This entry contains two very different themes. It's a little bit about musicals based on films and a lot about musicals using a traditional sound. It also contains one song that it guaranteed to make me cry as I enter an existential crisis, but I love it anyway. The longer I've been working on this, the more I've had to really think about what songs to choose. I didn't want to repeat musicals, but I did choose to repeat certain performers or composers on purpose. Some of the songs here are examples of that, too. Oh, and as usual, some are ones I just like to sing. All of this is to say, there's a little bit of everything here. I hope you like it. These songs were originally tweeted between October 6, 2022 and October 20, 2022. 226. 'Seventeen' from Heathers (Will Chase and Ingrid Michaelson) 54 Sings Heathers (2018) I have never seen Heathers, either the famous film or the fan-favorite musical. I came to know this song because, surprising no one, I'll always watch something if Will Chase is part of it. It's about 'damaged' teenagers engaging with a desire to be just kids while also choosing each other as partners. Seeing adults sing it, however, adds an interesting new layer for consideration. Watch here. 227. 'Apex Predator' from Mean Girls (Barrett Wilbert Weed as Janis, Erika Henningsen as Cady) Mean Girls on Broadway (2018) I did not see the film of Mean Girls until right around the time I saw the stage production, so it doesn't have cult classic status for me. That said, if you like the film, or this set-the-stage song, it'll be perfect for you...and even if you don't, if you're a fan of Emily in Paris you might enjoy spotting Ashley Park (Mindy) in the role originated by Lacey Chabert on screen. Watch here. 228. 'Fight the Dragons' from Big Fish (Norbert Leo Butz) Memory and Mayhem at 54 Below (2017) Big Fish is a strange little novel and film that became an equally strange little musical. At its center is the relationship between father and son and the fantastic stories the father liked to tell. Few people can weave a story through song like Norbert Leo Butz. He's one of the most versatile performers out there. My favorite part of Big Fish was his 'Fight the Dragons', a somewhat intimate moment where Norbert's father character encourages his son to be brave in the face of uncertainty and fear. Watch here. 229. 'Gorgeous' from The Apple Tree (Kristin Chenoweth as Passionella) The View (2006) The Apple Tree is a great little show that contains three distinct, short, musicals. In the final one Passionella (a Cinderella-like character) becomes gorgeous thanks to her very own fair godmother. 'Gorgeous' is a fabulously fun number all about reveling in the realization that one is, well, gorgeous. Watch here. 230. 'The Road You Didn't Take' from Follies (Philip Quast as Benjamin) National Theatre Production (2018) Back in 2001, Broadway had a revival of Follies that captured my heart. I loved it to pieces, and to this day it is the example to which I compare all other productions. The problem is, no one else agreed with me that it was fabulous, and it closed quickly--before there was any chance of a cast recording being released. As a result, I don't get to share Gregory Harrison's absolutely breathtaking version of this song. It's a good thing, then, that I also have a long-term love of Philip Quast, because it gave me the best alternative to share. In 'The Road You Didn't Take', Benjamin Stone is part of a group of people (performers and their spouses, largely) who return to their beloved theatre before it is gone for good. Confronted with memories of his past, Benjamin ruminates on the choices we make in life and whether we continue to wonder about the person we would have been if our lives went differently. It caused many a moment of existential reflection for me and in college, I even had some of its lyrics painted on my door. Listen here. 231. 'What Did I Have That I Don't Have?' from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (Barbara Harris as Daisy) Original Broadway Cast (1965-1966) My first experience with On a Clear Day... was actually the 2011 Broadway revival. It starred Harry Connick, Jr. and involved a great deal of changes (including the genders of main characters). In that production, this song was performed by a man. So, to me, going back to the original version and hearing a woman sing it was to go against what I knew. I loved it. Here, the character of Daisy ruminates on changes to her life and how that unfortunately might have made her less appealing in certain circles. Listen here. 232. 'Opposite You' from The Glorious Ones (Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley) Broadway & Beyond (2017) Few real-life couples exude as much love as Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley did when they sang together. That, more than the song itself, is why I chose this performance. I'll never get over Marin's passing and any opportunity to watch her create magic (especially with Jason) is one I will take--you should too. Watch here. 233. 'Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat' from Guys and Dolls (Tituss Burgess as Nicely-Nicely Johnson, Company) Tony Awards (2009) When I was in grade school, my music teacher was obsessed with Guys and Dolls. Despite my love of musical theater, it wasn't a show that I came close to appreciating as much as he did. In the spirit of full disclosure, that overall opinion never changed...but when I saw the Broadway revival in the late 00s, I thought Tituss Burgess absolutely brought the house down in 'Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat'. Now, you can see his Tony Awards performance. Watch here. 234. 'Lonely Room' from Oklahoma! (Shuler Hensley as Jud Fry) Royal National Theatre (1998) The Oklahoma! production of the late 1990s/early 2000s was beautiful in a lot of ways, but for me the most wonderful part of it was Shuler Hensley's Jud. He was vulnerable and tragic, a strong counterpoint to (on Broadway) Patrick Wilson's Curly, and this song brought me to tears. Listen here 235. 'Somebody, Somewhere' from The Most Happy Fella (Jo Sullivan as Rosabella) Original Broadway Cast (1956-1957) Moved by the sadness of the prior entry, I decided to spend the next several days going a little bit lighter, or at least more hopeful. 'Somebody, Somewhere' is a lovely little song about the possibilities one can imagine upon learning another person has interest in them. Listen here. 236. 'No Other Love' from Me and Juliet (Brent Barrett and Kim Criswell) The Musicality of Rodgers and Hammerstein (2002) Me and Juliet employs the classic theatrical device of having a show exist within the show and a behind-the-scenes romance. As part of this multi-layer plot, you get 'No Other Love', a song which was so beloved it gained a life of its own, removed from the plot. Taken by itself, it is a beautiful song about having one's romantic partner be the only love of one's life and the anticipation of reuniting that comes from being separate. Listen here. 237. 'Demon Rum' from Nice Work if You Can Get It (Judy Kaye as Duchess Estonia Dulworth, Company) Original Broadway Cast (2012-2013) I decided I needed to shake things up at this point, so I diverged from ballads and love songs for something completely different: a traditional-style song about the evils of liquor. Judy Kaye shows why she's a stage legend in this number, and as a fair warning, it will get stuck in your head. Listen here. 238. 'The Very Next Man' from Fiorello! (Patricia Wilson as Marie) Original Broadway Cast (1959-1961) Growing up as a traditional soprano, my introduction to Fiorello! was through the beautiful ballad "When Did I Fall in Love?" It wasn't until I was in college that I learned about the lower, more fun songs in the show. This one, in particular, where Marie proclaims that she is going to marry the very next man who asks her, delights me. Listen here. 239. 'How Can I Wait?" from Paint Your Wagon (Olga San Juan as Jennifer) Original Broadway Cast (1951-1952) Have you ever felt like you might explode if you didn't see someone who interested you again? This high-energy, traditional, chesty number captures that feeling better than any other song I've ever heard. It is one of my favorites. Listen here. 240. 'Over the Hill' from Shenandoah (Penelope Milford as Jenny) Original Broadway Cast (1975-1977) Completing this run of several songs for lower female voices, 'Over the Hill' is another fun one. In it, Jenny is belting her heart out about the fact that her love life is stalled and by the time it goes anywhere she will be too old and wrinkled to enjoy it. It always makes me chuckle. Listen here.

