#177 - wicked

i just went to see the musical WICKED at keller auditorium in portland. it was awesome! WICKED is based on the novel of the same name, by gregory maguire. it tells the story of the wicked witch of the west from wizard of oz, before and how she became wicked. it's a very creative and interesting idea and gives me a new appreciation for the movie.i read the book maybe 6 months ago, when i learned that the musical was coming to portland. although it's not for everyone, i really enjoyed it. the book is very dark and i wondered how they would make it okay for family audiences. so when i saw it the other day i learned - they changed it a lot. the general plot and story was the same but there were many important changes from the book that i won't go into. i am still trying to figure out if i am okay with those changes. before i went to see WICKED i listened to the soundtrack endlessly and really enjoy all the lyrics and melodies. watching it finally i was able to tie together the songs and it was pretty fun. the acting was awesome as well, i really enjoyed watching the actors.in the original production, idina menzel (RENT) was the main character elphaba. that was one of the draws of WICKED for me, being a huge RENT fan and knowing her voice. although she was not in the traveling group that i saw, she is on the soundtrack.

if you have a chance to go see WICKED, do it! it's a fun musical and story. the costumes were pretty awesome too. i'd totally recommend the book if you are into dark stories that put a twist on what you think you know. it totally gives you empathy into wickedness and you know why she wanted those damn ruby slippers!

#144 - musicals

i feel like i'm in a musical. or at least when i am listening to musical soundtracks (which i do often) i like to sing and feel like i'm in it. i cannot sing or act really but maybe it's a secret fantasy of mine. it doesn't matter what kind of musical, i love it! the only one i don't care much for is CATS. it just kind of creeps me out (sorry wongi). i do like the music but once i saw it, the cats were just weird. of course my favorite is RENT and then there are the others close behind - phantom, les mis, and miss saigon. while the movie version of RENT was pretty good and had many of the original broadway cast (who i will be seeing in june!) it was just different. it didn't quite capture the feeling of the live show. when i need a RENT fix though, i have the movie.

today i pretty much broke into the middle of a song from EVITA while waiting for the bus. while the movie wasn't my favorite, i loved the music. i hadn't heard the cd for maybe 5 years but i had to listen to it cause it was in my head. i love when they are just talking and then burst into song but it's kind of weird when they turn to the camera to sing. one of my favorite musical movies is moulin rouge, directed by baz luhrman, starring ewan mcgregor and nicole kidman. it's kind of a tribute to pop music and references/incorporates so many songs like "smells like teen spirit", "like a virgin" and "sound of music". they do a wonderful but different version of "your song" by elton john. it's a beautiful love story about love, a love that will live forever. here's a clip of the "elephant love medley":


i'm pretty excited cause i'm going to see WICKED in march! i haven't seen it before but i've got the soundtrack and it's pretty cool. there are so many shows i would go see or want to see but there is not nearly enough time or money. WICKED is based on a book that looks at the "wicked witch of the west" elphaba from wizard of oz. it's kind of a prequel i guess, about her relationship to glinda the good witch. elphaba is played on broadway by idina menzel who was also in the original broadway cast of RENT and the movie too. she won a tony award for her performance as elphaba and she has a great voice! here is a little clip of her singing "defying gravity":


music is just so important and without it life would be boring. so if i randomly break into a little song and dance, don't stare too hard, you might be in the musical too!