in the year of his birth. He then moved into a soulful jazz rendition of "My Favorite Things" from The Sound Of Music...the version we didn't know that we needed until we heard it, but now want to hear all the time.

He explained that this show was about his favorite things - the songs, musicals, and moments that shaped his childhood and launched his musical theatre dreams. He also told us about working with Theodore Bikel in The Chosen, and the stories Mr. Bikel shared with him - like how the song "Edelweiss" was written especially for him as he originated the role of Captain Von Trapp on Broadway.

We moved into some more Rodgers and Hammerstein as JLY performed a rich, beautiful "I Have Dreamed", sharing stories with us about his childhood role in a production of The King And I...and several wonderful stories about how his favorite movie musicals tied in to his grandparents seeing the original Broadway casts of these musicals, and planting the seeds for his Broadway career.

One of these was a sweet story about his grandmother and Jerry Orbach, as he launched into a lively, animated "All I Care About" from Chicago. JLY would make an amazing Billy Flynn on Broadway, so I hope that is a dream that can come true in the future. He also shared a wonderful story about working with Mr. Orbach on Law & Order, illustrating his mentor's kindness to an up and coming actor.

Next up was the Beatles arrangement of "Till There Was You" from The Music Man, which sparked his dream of achieving the trifecta like Robert Preston did - originating a role on Broadway, winning the Tony, and making the movie for Warner Brothers. As we know JLY achieved that dream with Jersey Boys, giving new meaning to the term "triple threat". He followed that up with the romantic yet haunting "My Heart Stood Still", as told us that he believes that Lorenz Hart was the greatest lyricist in musical theatre.

His next dream came about as a young teenager, listening to the cast recording of Les Miserables. That dream came true in 2008 as he played Marius at the Hollywood Bowl...and the dream of hearing him as Marius came true for all of us as he performed a stunning, poignant "Empty Chairs At Empty Tables". It truly caused chills every single night, and I am so glad that it continues to be in his Broadway set.

At this point he introduced the band as they played "Ease On Down The Road" from The Wiz - Musical Director Ron Abel on piano, Sean Harkness on guitar, Derek Nievergelt on bass, and Ray Marchica on drums. Not only did they have several amazing solos throughout the night, but their cohesiveness as a group and with JLY really made everything even more magical.

The next song took everyone's breath away as well - JLY performed a special "Hopelessly Devoted To You" from Grease. The collective sigh throughout 54 Below continued every night this week as we got to hear the song from a new perspective, showcasing his incredible vocal range. Hoping this one stays around for future sets!

He told some interesting stories about making the Jersey Boys movie, and treated us to a couple of our favorites - the beautiful and wistful "My Eyes Adored You" and the always exquisite "Can't Take My Eyes Off You". Part of his musical theatre journey was to listen to and collect cast albums in foreign languages, so he also sang part of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" in another language for us. You haven't truly lived until you've been serenaded by JLY with this song in Italian. Talk about breathtaking...and it goes perfectly with both JLY's and Frankie Valli's Italian-American roots!

JLY also shared with us how much he admired and was influenced by Nell Carter, performing a stunning, emotional rendition of "Mean To Me" as a tribute, while also making it his own. This is another song that showcases his astounding vocal range, and I still hope that he will record it as well.

As JLY told us throughout the night, every Broadway career starts with a dream. And he finished the main part of the set with his deeply thoughtful "The Impossible Dream" from Man Of La Mancha, which stays with you long after the last note. He has proven that if you keep believing and reaching for your dreams, you can achieve them. And I hope he knows how much he truly inspires so many of us, in all areas of life and creativity, to do the same.

For the encore, JLY decided to have some fun with all of us as he made his way around the room for "One Last Kiss" (from Bye Bye Birdie), occasionally showing off some moves from tabletops as he collected those kisses from audience members. It's always a thrill when we get to interact during the show! Then we were up on our feet for "Sherry" and singing along, on a high from start to finish and beyond.

I have faith that even more dreams will come true for John Lloyd Young - and as we continue to travel all over the country and around the world for shows and fan banquets, we get to be a part of the magic. He is better than ever...and I'm so glad that we are on this journey with him!