Welcome, readers! There are a lot of fun songs in this group (which I know I always say), but there is a trio of songs here that I view as particularly interesting. If you scroll down, you'll see that 216, 217, and 218 are related. In 216, I talk about Donna Murphy's turn as Lotte Lenya in LoveMusik. Then, in 217 and 218, I feature the actual Lotte Lenya singing. It is a wonderful opportunity to think about performer's interpretations and to compare Donna Murphy's interpretation of Lotte Lenya with the original person's vocals. If you do nothing else with this entry, I hope you will listen to those. These songs were originally tweeted between September 21, 2022 and October 5, 2022. 211. 'How?' from Flying Over Sunset (Carmen Cusack as Clare Boothe Luce) Broadway.com Exclusive (2022) Carmen Cusack has one of the best voices on the modern stage. Flying Over Sunset was an extraordinarily strange show. It fictionalized a period where three historical figures (Clare Boothe Luce, a conservative politician; Cary Grant, a famous actor; and Aldous Huxley, a writer) join together and experience LSD trips that give them new perspectives on life. I admit the show didn't sit as well with me as I would have liked, but Carmen was truly the stand out. Her second act solo, 'How?', was a powerful self-examination and existential reckoning. It is always worthy of watching. Watch here. 212. 'She Thinks I'm Old' from Daddy Long Legs (Paul Alexander Nolan as Jervis Pendleton) Original Off-Broadway Cast (2015-2016) After posting a song from Carmen Cusack, I couldn't help but think of Paul Alexander Nolan. Their work together on Bright Star is always in my heart even though I showcased another performer when I featured that show. Now, though, I decided to follow up one of her songs with one of this. Daddy Long Legs is a musical based around letters and how writing to someone can form an impression of them that might not match up when you meet. Here is one of his solos from it. Listen here. 213. 'Wait a Bit' from Just So (Julie Atherton as Kolokolo Bird) World Premiere Cast (2005/2006) When this sweet song about learning to take a leap of faith instead of being overly cautious was assigned to me years ago by my voice teacher, I had no clue what Just So was about. It turns out that it is an adaptation of Rudyard Kipling stories. Luckily, it works out of context so my lack of research (utterly out of character!) didn't hurt me. Listen here. 214. 'Wild Bird' from The Spitfire Grill (Liz Callaway as Shelby) Original Off-Broadway Cast (2001) Similar to the song above, this was assigned to me by my voice teacher and I was unfamiliar with The Spitfire Grill, both as a film and a stage production. That said, even more than with 'Wait a Bit' I fell in love with this song. It is a lullaby that soothes and also, in my experience, a wonderful opportunity for interpretation and the purity of the voice to be shown off. Listen here. 215. '50 Percent' from Ballroom (Dorothy Louden) My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies (1998) Continuing a theme of songs I learned about outside of the context of their shows, I chose '50 Percent'. When I was first watching My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies, I had never heard of Ballroom, but I found this song moving and upsetting. Later I learned that this song (as you might expect if you listen to it) is about a woman who just learned her paramour is married and does not intend to leave his wife. Watch here. 216. 'Alabama Song' from LoveMusik (Auditioners, Donna Murphy as Lotte Lenya) Original Broadway Cast (2007) In 2007 when I went to see LoveMusik, I didn't know much outside of the basic facts about Lotte Lenya or Kurt Weill as artists or their shared personal lives. I knew a few of Weill's songs, but not this one. When the incomparable Donna Murphy sang 'Alabama Song' as Lotte Lenya, I was blown away by her interpretation...I also left with the song stuck in my head. At home, I began listening to the actual Lotte Lenya, and I appreciated it even more. Check out the songs listed after this, and you can compare, too. Listen here. 217. 'Pirate Jenny' from The Threepenny Opera (Lotte Lenya as Jenny) Original Broadway Cast (1954) 'Pirate Jenny' is a song about revenge, but here I chose it because it is one of Lotte Lenya's most famous recordings and I wanted you to have her voice come directly after Donna Murphy's interpretation of her. Listen here. 218. 'September Song' from Knickerbocker Holiday (Lotte Lenya) Lotte Lenya: American Theater Songs (1958/1999) Another fine example of Lotte Lenya's sound that I featured entirely so you could continue comparing the real woman to the artist who portrayed her in LoveMusik. Listen here. 219. 'That Guy' from Blood Brothers (Paul Crosby as Mickey, Mark Hutchinson as Eddie) London Cast (1995) In the early 2000s, I took my first trip to the UK. I was so excited to finally see shows on the West End and it was important to me to see something that had not been available to me in New York. The show I chose was this one, and I loved it so very much. It tells the story of two brothers who were separated at birth. In this number, each brother observes the other and wishes that's who he was like. It tugs at my heart every time. Listen here. 220. 'Omar Sharif' from The Band's Visit (Katrina Lenk) Build Series (2018) This ode to performers Umm Kulthum and Omar Sharif features moody music, evocative language, and envelopes the audience in a comforting blanket of wistful nostalgia. Watch here. 221. 'Live Out Loud' from A Little Princess (Sierra Boggess as Sara) Premiere Cast Recording (2011) The Secret Garden stage musical (rightly) gets a lot of attention, but the adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett's other famous novel rarely gets mentioned. In fact, the only song I regularly come across from it is this one. It's a great I-Want style song, especially for young vocalists. In it, the main character, Sara, vents her frustration with life and explores all the things she wants to do when she breaks away from her current situation. It's a great number to use when you want to tell someone you want to sing, fly, and soar, when you feel they haven't let you. Listen here. 222. 'Before the Parade Passes By' from Hello, Dolly! (Adrienne Warren) Miscast20 (2020) When the pandemic sent everyone into lockdown in 2020, it didn't seem like there would be a way for events like Miscast to continue, which would have been a shame. I've always adored seeing performers sing songs that they normally wouldn't. Thankfully there was a virtual Miscast in 2020, or else the world might have missed out on Adrienne Warren singing the hell out of 'Before the Parade Passes By' and making a case for someone to find a way to give her a reason to sing it on a stage nightly. Watch here. 223. 'Holding to the Ground' from Falsettos (Stephanie J. Block) Broadway Originals (2017) Falsettos is one of those shows that was always a part of my awareness, but I never got to see. I was really upset with myself that I somehow missed out on the 2017 Broadway production, but thrilled to see this video of Stephanie J. Block performing my favorite song from the score (about resilience and conflict and life not going how you planned) so I had to share it. Watch here. 224. 'All for Laura' from The Woman in White (Maria Friedman as Marian, Angelia Christian as Anne) Original London Cast (2004-2006) The stage adaptation of Wilkie Collins' The Woman in White is perhaps best remembered for three things: the fat suit worn by Michael Crawford for his turn as Count Fosco making him sick, the frightening moment when it looked like a train was coming directly at you, and this song which is half contemplation and half shrill emotional explosion. Listen here. 225. 'Once You Lose Your Heart' from Me and My Girl (Maryann Plunkett as Sally) Original Broadway Cast (1986-1989) Next time you need a sweet soprano solo that doesn't get featured very often, look up 'Once You Lose Your Heart'. It has a traditional sound and lyrics that can be interpreted well out of context. I've been sharing a lot of quiet audition song tips in these last few posts, and I think this is another one of them. You can all thank my voice teacher. Listen here.

Welcome back! Much like in my last installment, as I considered the songs that fit into this post, I realized there was a pattern: two-thirds of them are solos. This group definitely favors a smaller number of performers. There are 10 solos, 2 duets, 1 trio, and 2 company numbers. I know this feeds into the recurring revelation that I enjoy any time a performer gets the music to themself, but it also shows the wide variety of solos available to the world. Here, you will find a powerhouse 11 o'clock number, songs that bring tears to your eyes, ones that energize you and make you laugh, and (most significantly to me) the first song that ever scared me when I saw it performed live. This entry is also important because it's where we cross the 200-song mark. That means we are over halfway through the year and, if you've been building a playlist along the way, it's getting pretty big. Want to let me know what your favorites have been so far? Drop a comment on this post. Happy listening! These songs were originally tweeted between September 6, 2022 and September 20, 2022. 196. 'Just Over the Line' from Dessa Rose (LaChanze as Dessa, Rachel York as Ruth, Norm Lewis as Nathan) Original Cast (2005) Back in the '00s, I went with my friend Andrew to see Dessa Rose because we both loved musicals by its composers, Ahrens and Flaherty, and its trio of leads: LaChanze, Rachel York, and Norm Lewis. Our high level of anticipation did not lead to a let down (though I do vividly recall some very loud speakers sitting near us during it that threatened to ruin the experience.) For me, the best part of the entire production (which I remember even more than the annoying audience members) was 'Just Over the Line.' The musical is based on a novel of the same name and it tells the story of Dessa, a Black woman who has run away from enslavement, and Ruth, a white woman who helps those who have run away but also has to confront her own ties to the institution of slavery. In 'Just Over the Line' the two women (whose relationship is extremely contentious) are on a journey that involves a high-risk plot that could help many of the formerly enslaved reach true freedom. Tensions are high and the song is an excellently played duel between the two women, with inserts from Norm Lewis' Nathan (whose relationship with Rachel York's Ruth is one which Dessa certainly does not approve). Listen here. 197. 'Colored Lights' from The Rink (Liza Minnelli as Angel) Original Broadway Cast (1984) 'Colored Lights' is one of those songs that I never would have known if my voice teacher didn't assign it to me. It's from a musical that showcased Liza Minnelli and it's a great one for anybody learning a belty sound or exploring the importance of interpretation. In fact, I'd love to see it have a resurgence in popularity. There's something beautiful in the way the character describes her life and the feeling that something (the colored lights of the title) was missing with completely natural language. The character, Angel, uses phrases like 'well, anyway...' after she questions her facts (was it Sam or was it Fred she was talking to?) and it lends a wonderful opportunity to investigate the importance of memory and feeling and lean into the humanity that creates our emotions. I love it. Listen here. 198. 'One, Two, Three' from The Fix (John Barrowman as Cal) Hey, Mr. Producer!: The Musical World of Cameron Mackintosh (1998) As a kid watching Hey, Mr. Producer! I knew nothing about the musical The Fix except that John Barrowman sang this incredibly catchy and high-powered song from it that I loved. That memory alone was enough for me to include it in here. As an adult, though, I know it has to do with US politics, dealings with the criminal underworld, and Cal - a politician's useless drifter son who gets pulled into the middle of it all. Watch here. 199. 'Lovely' from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Preshy Marker as Philia, Brian Davies as Hero) Original Broadway Cast (1962-1964) The reason this song follows one from The Fix is because the first time I heard it, Ruthie Henshall was singing it in the revue Putting it Together and one of her co-stars was John Barrowman. However, 'Lovely' is actually from the musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. One of the things I love about it is that it is entertaining in any context. If you take it out of the original show to perform it, you can change how you play with exactly how serious you are about what the song proclaims, which is that the person singing is lovely and, well, not much else. ('I can neither sew nor cook, nor read or write my name/But I'm happy, merely being lovely' is one of my favorite lyrics.) Listen here. 200. 'Not a Day Goes By' from Merrily We Roll Along (Bernadette Peters) Sondheim! The Birthday Concert (2010) For my 200th song, I decided to continue with Sondheim music after sharing 'Lovely' the night before, but to go to the opposite end of the emotional spectrum with it. Bernadette Peters is one of the best Sondheim performers on the planet and 'Not a Day Goes By' is a song that grabs you by the throat and doesn't let you go until it is ready. If you don't find yourself holding your breath as the song builds through its repetition of 'day after day...' you probably aren't in the right mindset for the song at that moment. Giver Bernadette Peters your full attention, and you should feel something stirring in your soul as you watch her. Watch here. 201. 'If It Is True' from My Life with Albertine (Kelli O'Hara as Albertine) Original Cast (2003) I never had the opportunity to see My Life with Albertine, and I don't recall listening to the cast recording until well after the show had closed on Broadway, but I do remember thinking Kelli O'Hara sounded flawless on this song, which closes the show. It reminds me of an old classical theater love song, where the lyrics are such that you could pop it right out of the show and perform it anywhere. Listen here. 202. 'Jasper's Confession' from The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Will Chase as Jasper) Broadway Revival (2012-2013) This musical is based on an unfinished story by Charles Dickens. Since the story has no proper ending, neither does the musical. This nontraditional format means that a variety of characters have the possibility of being the guilty party and whose confession gets performed depends on the turnout of an audience vote. Because of this, it's possible that you could see the show multiple times and not see all of the endings. I've chosen my favorite one, performed by the fabulous Will Chase, but is it really a spoiler if it might not be even in the show if you were to see it at any point in the future? I don't think so. Listen here. 203. 'Are You on the Bus?' from Leap of Faith (Krystal Joy Brown as Ornella, Kendra Kassebaum as Sam, Kecia Lewis-Evans as Ida Mae, Leslie Odom, Jr. as Isaiah, and Raúl Esparza as Jonas) Original Broadway Cast (2012) First, it was a movie starring Steve Martin. Then, it became a musical with Raúl Esparza. In both cases it is about a con man posing as a faith healer and traveling around the United States making fools out of true believers. When I think back to seeing this short-lived production, two things come to mind: Raúl Esparza wearing a jacket that looked like it was made from a disco ball, and this song. Listen here. 204. 'I Have a Fire' from Scandalous (Carolee Carmello as Aimee Semple McPherson) Original Broadway Cast (2012) Carolee Carmello is one of the best musical theater performers of our era. Although this production only ran for 60 performances (31 previews and 29 regular), having Carmello star in this biographical musical about Foursquare Church leader Aimee Semple McPherson made it worth the effort to go before it closed. The show may not be at the forefront of anyone's memories, but she really blew the song's big final number, 'I Have a Fire', out of the park. In a show that was far from lauded, she was perfect, so I had to share it. Listen here. 205. 'This Man' from Chaplin (Company) Original Broadway Cast (2012-2013) To round out this spurt of biographical musicals, I went with Chaplin which, as you can guess, was about the famous actor Charlie Chaplin. Rob McClure did a wonderful job in the title rule and I remember particularly appreciating the production's dependence on a black and white color palette. To represent this show I picked its final number because I thought it was lovely, but some of the solos are underappreciated and worth checking out, too. Listen here. 206. 'I Love You Like a Table' from Waitress (Christopher Fitzgerald as Ogie, Kimiko Glenn as Dawn) Original Broadway Cast (2016-2020) I saw Waitress and the biggest thought I had when I left was 'Christopher Fitzgerald and Kimiko Glenn were perfect together in it.' Because of that, the obvious choice from this musical was their love song. It is as entertaining as it is sincere and they sell it expertly. Listen here. 207. 'Molasses to Rum' from 1776 (Gregg Edelman as Edward Rutledge) Broadway Revival Cast (1997-1998) This revival of 1776 was my first engagement with the show, and I fell in love with it immediately. One of my earliest core theater memories is seeing this production from a very close seat in the right side of the orchestra. The biggest reason this is important to me is because I remember the angle from which I saw 'Molasses to Rum' performed for the first time. Gregg Edelman as Edward Rutledge loomed above me like the horribly dominating character he was as he filled the theater with a stunning ode to the slave trade (the 'beautiful waltz') complete with an reenactment of the process of a slave auction. There is nothing comfortable about hearing this song, but that's what makes it so brilliant. You are forced to sit there in your discomfort and realize that this embodies exactly how some people felt. It is a remarkable piece of theater and when performed well, like Gregg Edelman did, it is unforgettable. Listen here. 208. 'Lot's Wife' from Caroline, or Change (Tonya Pinkins as Caroline) Tony Awards Performance (2004) When Caroline, the titular character from Caroline, or Change, confronts both herself an God in 'Lot's Wife', everyone in the theater is bound to lean forward, fully engaged. I remember attending the opening night of the original production and being utterly impressed by how Tonya Pinkins' intensity and vulnerability was a masterclass in capturing the essence of a character's inner struggle. Here, she performs the number at the Tony Awards. Watch here. 209. 'Sunset Boulevard' from Sunset Boulevard (Michael Ball) Live at Royal Concert Hall Glasgow (1993) There are a lot of great songs in Sunset Boulevard, but for me this one stands miles above the rest. It contains all the elements I love: crisp lyrics and lots of them, a melody that sticks in your head, and the potential for holding an audience in the palm of your hand even as you're talking about life's less-savory elements. You need a lot of swagger to do this song well, and Michael Ball does a great job with it here. Watch here. 210. 'How Can I Lose You?' from Myths and Hymns (Annie Golden) Official Recording (1999) Myths and Hymns is a song cycle by Adam Guettel (The Light in the Piazza) that was often mentioned in theater circles when I was growing up, but for some reason I never listened to it. Then, during the heavy days of pandemic lockdown a streamed 'concert' version of it occurred where all the performers were in their own homes. There were many gorgeous contributions and you can (should) lose yourself in it by watching it in full here, but one that really struck me was Dove Cameron singing 'How Can I Lose You?' It was contemplative with lyrics like "I look around now/You're what I see/Pictures of you leaving me" that made me want to go back and listen to the official recording of it by Annie Golden. Annie Golden's voice brings (as expected) a very different quality to the song, and I thoroughly enjoy listening to both back-to-back, but it felt right to showcase hers, as it is the one that all my friends talked about back in the day. Listen here.

New year, new batch of musical theater songs to share! At first glance, there is no theme to the songs chosen for this leg of the journey through 365 days of musical theater. However, 13 of the 15 songs featured here were recorded after the year 2000 and prior to the year 2020. This two-decade span was the prime time for my attendance of Broadway productions, and whether they were new ([title of show], Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark) or revivals (Side Show, Sweet Charity) I did my best to see them. The result is that I have a particularly in-depth knowledge of this era. I'm glad that, despite not planning it, I get to showcase a lot of it here. These songs were originally tweeted between August 22, 2022 and September 5, 2022. 181. 'Nine People's Favorite Thing' from [title of show] (Susan Blackwell, Hunter Bell, Heidi Blickenstaff, Jeff Bowen) Original Cast (2006) This quirky little show had a rabid off-Broadway following, and many of those fans followed it to its Broadway run. I remember sitting near them when I attended a performance. They knew every second of it by heart and had Big Opinions about the cast and the attention they deserved. In it, the cast plays themselves in a meta look at the creation of a musical. To me, the best song in it is 'Nine People's Favorite Thing,' and I listen to it whenever I'm feeling a bit unfulfilled. Its premise is that it's better to create (or be) the absolute best to nine people than to be lower ranking to a larger group of people and it pushes you to take creative risks. I'm a fan. Listen here. 182. 'I Will Never Leave You' from Side Show (Erin Davie as Violet, Emily Padgett as Daisy) Revival Cast (2014-2015) Side Show tells the story of Daisy and Violet Hilton, performers who were conjoined twins and lived from 1908 to 1969. The version of this musical that was popular when I was growing up starred Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley, but I was never able to see it. What I did get to see was the moving 2014 revival. Davie and Padgett were above and beyond as worthy successors to Skinner and Ripley and their emotional duet anthem 'I Will Never Leave You' touched my heart. Listen here. 183. 'The Rhythm of Life' from Sweet Charity (Rhett G. George as Daddy Johann Sebastian, Denis O'Hare as Oscar, Company) Broadway Revival Cast (2005) There are so many songs from Sweet Charity that are well known, like 'Rich Man's Frug' and 'Hey, Big Spender,' but I have a huge soft spot for 'The Rhythm of Life.' It occurs when Oscar takes Charity to 'church' which happens to really be a gathering of those who are heavily embedded in the hippie world. It makes me sway every time I hear it and always stays in my head. It's my favorite sung music in the whole show. By the time Oscar (played here by Denis O'Hare) gets moved to sing along, I have already been doing so for a few minutes. I hope you will too. Listen here. 184. 'And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going' from Dreamgirls (Jennifer Holliday) My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies (1998) My first ever encounter with Dreamgirls (the musical about the rise to stardom of a girl group called the Dreams) was not the cast recording or the eventual film, it was Jennifer Holliday's performance in this concert. By this time, Dreamgirls' Broadway opening was over 15 years in the past, yet Holliday (its original Effie) blew the roof off of the place like not a moment had passed. It was a stunning moment, and I am so glad that it was filmed, because otherwise people like me might never have been able to see it. To this day, when the musical gets mentioned, this one performance is what immediately comes to my mind. Watch here. 185. 'Something Wonderful' from The King and I (Ruthie Ann Miles as Lady Thiang) Broadway Revival Cast (2015-2016) I had always intended to use 'Hello, Young Lovers' as my song to represent this show, solely because it was one of the first two musical theater songs assigned to me by my voice teacher when I was young teen. You've all learned by now that I am a sucker for nostalgia, so it shouldn't be a surprise. However, at this point in my tweeting journey I was thinking a lot about the announced production of The Light in the Piazza with the fabulous Ruthie Ann Miles as Margaret. This production has since been postponed, but I was (and am) very excited about it. That, in turn, led me to thinking about how wonderful she was in the revival of The King and I, and so I changed my original intention and went with her 'Something Wonderful,' because everyone should hear it. Listen here. 186. 'Boy Falls From the Sky' from Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark (Reeve Carney as Peter Parker/Spider-Man) Original Broadway Cast (2010/2011-2014) Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark was one of those shows where the drama around it was as interesting (honestly, more interesting) than the show itself. I saw it in one of its earliest incarnations and I considered using the infamous and eventually cut song 'Deeply Furious' for this selection. It involved Arachne (a woman with a half spider body) and her fellow spider women singing about shoes. It was as ridiculous as you can imagine. However, I wanted to keep this list to songs that I actually find enjoyable. As a result, you get 'Boy Falls From the Sky' which, in my opinion, is a powerful song about Peter Parker fully embracing his call to be a hero. Listen here. 187. 'I Believe' from The Book of Mormon (Andrew Rannells as Elder Price) Tony Awards (2011) Given that The Book of Mormon came from a combination of the folks behind South Park and the composer behind Avenue Q, it is no surprise that it holds nothing back in terms of choosing what to skewer. I chose 'I Believe' because I think the creators and lead actor Andrew Rannells understood the nuance required to make this show work. Certainly, it remains controversial, but 'I Believe' is a powerhouse of a number wherein Rannells' Elder Price uses his conviction in his Mormon faith to give him power as he seeks to convert a Ugandan Warlord. It sets you up to believe this will be his big moment...but (spoiler alert) it certainly is not. Yet, the building momentum and Rannells' embodiment of the Mormon missionary drawing on everything he knows about his faith came together for a phenomenal performance. Watch here. 188. 'School Song' from Matilda (Company) Original Broadway Cast (2013-2017) I tweeted this song when the fall semester was beginning, to herald the end of summer and the return to work. It's witty way of working the alphabet into lyrics about how school can be a foreign and scary place for children raised as their parents' angels was my favorite part of the show, hands down. Listen here. 189. 'Times Are Hard for Dreamers' from Amélie (Phillipa Soo as Amélie) Original Broadway Cast (2017) A sweet song from a sweet show sung by the wonderful Phillipa Soo. I'd never seen the film this musical is based on, but the show was quietly enjoyable and as a dreamer myself, this song appealed to me. Listen here. 190. 'Someday' from The Wedding Singer (Laura Benanti as Julia) Original Broadway Cast (2006) One of my favorite things about the stage musical adaptation of The Wedding Singer (the original film starred Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore) is that it kept the songs the film made famous, while adding wonderful new music that felt like it was straight out of the 1980s. This song, 'Someday', sees Julia fantasize about what life will be like when she finally gets engaged. It is poppy, fun, and it gets stuck in your head plus, it occurs early in the show so you get a great tone set for the rest of it. Listen here. 191. 'Try to Remember' from The Fantasticks (Jerry Orbach as El Gallo) Original Cast (1960) Thanks to the popularity of the television series Law and Order, I feel like most people focus on that aspect of the career of Jerry Orbach. However, before he was helping put fictional criminals away on television, he was lending his voice to musicals of the stage and screen. One of those musicals (and the oldest performance in this entry) was The Fantasticks, where he was tasked with singing 'Try to Remember' a song many people know without even having seen the show. Its whimsical melody and lyrics that conjure the calmest of Septembers caused it to be covered by innumerable artists and performed in countless venues. Here, you get to listen to his wholly original take from over sixty years ago. Listen here. 192. 'Someone Else's Story' from Chess (Lea Salonga) The Broadway Concert (2002) My main engagement with Chess came from being assigned songs from it, like this one, by my voice teacher. I picked this version to share because Lea Salonga's voice will always be one of my favorites. Whenever the option to listen to her arises, I take it. Watch here. 193. 'I Know It's Today' from Shrek (Leah Greenhaus, Marissa O'Donnell, Sutton Foster as the 3 ages of Fiona) Today Show (2008) I was a fan of the film Shrek (about the loveable ogre named in the title) but I wasn't sure how it would translate to the stage. It turns out, it translated well, and I very much enjoyed it. In particular I enjoyed 'I Know It's Today' in which Princess Fiona, stuck in a tower, perpetually is certain that today will be the day she is freed. Instead of a static song about longing, it is used as a means of showing how today was decidedly not the day for a very long time. It was a treat to see the character go from child to teen to adult all in the span of a few moments, and it's a rare moment in musical theater where the performers for three different ages of the same character sing together. Watch here. 194. 'Doll on a Music Box / Truly Scrumptious (Reprise)' from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Emma Williams as Truly Scrumptious, Michael Ball as Caractacus Potts) Original London Cast (2002) When most people think of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, they think of the flying car in the film. When I think of it, I think of the brief scene where Truly Scrumptious performs with Caractacus Potts while dressed as two life-sized dolls. I don't know why that song (and the over-the-top 'Chu-chi Face' sung by the villainous characters) has always stuck with me, other than that it has a lovely melody and the commitment of the performers is essential to its success. Whatever the reason, the fact remains that I find this song delightful. Listen here. 195. 'A Bowler Hat' from Pacific Overtures (Michael K. Lee as Kayama) New Broadway Cast (2004-2005) My first exposure to Pacific Overtures (and, in truth, this period of Japanese history) was through the 2004 Broadway production, which is why I chose to showcase that cast recording over the original. It was difficult to pick just one song from it because there are so many that I think do a wonderful job of bringing this era to life. It centers around the 'opening' of Japan - when Americans arrived in Japan in the 1800s to try and get the country to trade and generally deal with the western world again, something Japan had avoided for about 200 years. I decided to use 'A Bowler Hat' not just because it is an iconic number from the show, but also because it is so moving. In it, Kayama, chronicles the increasing intrusion of western culture into Japanese life. It is poignant and beautifully performed and, I believe, the heart of the show. Listen here.

For over twenty years one of my absolute favorite holiday traditions has been buying the newest Carols for a Cure album and discovering what songs would enter into my regular rotation. You see, Carols for a Cure is a wonderful thing. It is a yearly recording released by (and for the benefit of) the charitable organization Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Each volume contains a mixture of old and new songs for the holiday season performed by members of the casts of current Broadway shows (and occasionally stage performers from wider productions in the theater community.) Recently, I was listening to one of those radio stations that plays holiday music 24/7 in the run up to Christmas and thinking about how sad it is that none of my favorite songs from Carols for a Cure ever end up here. So, my attempt to bring this music (especially from the older volumes, which I fear might be totally forgotten) to a wider audience is this post. I've curated a selection of the tracks from the last two-plus decades that I listen to the most (I have not yet heard the new volume for 2022, but I may update this when I do) to share them with you. Maybe they will become as beloved to you as they are to me. The Carols for a Cure albums can be purchased here. I don't benefit from sharing this, but it is a charity I love and a product that makes me happy each year, so I am happy to put it out there. 'Do You Hear What I Hear?' by the cast of American Idiot, Vol. 12 Although I definitely put these songs in a random order instead of order of preference, I had to put my all-time favorite at the top. Here, 'Do You Hear What I Hear?' is underscored by music from Green Day's 'Wake Me Up When September Ends.' Add to that unexpectedly brilliant combination one of my favorite voices (Stark Sands) joining with his fabulous co-stars Declan Bennett, Tony Vincent, and Alysha Umphress and you have a winning combination in my book. I'd be lying if I pretended I didn't listen to this song all year round. Listen here. 'O Come, All Ye Faithful' by the cast of All Shook Up, Vol. 7 'O Come, All Ye Faithful' has always been a beloved Christmas hymn to me. Here it's given the up-tempo rock treatment by the cast of All Shook Up. If you're a Cheyenne Jackson fan, you'll definitely want to listen. This may be from his early fame days, but his voice is unmistakable on the track. Listen here. 'Pat-a-Pan' by the cast of Mary Poppins, Vol. 12 The historian in me loves old carols, and 'Pat-a-Pan' is a perfect one to me. Here the adults and children from Mary Poppins join together to bring this centuries-old carol about a joyous holiday to life. If you have ever visited Colonial Williamsburg during the winter season, you have probably heard a version of it there, but this one is the one that has my heart. It makes me want to drink warm cider and snuggle under blankets and be as cozy as possible. Listen here. 'Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel' by the cast of Hairspray, Vol. 5 When I first heard this, I thought "what a strange yet funny Hanukkah song that somehow manages to be about dreidels and...the cast of Friends?" I liked it, but I had no idea why. Many (and I do mean many) years later, I learned this was actually a tweaked-for-improvement version of Kyle's 'Dreidel Song' from South Park. Then the weirdness made sense. So, if you've ever wanted to hear Shoshana Bean, Harvey Fierstein, Jackie Hoffman, Dick Latessa, and other fabulous theater performers put their stamp on a South Park song, this is the song for you. It is almost surreal that it even exists, yet I find myself listening to it every year. Listen here. 'Joy to the World' by the cast of Bombay Dreams, Vol. 6 'Joy to the World' with a Bollywood twist. That's all you should need to know to convince you that this track is fabulous. Listen here. 'The Cherry Tree Carol' by the cast of Pippin, Vol. 15 For some reason, I'd never heard this carol before volume 15 of Carols for a Cure dropped. Here, it is a beautiful duet by Matthew James Thomas and Rachel Bay Jones. The carol follows a point of contention between a pregnant Mary and Joseph, with the latter showing a moment of resentment about not being the father of Mary's baby. It takes an intervention from the in-utero Baby Jesus to truly wake Joseph up to what is actually going on. The first time I heard it I thought, well this is a strange story, but their voices blend beautifully and it is strangely powerful, so it won me over. Listen here. 'Christmastime on Highway 13' by the cast of Urinetown, Vol. 5 If you love mellow, heartfelt Christmas songs, this one is for you. It follows the story of a woman who finds an abandoned baby while working her dead-end waitressing job on Christmas Eve. Kristie Dale Sanders' solo performance here is full of tenderness and although the beginning implies it could be a depressing song, it instead becomes a hopeful meditation on life improving and things not always being as they first appear. I'm a sucker for a story song, so it's no surprise I love this one. Listen here. 'Christmas Vacation' by the cast of Beautiful, Vol. 17 I never thought I would like a version of the song 'Christmas Vacation' that wasn't the one from the film of the same name. Then the cast of Beautiful went so hard on this version that it might actually be my favorite now. Listen here. 'Sing Out' by the cast of Gypsy, Vol. 5 If you've ever wanted to hear the Christmas story told with a humorous twist, this is for you. It has a catchy, lovely, chorus about singing the 'greatest story ever told' that balances the witty one-liners like, 'I seriously doubt herald angels would lie' expertly. If nothing else, you should listen for all the fun Gypsy references. It's a bit of off-kilter fun and a treasured classic in my family. Listen here. 'Angels We Have Heard on High' by the cast of Rent, Vol. 8 Everyone I know, knows I am not a huge Rent fan, but it turns out that when you add Rent's 'Santa Fe' music to 'Angels We Have Heard on High' I get obsessed with it. Much like with the American Idiot song at the top of this list, I have listened to this song in many not-Christmas times of the year. I have no regrets. Listen here. 'Little Drummer Boy' by the cast of If/Then, Vol. 16 Jason Tam leads this moving version of 'Little Drummer Boy' with a beautifully clear and evocative sound that somehow manages to make this song feel both modern and like the classic almost everyone knows. Listen here. 'Angelo Rosenbaum' by the cast of The Lion King, Vol. 5 What do you when you're single, half Italian Catholic and half Jewish, and want to stop being single, but also don't want to give up either Christmas or Hanukkah? This song (which has caused me to say "then one night at Pathmark!" randomly, for years, to the befuddlement of whoever is with me) is performed by Thom Christopher Warren and offers an amusing take on this specific predicament that everyone can appreciate. Listen here. 'Broadway Holiday' by the cast of A Chorus Line, Vol. 9 Musical lovers will have a great time listening to this song that name drops more shows than you could probably anticipate. It covers the idea that Broadway doesn't stop just because the holidays are happening and creates an imaginary celebration attended by the casts and characters of the shows running around the time it was recorded. Listen here. 'The Hanukkah Song' by the cast of The Wedding Singer, Vol. 10 and 'The Chanukah Song' by the cast of Soul Doctor, Vol. 15 I couldn't decide which version of the Adam Sandler song to include, because I like them both so much. The Wedding Singer's version sticks largely to the Sandler lyrics while Soul Doctor's is great fun because it has been rewritten to be about Broadway people. You really can't go wrong with either of them, and it is super fun to listen to them back-to-back to hear the differences. Being a Broadway lover, the Soul Doctor lyrics changes probably make it my preferred version, so that's the video I've embedded. Listen to The Wedding Singer version here. Listen to the Soul Doctor version here. 'Drey Dreydele' by the cast of Fiddler on the Roof (in Yiddish), Vol. 21 I don't understand a word of Yiddish, so I can't dive into the lyrics for you (though Google tells me they include 'Bring me bread and bring me wine/We will rejoice and be merry'), but I can tell you that it hasn't stopped me from putting this on my holiday playlists. I love the bouncy, catchy, upbeat nature of this song. I really wanted to share it all with you here but for reasons unknown, it was the only song I couldn't find in full anywhere online. I guess this just means you'll have to buy volume 21 to dance along with it, because I promise you will want to dance with it. It's hard not to be happy when you hear it. 'Deck the Halls, It’s Christmas/Come on Home' by the cast of Motown the Musical, Vol. 15 Charl Brown and Marva Hicks do a great job leading this two-prong song. Charl starts you off with some bouncy music perfect for a party, then Marva brings the hearty emotion. They compliment each other well and the result will make your emotions run the gamut, in the best possible way. Listen here. 'O Tannenbaum' by the cast of Cabaret, Vol. 5 My mother loves Raúl Esparza, so this song (which is basically a solo by him) is always in rotation around Christmas for my family. I admit that when I first heard it, the opening 39 seconds where it is a group opening, I thought it was jarring and wasn't a fan. But, once Raúl comes in and takes over the melody, I love it. Plus, despite the song having a German name, he sings it mostly in English with a bit of Spanish added for wonderful embellishment. Listen here. 'Carol of the Bells' by the cast of Blast, Vol. 3 It's instrumental and it's vibrant and beautiful. Listen here. 'Yule of Rock' by the cast of School of Rock, Vol. 19 This is a speedy romp through the holiday season. It isn't even two minutes long but it packs a punch that makes you want to leap around the room to embrace the fun of it all with childlike glee. Listen here. 'I Saw Three Ships' by the cast of Wicked, Vol. 5 I grew up listening to Sting's rollicking version of this song, but then I heard this slower, more deliberately lyrical interpretation by Idina Menzel and really began to appreciate its beauty. Listen here. 'Siyabonga' by the casts of The Lion King, Vol. 2 'Siyabonga' is led by Isaac Mthethwar and includes not only the titular music, but also a bit of 'Amazing Grace.' It is reverent and moving. The first time I heard it I was struck by the way Mthethwar's voice sounded angelic and soared over the choir so perfectly that it felt like the choir was helping to raise him up. Every time I hear it, no matter what I am doing, I pause to listen to it in its entirety. Listen here. 'Christmas Wrapping' by the cast of Wicked, Vol. 6 My friend Jill is a huge fan of the song 'Christmas Wrapping' but I had never heard the famous (to everyone but me) version by The Waitresses. As a result, when someone mentions this quickly talk-sung song about not really being in the Christmas spirit, my brain conjures this version by a trio of Broadway ladies: Jennifer Laura Thompson, Michelle Federer, and Carole Shelley. Listen here. 'O Chanukah' by the (Off-Broadway) cast of Altar Boyz, Vol. 11 Altar Boyz is an amusing musical about a band whose members are named Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan, and Abraham. In this song, they embrace Abraham's culture and step into the Hanukkah mood by performing this classic song as only a fictional boy band can: with great harmonies and a rhythm you can bop to. Listen here. 'Bring a Little Joy into the World' by the cast of Matilda, Vol. 15 I know a lot of people who don't love winter the way I do. This song is for them. It is all about acknowledging the winter doldrums and doing your best to shine a light into the darkness for yourself and those around you who might be suffering. Listen here. 'Rod's Christmas' by the cast of Avenue Q, Vol. 5 The forever fabulous John Tartaglia (who was Tony nominated for his turn in Avenue Q) performed this entire original number as his musical-loving Q character Rod. It's a joyous sprint through holiday classic lyrics sung over familiar musical theater melodies. I mean, who doesn't love 'The Holly and the Ivy' with a Gypsy twist, for example? Listen here. 'Dominick the Donkey' by the cast of Jersey Boys, Vol. 9 Growing up, despite my Italian heritage, I always thought of 'Dominick the Donkey' as a baseball song and not a Christmas song. It is a staple at Mets games, so that is the connection in my head. I remember thinking, why is Jersey Boys doing a random Italian song? Then I listened -- and I mean, really listened -- to the lyrics for the first time and realized Dominick was the Italian Christmas donkey. So, this version of the song has always been special to me, for the realization and newfound appreciation it sparked. Listen here. 'Jingle Bells' by the cast of Tootsie, Vol. 21 Playing with tempo and style is the name of the game in this short jaunt showing off the voices of Tootsie's Lilli Cooper and Sarah Stiles. The two don't so much battle for supremacy as they do compliment each other with an embracing of fun speed experiments. Listen here. 'Rejoice' by the cast of Mamma Mia, Vol. 15 This song always makes me feel like I'm at a beautiful choral performance, maybe at a Christmas Eve mass. It is uplifting and includes the soaring harmonies you'd expect from a Broadway cast. I have always liked how much it embodies the most positive aspects of the season like a true heralding of the Good News. Listen here. 'Run Rudolph Run' by the cast of Million Dollar Quartet, Vol. 12 A classic bop of a song written by Chuck Berry is given the Million Dollar Quartet treatment by Levi Kreis who brings all the high-octane energy that won him a Tony for playing Jerry Lee Lewis to this recording. If I remember correctly, this used to be an encore at the show during the holiday season, but I could be off on that. No matter how much you love the many other covers of this song that exist, you must give this one a try. The piano playing alone is worth the listen! Listen here.

When I set out on this project of sharing musical theater songs for 365 days in a row, I knew I had to spread out some of my favorite music. If I didn't, I would be digging myself a hole where all of my favorites were used quickly and there would be sections of the year where I was only using enjoyable songs from my second or third tier of preference. Here, days 166 to 172 showcase a cluster of some of those favorites that I'd held back in the early days of this list. I decided to use them now because they were originally tweeted the week of my birthday. The remaining songs here are two off-Broadway productions that I thoroughly enjoyed but did not receive released cast albums and then a mixture of old songs and new. The last group includes some that were either connected in some way ('The Telephone Hour' and 'The Smartphone Hour (Rich Set a Fire)') and others that I just consider to be enjoyable or classics. These songs were originally tweeted between August 7, 2022 and August 21, 2022. 166. 'Goodbye' from Catch Me if You Can (Aaron Tveit as Frank Abagnale, Jr.) Original Broadway Cast (2011) In 'Goodbye,' Frank Abagnale, Jr., played by Aaron Tveit but based on a real-life con artist, talks about leaving that all behind and walking off into the sunset ("There's no more magic up my sleeve/There's no more Ieft to act up here/I'll take my bow and disappear") at the close of the show. I love a good 11 o'clock number and this is one of my favorites. (Catch Me if You Can actually has another powerful ballad I love in it, too, 'Fly, Fly Away') I chose it for two reasons: it is a song I put on when I want to sing along to something strong and powerful and I thought it was amusing to tweet something about leaving things behind on the eve of my birthday. Listen here. 167. 'Run, Freedom, Run' from Urinetown (Jeff McCarthy as Officer Lockstock, Spencer Kayden as Little Sally, Hunter Foster as Bobby, Company) Tony Awards Performance (2002) I planned what song I would use for my birthday well in advance. I wanted something fun and funny and featuring one of my favorite performers. I quickly decided that it would be the perfect time to feature Urinetown, the quick-witted and utterly special musical about what happens when there is such a drought that a company decides to monetize people's ability to use the restroom. Spencer Kayden (as Little Sally in this clip) is a comedic genius who I've always considered the best of the best. While I actually love every song in this show, it was important for me to share something from it that allows people to watch their brilliance in person. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Watch here. 168. 'Back to Before' from Ragtime (Marin Mazzie as Mother) Original Broadway Cast (1998-2000) I believe I've mentioned here multiple times that Marin Mazzie has been a massive influence on me. Her turn as Mother, the turn-of-the-century woman whose world opens up as she realizes there is life outside of her role of wife and mother, was the catalyst for that. In this song, she realizes who she used to be, who she is now, and how the latter can never be the former again. It is one of the most gorgeous female solos of all time and no one has ever done it better. Ragtime cemented her as an icon in my mind and even when, as an adult, I learned the song myself, she was always in my mind. Her voice is undeniably dynamic with infinite layers and she manipulated it masterfully. If this song doesn't move you, I don't know that we could be friends. I will miss seeing hearing her sing live forever. Listen here. 169. 'What Say You Meg?' from The Last Ship (Aaron Lazar as Arthur) Original Broadway Cast (2014-2015) 'What Say You Meg?' makes my heart sigh. The Last Ship, with a score written by Sting, is about a man from a shipbuilding community who has been gone for over a decade and returns to find his beloved Meg (the Meg of the title of this song) has long been with someone else. This stunning ballad doesn't belong to the returning 'hero' of the story, but to the man who has been with Meg in his absence: Arthur, as played by Aaron Lazar. Although Arthur certainly doesn't end up the most sympathetic of characters, this moment of proposing a beautiful future together is touching, wistful, and downright romantic. Listen here. 170. 'It's a Godsend' from Doctor Zhivago (Paul Alexander Nolan as Pasha, Students) Original Broadway Cast (2015) There isn't a lot of upbeat music in Doctor Zhivago. In truth, this may be the most jaunty number in the whole production, and its primarily sung by the character who ends up the story's villain. Paul Alexander Nolan's Pasha may be newly married to the infamous Lara at the center of the plot, but this doesn't stop him from being cynical and mocking, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Indeed, it was the show's highlight for me. Listen here. 171. 'Letters' from Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812 (Company) Original Broadway Cast (2016-2017) You may have figured this out by now, but I am an absolute sucker for period musicals. I like them whether they are done in the style of the era they depict or a have a modern twist. Great Comet falls into the second category and its take on War and Peace is simply brilliant. I had the opportunity to see it twice during its various pre-Broadway runs and then again when it opened on Broadway, and I loved it every time. This song begins by intoning, 'In 19th-century Russia we write letters, we write letters' and that self awareness alone would have hooked me on the production if I wasn't hooked by earlier songs already. It's an intricate song that weaves seamlessly from character to character updating the audience on the thoughts of the various characters all while a continuous, monotonous, and yet compelling, beat makes you start bopping your head in time. I think about this song often, because I love how it embraced the traditional form of communication for conveying information on stage. Listen here. 172. 'Hard to be the Bard' from Something Rotten (Christian Borle as Shakespeare) Broadway.com Music Video (2015) Christian Borle has been one of my favorites since I saw him as Willard in Footloose on Broadway when I was in high school. I've always admired his commitment to his characters, especially when they require being at least a little absurd. His 2015 turn as a version of Shakespeare who has a hilarious number about the difficulties of being famous was exactly the sort of top-notch performance I'd come to expect from him. I remembered when this music video for 'Hard to be the Bard' came out and was happy to find it online to share it with you. Watch here. 173. 'She's So High' from Clueless (Dove Cameron as Cher, Dave Thomas Brown as Josh) Off-Broadway (2018-2019) I am a big Disney fan, and I developed a love of Dove Cameron from watching her as Mal (daughter of Maleficent and Hades) in the Descendants franchise. Because of this, when it was announced that she was going to play Cher in an off-Broadway production of Clueless, featuring pre-existing pop music, I knew I had to go. It was the perfect confluence of an actress I loved being in a musical of a film that was a classic when I was growing up. I went and it didn't disappoint. The show was full of energy and fun and she was spectacular in it. Unfortunately, the world was not treated to a cast recording, but at least there are official clips like the one below that allow us to see bits of it. Watch here. 174. 'The Journey to Us' from Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (Jennifer Damiano as Carol) Off-Broadway (2020) There are two reasons that I had to feature Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice on this list. The first is that as a lifelong die-hard Natalie Wood fan, I absolutely adore the film with its late-1960s look at two couples who consider experimenting with each other. The second is because this stage adaptation (where Jennifer Damiano plays the role originated by Natalie Wood) was the last professional production I saw before the world shut down in 2020. It was an interesting take on the film, and I enjoyed that it was done in an intimate space, with respect for the original material. Watch here. 175. 'It's a Perfect Relationship' from Bells are Ringing (Faith Prince as Ella) Broadway Revival Cast (2001) It may seem like a strange segue, but thinking about a film from the 1960s for Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice for the entry above caused me to recall musicals from the past that I hadn't yet featured. Bells are Ringing is originally from the 1950s and it tells the story of a woman named Ella who works for a telephone answering service. In this song (and I chose the revival version, performed by Faith Prince, because it was the recording I listened to when I was learning the song in high school), which comes early in the musical, Ella talks about the 'perfect relationship.' What this means is that she has decided she's in love with a man she speaks to at work constantly, but he's never seen her and she has never seen him, so he can be whatever she imagines him to be. It's a lovely song about the fun of the unknown and, honestly, you could probably update it today to being about someone you only know via email or social media. Maybe someone will do that one day, if they haven't already. Listen here. 176. 'The Telephone Hour' from Bye Bye Birdie (The Teenagers) Original Broadway Cast (1960-1961) When I was little, I loved to watch the film of Bye Bye Birdie (in which a teen idol, Conrad Birdie, in Elvis-like fashion, must give up his career to join the military) and pretend I was Ann-Margret, dancing around and singing like lovestruck teenager. One of the highlights of that film and its musical counterpart is 'The Telephone Hour' where teenagers embark on an elaborate maze of phone calls spreading the gossip that Kim (Ann-Margret in the film) is now 'going steady' with a boy named Hugo. It perfectly encapsulates teen drama and how networks light up the minute something interesting happens. Listen here. 177. 'The Smartphone Hour (Rich Set a Fire)' from Be More Chill (Tiffany Mann as Jenna, Katlyn Carlson as Chloe, Lauren Marcus as Brooke, Girls) Original Broadway Cast (2019) I had intended to continue this section with songs from classic musical theater, but at this point in my tweeting I was reading the graphic novel Be More Chill. I'd missed the musical when it was in New York but I wanted to know what it was about (it essentially follows the story of a high school student who thinks he needs help from a drug/item called SQUIP that controls how he presents himself in order to be with the girl he wants to date). This process led me to learning about the song 'The Smartphone Hour (Rich Set a Fire)' which is a direct descendant of 'The Telephone Hour' and follows news of a fire spreading through the tech-savvy community. Listening to them back to back, as I hope you will when reading this blog, is a great example of adapting old classics for modern audiences. Listen here. 178. 'Wouldn't It Be Loverly?' from My Fair Lady (Julie Andrews as Eliza) The Ed Sullivan Show (1961) After my brief detour to the modern, I decided to do one more classic musical theater song and, as I have done before, I drew from my singing past. My voice teacher was the first person I ever heard sing this song, when she used to record the music for me to help me learn it. I was a young teen, but I loved learning and singing this one. It had so much more personality than 'I Could Have Danced All Night' (which I also eventually had to learn). I knew that for most people Julie Andrews was the first Eliza they encountered so I decided to share her version even though (and I'm as surprised as you are) I think looking up her version led to the first time I had ever actually heard it. Watch here. 179. 'Someday' from Memphis (Montego Glover as Felicia) Broadway.com Music Video (2011) The year that Memphis won its Tony Award for Best Musical, it will surprise no one to hear that I was pulling for American Idiot. However, my allegiance to that production doesn't mean that I didn't appreciate some things about the show that won. I thought the song 'Memphis Lives in Me' was wonderful and I was entranced by Montego Glover as Felicia. When I remembered that a music video of Montego singing 'Someday' had been released, I knew I had to share it. It felt obvious to me that music video created for a musical about a woman who becomes a famous singer (singing this song!) was the perfect choice for this entry. Watch here. 180. 'Keep on Standing' from Rocky (Andy Karl as Rocky) Original Broadway Cast (2014) Rocky is one of those shows that I wish more people got to experience live. I had no attachment to the film (I don't think I've ever actually seen it in full) but the stage production was an epic visual experience. When it came time for the big fight, the boxing ring came out over the audience, requiring those sitting the closest to move. It was a phenomenal piece of theater, but due to such focus on the visuals the music was, I think, somewhat ignored. This was my chance to shine a light on it, even if it's just for a minute. Listen here.

Ever since I did batch of songs as part of this adventure that were Disney themed, I had pondered doing another theme. Finally, it came to me. It's easy to dismiss 'jukebox musicals' -- that is, musicals that utilize pre-existing music by one or more artists. They're often seen as lazy and/or uncreative, and I when I had featured a few before now (like my beloved American Idiot), I wondered if those following along with me thought I wasn't using 'legitimate' songs. Ultimately, though I decided it was a good idea to include these shows. Why? Because no matter how good a song might sound on the radio, it will be different on stage. Adapting a song for Broadway can include creating new orchestrations, casting singers different than the original artist, and morphing a stand-alone number into one that serves a plot. Not every jukebox musical featured in this selection will have been a hit, but they are (to me) a good representation of decidedly non-theater songs that have made it to the stage. I hope they give you a new perspective on some music you might know from the radio. These songs were originally tweeted from July 23, 2022 to August 6, 2022. 151. Medley: 'Get Ready'/'Dancing in the Street'/'I Want You Back'/'The Love You Save' from Motown (Company) Tony Awards Performance (2013) This medley from the 2013 Tony Awards does a great job of showing you what it was like to see Motown, the jukebox musical centered on the creation and development of the famous record label of the same name. It was a celebration of phenomenally catchy music by incredibly talented artists and the performers challenging these figures from music history truly embodied them to where you felt like you were watching the original people. The show contained a dizzying number of songs from the label's catalog so a lot of them don't get featured in their full form (see my comments on Rock of Ages below to find out how I feel about that trend) but the music and energy are infectious and you won't regret taking the time to watch this performance. Watch here. 152. 'Believe' from The Cher Show (Stephanie J. Block as Star, Teal Wicks as Lady, and Michaela Diamond as Babe, Company) Tony Awards Performance (2019) Stephanie J. Block is a powerhouse musical theater performer and I was so happy for her when she finally won a Tony Award, which happened for her turn in The Cher Show. I wasn't able to see the production, but I have certainly listened to it, and her interpretation of the legendary singer was fabulous. As she did with Liza in The Boy from Oz (which I featured earlier in this series), Block slays depicting a famous performer without making it a cartoon or mockery. I chose this clip entirely because 'Believe' is one of my favorite Cher songs. Watch here. 153. 'Pleasant Valley Sunday' from Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Sara King as Marilyn Wald, Jake Epstein as Gerry Goffin, Ensemble) Original Broadway Cast (2014-2019) I'm a die-hard Monkees fan, and have been since I was little, but I always knew they didn't write the fabulous 'Pleasant Valley Sunday' and I was thrilled that it was included in Beautiful. It was great not only to see a dramatization of the song's creation but also to hear a woman sing it--in fact, I distinctly remember thinking, 'this is what I've always wanted to do, sing Monkees songs, and now I know what it could sound like in a woman's voice.' Listen here. 154. 'I've Been Everywhere' from Ring of Fire (Company) Original Broadway Cast (2006) Ring of Fire took the music of Johnny Cash and gave it to a talented ensemble that had no character names. The core of it was performed by three pairs (one man and one woman each) depicting life at three stages: youth, mid-life, and old age. However, at the start of Act II is the number I remember most vividly. The full cast (including the super fabulous Randy Redd, who I would later have as a teacher) joined together for 'I've Been Everywhere,' playing guitars and sharing the spotlight to showcase what an ensemble the production really was. Although I couldn't find an official video of it, you can at least listen here. 155. 'Jailhouse Rock' from All Shook Up (Cheyenne Jackson as Chad, Prisoners) Original Broadway Cast (2005) If you're a regular reader of this blog, you know I love Cheyenne Jackson. He's featured in several of my selections because of the appreciation I've developed for him. However, I have a confession, I did not love All Shook Up. I thought everyone sounded great, but the show ultimately left me cold. In fact, my biggest memory of it is the feeling of the balcony shaking from the thunderous applause on opening night, not even the show itself. That said, my second biggest memory is enjoying Cheyenne and the ensemble's performance of 'Jailhouse Rock', so of course, that's what I've chosen. I hope you find the recording of this number as fun as I did. Listen here. 156. 'Fun, Fun, Fun'/'Little Honda'/'Help Me, Rhonda'/'Surfin' USA' from Good Vibrations (Tituss Burgess as Eddie, David Larsen as Bobby, Brandon Wardell as Dave, Ensemble) The View (2005) I don't think anyone loved Good Vibrations as much as my father. He could have watched this musical based on the music of the Beach Boys every day and been perfectly happy with his life. However, the rest of the theater-going world didn't seem to share his delight. The show ran just under 100 performances before closing without a cast recording. I remember it being a bit on the cheesy side, but also enjoying the wonderful harmonies and simple fun of it all, so I was excited to find this medley from when the cast performed on The View. While my father loved it because of it bringing some of his favorite music to the stage, for me the biggest highlight was that it introduced me to the fabulous voice of Tituss Burgess, who features on this list multiple times as a result of the appreciation of his sound that I developed from this show. Watch here. 157. 'Reach' from On Your Feet! (Company) Original Broadway Cast (2015-2017) In 1996, Gloria Estefan sang 'Reach' at the Atlanta Olympics and I became obsessed with the song. To this day, whenever I listen to it I am transported to that time. When the musical based on her life came to Broadway it was the one song that I hoped would be included. In the show, though, the Gloria character didn't sing it. It was reimagined as a company solo performed at the time when Gloria was recovering from severe health problems. It was sentimental in a wholly different way from how I was used to, but I appreciated it, and so I chose it. Listen here. 158. 'See You Later, Alligator' from Million Dollar Quartet (Levi Kreis as Jerry Lee Lewis) Original Broadway Cast (2010-2011) Million Dollar Quartet is about a specific night in music history when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis recorded together at Sun Studios. It's a dramatization of course, but the production made the audience feel like a fly on the wall during that 1956 session with great impact. Although I felt like the whole cast was great, I could not take my eyes off of Levi Kreis. He was pure energy and so although I could've used a group number, I needed to feature Levi, because his performance is the one that has stuck with me the most. Listen here. 159. 'Heaven'/'More Than Words'/'To Be With You' from Rock of Ages (Amy Spanger as Sherie, Constantine Maroulis as Drew, Savannah Wise, Ensemble) Original Broadway Cast (2009-2015) One of my biggest peeves with jukebox musicals is when they give you a list of awesome songs that are included in the show and then each one is only a snippet, as was the case with much of Rock of Ages. As the increasingly inebriated audience around me cheered their faces off, I sulked. So, you get this medley because I was stoked to hear 'To Be With You' and then this was all I got of it. Listen here. 160. 'Walk Like a Man' from Jersey Boys (John Lloyd Young as Frankie Valli, J. Robert Spencer as Nick Massi, Daniel Reichard as Bob Gaudio, Christian Hoff as Tommy DeVito) Original Broadway Cast (2005-2017) My primary memory from when I saw Jersey Boys early in its run was being shocked by the reaction of the audience. Never before had I seen people scream and stand up and dance at a Broadway musical as if it was a true concert. I even recall thinking, 'do these people realize these actors aren't the real Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons?' It was surreal, and a tribute to the performers that they made audience members feel so thoroughly like they were seeing the real thing. I chose 'Walk Like a Man' to represent this show because it has my favorite falsetto musical line of all their music. Listen here. 161. Medley: 'Ain't Too Proud to Beg' / 'Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)' / 'I Can't Get Next to You' from Ain't Too Proud (Derrick Baskin, James Harkness, Jawan M. Jackson, Jeremy Pope, and Ephraim Sykes as The Temptations, Company) Tony Awards Performance (2019) Thinking of Jersey Boys immediately led me to thinking about Ain't Too Proud. I very much wanted to see this show about The Temptations but unfortunately was never able to. However, I loved their Tony Awards performance (the voices! the choreography!) so I chose that so you can see it, too. Watch here. 162. 'Water No Get Enemy' from Fela! (Sahr Ngaujah as Fela, Saycon Sengbloh as Sandra, Company) Original Broadway Cast (2009-2011) Fela! explores the life and music of Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, whose name I admit was not familiar to me before this production. When I attended, although I didn't know enough to consider the veracity of the story it depicted, I was completely impressed by the strength of the tone and enveloping nature of the production. It blended Fela's musical life and the political climate of Nigeria in the 1970s, making the show feel like both a concert and a partial biopic. 'Water No Get Enemy' is a great example of what it felt like to watch the production and I am glad it has an official video. Watch here. 163. 'Material Girl' from Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Nick Adams as Felicia, The Boys) Original Broadway Cast (2011-2012) It took several years for the stage production of the film Priscilla, Queen of the Desert to make it to New York after it debuted in Australia, but when it did many of my friends were ready. They either loved the original movie or what they had heard about the stage production (which used a wide array of pop music). It didn't resonate with me like it did with them (and I found the much-discussed 'Pop Muzik' scene a little gross), but I am always up for some 'Material Girl,' so you for this entry you get Nick Adams performing it. Listen here. 164. 'Duke of Earl' from Baby It's You (Geno Henderson as Gene Chandler, Christina Sajous as Shirley, Erica Ash as Micki, Kyra Da Costa as Beverly, and Crystal Starr Knighton as Doris) Original Broadway Cast (2011) At the center of Baby It's You is the story of Florence Greenberg, her record label (Scepter), and the phenomenal girl group The Shirelles. However, it also featured other popular artists and songs from the 1960s, and I have always had a serious weakness for the song 'Duke of Earl.' I thought Geno Henderson did a hell of a job as Gene Chandler singing this signature number and could not help but pick it as the song to represent this show. Also, I will not lie: I listened to it four times in a row before I posted it, that's how much I enjoy it. Listen here. 165. 'Murder in the City' from Swept Away (Stark Sands and Adrian Blake Enscoe) World Premiere Preview (2021) I was so excited when I learned that Stark Sands (one of my absolute favorites) was going to be part of a new musical featuring the music of the Avett Brothers and based on a historical event (the 19th-century sinking of a whaling shop). It felt like it was made for me, only first COVID postponed it and then when it finally did happen, I wasn't feeling safe enough to travel across the country to California to see it. I was incredibly disappointed. When the production released this video of Stark and his castmate Adrian Blake Enscoe singing 'Murder in the City' from the show, my desire to see it grew as did my sadness that I wouldn't get to. I had to include it here because I appreciate it so much and still hope that one day this cast will do the show on the east coast. Watch here.

This section of songs from my ongoing musical theater adventure includes the poignant ('It Would Have Been Wonderful') and the silly ('As We Stumble Along') It also has both the traditional ('Summertime') and the modern ('Always Starting Over.') I tried to come up with a coherent theme that I could talk about, but the fact is this group is as varied as my taste. I can say though, that this entry includes both what I think is Will Chase's most underrated solo and my nomination for Idina Menzel's best vocal performance. I hope you enjoy them all. These songs were originally tweeted from July 8, 2022 to July 22, 2022. 136. 'It Would Have Been Wonderful' from Annie Warbucks (Marguerite MacIntyre as Grace) Original Cast Recording (1993) I was never a fan of the musical Annie and probably as a result of this, I barely registered that a sequel musical existed. Then, during a musical theater class, I heard this song for the first time, and I was struck by how beautiful it was. It's a plaintive song about what might have been, and it could work in any context, so I think it's one that more people should pull out for use in concerts or auditions. Listen here. 137. 'Always Starting Over' from If/Then (Idina Menzel as Liz) Original Broadway Cast (2014-2015) If/Then is an ambitious musical that follows a character named Elizabeth down two potential roads in her life (one where she is called 'Liz' and one where she is called 'Beth'.) In 'Always Starting Over' the Liz version of her character confronts the perpetual changes life throws at you (including, specifically, the death of a loved one) and how difficult it can be to constantly feel like you have to restart and rebuild. As the song reaches its crescendo, I always get swept up in it and I would argue that 3:40 to the end of the song is Idina Menzel's best on-stage vocal performance ever. Yes, I know that is a big thing to say, but there it is, I said it. Watch here. 138. 'The Butterfly' from The Story of My Life (Will Chase as Thomas) Goodspeed version (2008) The Story of My Life didn't last long when it came to Broadway, which I found disappointing. In particular, I felt this way because of Will Chase's wonderful turn as Thomas, and his performance of this song, 'The Butterfly.' In it, Will's Thomas is sharing a story that he wrote for his college application. It tells the story of a butterfly who muses that it is, "Trivial and small/And, in the greater scheme of things/I don't mean much at all" but that doesn't turn out to be the case. It learns that the motion of its wings impacts the movement of the air and, as such, has a great impact on everything else. Ultimately the butterfly realizes that there are a lot of ways to bring change to the world and gets to realize its dreams. It's sweet, and I am love few things as much as I love story songs, so I was excited to share it. The version here is from the pre-Broadway run, because I was happy to find a proper video of the song in context. Watch here. 139. 'Along the Way' from Edges (Aaron Tveit) Zipper Concert (2008) If you are ever looking for a song that is simple and silly and bound to make you smile, turn to 'Along the Way.' I remember back in 2008 when I first saw this performance of it by Aaron Tveit on YouTube. I couldn't believe he was singing about the unfortunate fate of Jorge, his grade school class' pet, as a way of talking about how mistakes/bad things will happen, but life goes on. Then, when the song concluded, I couldn't stop thinking about it and humming it to myself. Now, I'm sharing its oddball delight with you. Watch here. 140. 'Don't Rain on My Parade' from Funny Girl (Linda Eder) Linda Eder: Greatest Hits (2007) The current Broadway production of Funny Girl has been caught in a tornado of drama almost from the moment it opened. It had me thinking about the famous belt-tastic anthem 'Don't Rain on My Parade' and I realized that my favorite version of it actually came from Linda Eder. Her power and command fill me with joy. Listen here. 141. 'City Lights' from The Act (Liza Minnelli as Michelle Craig) Tony Awards Performance (1978) Thinking about 'Don't Rain on My Parade' led me to thinking about belting in general. When I was first learning how to belt in my early 20s, my amazing voice teacher handed me the sheet music to 'City Lights' to work on. I hadn't realized that it was a song that Liza Minnelli sang in a role that won her a Tony. However, as soon as I found it, I understood why. Watch her hold the audience in the palm of her hand as a once-famous star now trying to make it in Vegas. Watch here. 142. 'Madame Guillotine' from The Scarlet Pimpernel (Company) Original Broadway Cast (1997-2000) July 14th is France's National Day (also known as Bastille Day) and so I wanted to celebrate it by showcasing a musical that was extremely influential in developing my love of French history. Based on a novel, The Scarlet Pimpernel tells the story of an English man's secret life rescuing French people from the possibility of death during the French Revolution of the late 1700s. Although it is a very serious topic, the stage production expertly balanced humor and drama, and used stunningly beautiful music to do so. It did, however, also go through many incarnations. The one I'm using here is the original Broadway production, known as version 1.0. Although I also saw several of the revised versions, none will ever hit my heart the way the original still does. I considered many songs for this tweet, because the truth is it is one of the rare cast albums where I never feel like I have to skip a track, but I went with 'Madame Guillotine' because it sets the tone for the musical in the show itself, and is a great introductory song. Listen to it to feel like you have been pushed back in time to a period of infamous unrest with a song that will draw you in immediately. Listen here. 143. 'Save the People' from Godspell (Hunter Parrish as Jesus and Company) Broadway Revival Cast (2011-2012) I didn't know who Hunter Parrish was before the 2011 revival of Godspell but as soon as I heard him lead 'Save the People' I knew it was my favorite version of the song. His light but passionate touch on lyrics asking 'When wilt thou save the people?/ Oh God of mercy, when?" is exactly what I feel like the song needs. Watch here. 144. 'As We Stumble Along' from The Drowsy Chaperone (Beth Leavel as the Drowsy Chaperone) Original Broadway Cast (2006-2007) The Drowsy Chaperone is a true love letter to musical theater and its fans. Narrated by a character known only as Man in Chair, sharing his favorite musical (a fictional one called The Drowsy Chaperone, said to be from the 1920s) with the audience. As the musical unfolds, Man in Chair shares anecdotes about both the show itself and the drama behind the scenes. In 'As We Stumble Along,' the character of the Drowsy Chaperone has her giant anthem moment, which we are told was put in the show at the insistence of the actress who played the character. It is a show-within-a-show scenario along the lines of Kiss Me, Kate, and with just as much entertainment to be enjoyed. There are a number of great songs in this show, but I've always particularly appreciated Beth Leavel playing a fictional actress playing a fictional character known for her alcohol-fueled power number. Listen here. 145. ‘An Old-Fashioned Wedding' from Annie Get Your Gun (Bernadette Peters as Annie Oakley and Tom Wopat as Frank Butler) Broadway Revival Cast (1999-2001) One of my favorite Young Theatergoer memories was seeing Bernadette Peters on stage for the first time as she squared off against Tom Wopat in this classic show. She was sassy, she was funny, and she owned the stage. 'Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better' is the standard song pulled from this show because, well, it's an awesome example of one-upmanship. However, for me, the real fun has always been in 'An Old-Fashioned Wedding' where Annie and Frank go all out to let us know what they envision--and how different they still are. Bernadette's Annie energy is contagious and I can't hear this song without dancing around. Listen here. 146. 'Love You Till the Day' from It Shoulda Been You (Montego Glover as Annie and Nick Spangler as Greg) Original Broadway Cast (2015) It Shoulda Been You is a comedic musical set at a wedding where nothing is what it seems. My favorite part of it was seeing Montego Glover on stage again. I had loved her in Memphis and I continued to find her to be a delight here, so I decided to feature this duet. In it, her character (Annie) and Nick Spangler's character (Greg) perform the song at a wedding but it serves as a secret message for their respective secret love interests. You won't find any spoilers more than that from me, but you can definitely listen here. 147. 'Summertime' from The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess (Audra McDonald as Bess) The Rosie Show (2012) There are certain songs that live at the core of the awareness of a classical soprano, and one of those is 'Summertime.' Its soaring high notes and its evocative lyrics (my personal favorite is the figurative language around spreading one's wings and taking to the sky) not only establish the connection between a mother and her baby to set the stage at the top of the production, but are also perfect to be performed in concerts and cabarets. Although I knew the song for many years, Audra McDonald's turn as Bess was the first time I saw the song performed in context. It is beautiful and has become the defining version in my mind. Watch here. 148. 'On Broadway' from Smokey Joe's Cafe (Adrian Bailey, Frederick B. Owens, Ken Ard, and Victor Trent Cook) Tony Awards Performance (1995) I was thinking a lot about classic songs during the second half of this section, and there aren't many that are more classic than 'On Broadway.' Smokey Joe's Cafe was a revue that I always wished I got to see in person, but I have only ever seen the filmed version--and this Tony Awards performance. The joy, swagger, and smoothness on display here mixed with that perfect blend of voices makes it a must-enjoy. Watch here. 149. 'Turkey Lurkey Time' from Promises, Promises (Donna McKechnie as Vivien Della Hoya, Margo Sappington as Miss Polanski, Baayork Lee as Miss Wong, Company) Tony Awards Performance (1969) When I was growing up (and I like to think it is still the same way now) you would've lost your membership in the League of Musical Theater Fans (not a real thing) if you didn't know 'Turkey Lurkey Time.' It is simultaneously one of the dumbest songs to regularly appear on stage and one of the best choreographed. The head bops alone should make you a fan of these fabulous dancers. Watch here. 150. 'Oom-Pah-Pah' from Oliver! (Sally Dexter as Nancy, Company) London Palladium Cast Recording (1994) There are lots of songs from Oliver! that are famous, perhaps none more so than Nancy's 'As Long As He Needs Me.' However, I was in a peppy mood after the pure fun that was 'Turkey Lurkey Time,' so I went with a song that I actually enjoy more than 'As Long As He Needs Me.' 'Oom-Pah-Pah' is a rousing number Nancy sings with the tavern patrons before her life turns extremely dark and it always makes me want to dance with abandon. Listen here.

The majority of this entry is my ode to Disney on Broadway, which began at the tail end of my last entry with The Little Mermaid. I did this to coincide with my Walt Disney World vacation, and I thoroughly enjoyed choosing a song from all the various Disney musicals that made it to Broadway. After that, it is back to our regularly scheduled programming, featuring shows both old (Damn Yankees, Mack & Mabel) and more recent (The Addams Family, Diana) but all more than worth a listen. These songs were originally tweeted between June 23, 2022 and July 7, 2022. 121. 'If I Can't Love Her' from Beauty and the Beast (Terrence Mann as the Beast) Original Broadway Cast (1994-2007) It is hard for me to contain writing about Beauty and the Beast, and the song 'If I Can't Love Her' specifically, because I am so emotionally attached to it. The film was never my favorite despite Belle seeming like she should be my favorite Disney Princess on paper. However, in 1995, my father took me to see my first Broadway show, and this was it. I found the songs that were added to the stage production but weren't in the film (like 'Me') to be the most interesting, but it wasn't until 'If I Can't Love Her' that I fell in love with Broadway theater. By the time I saw it, Terrence Mann was no longer in it, so my Beast was the also amazing Jeff McCarthy. I will never forget sitting in the right orchestra and staring up at him in awe as he commanded the stage with just his presence and his voice and humanized a character I never liked by ending Act I with this extreme moment of powerful vulnerability. I don't care how old I get, no musical moment will ever be as purely influential on me as that one. As a side note, if you pay attention, you can hear the instrumental version of it play in the lobby of the Be Our Guest restaurant in Disney World's Magic Kingdom, and you can recognize the melody was sped up for the theme song of the television series Galavant. All that said, I'm still upset that it wasn't included in the semi-recent live action Beauty and the Beast film, and to me, the only acceptable version of the story is one that includes the song that solidified my love of Broadway. If there is such a thing as a perfect song, to me, 'If I Can't Love Her' is one. Listen here. 122. 'Let it Go' from Frozen (Caissie Levy as Elsa) Original Broadway Cast (2018-2020) I am a sucker for Elsa, and I am also a sucker for Bobby Lopez music (here, of course, he was writing with his wife, Kristen Anderson-Lopez), so of course, by extension, I love 'Let it Go.' I could listen to it and sing it all day long. Caissie Levy's Elsa was elegant and fierce (everything I hoped she would be!) and each time I saw her perform this famous number she brought down the house. As much as I enjoy the rest of the score, I couldn't imagine using a different song to represent Frozen. Listen here. 123. 'Waiting for this Moment' from Tarzan (Jenn Gambatese as Jane) Original Broadway Cast (2006-2007) I've always believed that the music for the Tarzan film is Disney's most underrated, and the score only got better when it was enhanced for the stage. Among the additions was this brilliant song for Jane where she begins naming everything she sees because is finally living out her dream of seeing all the things she studied in real life. It is a number bursting with energy and excitement and has driving percussion that makes you want to dance to it. It's always in my Top Ten List for female solos, and honestly, there were a few times before now that I wanted to use this song, but I knew I'd be going to Disney World and forced myself to keep it for this stretch. I hope you all love it as much as I do, it really needs more appreciation. Listen here. 124. 'The Circle of Life' from The Lion King (Tshidi Manye as Rafiki + Company) Tony Awards Performance (2008) Yes, 'The Circle of Life' is probably the most famous song from The Lion King's stage production, because it is where we get swept up in this world created by performance magic and top tier craftsmanship, so I could have gone in another direction. However, in 2008 when The Lion King performed that number at the Tony Awards, I was there in the audience. I think it made a bigger impact on me in that moment than it did when I saw it in its home theater, because I was struck by their ability to transfer the number to such a different venue. So, to represent The Lion King I didn't even choose to go with the original cast recording, I went with this specific Tony Awards performance because I wanted everyone to see it, and because I remember it so well. Watch here. 125. 'Proud of Your Boy' from Aladdin (Adam Jacobs as Aladdin) In Studio With Alan Menken from "Aladdin" Original Broadway Cast Recording (2014) The first time I heard 'Proud of Your Boy' was through John Barrowman singing it on one of his solo albums. There are a great many wonderful songs in Aladdin, and my favorite from the film has always been 'Prince Ali', but when it came to the stage production, I was so pleased to see 'Proud of Your Boy' was included that I had to showcase it over one of the flashier numbers. Watch here. 126. 'Watch What Happens' from Newsies (Kara Lindsay as Katherine) Original Broadway Cast (2012-2014) The 1992 film of Newsies is, without question, my favorite film of all time. I don't have similar affection for the stage production. In fact, so deep is my love of the film, that it is hard for me to find much that I like about the choices made for the adaptation, except this song. I don't even like that the character of Katherine was inserted into the story, but I can't help but appreciate 'Watch What Happens.' It is peppy and speedy and determined and a lot of fun. I particularly like vocal line on the lyrics, 'Give those kids and me the brand new century and watch what happens.' Listen here. 127. 'Step in Time' from Mary Poppins (Gavin Lee as Bert, Ashley Brown as Mary Poppins + Company) Disney on Broadway (2009) Mary Poppins was never a movie that I loved to the level lots of people I knew did, but the stage version was so beautiful that it moved me more than the film every did. In particular, I loved watching Gavin Lee as Bert and his performance in 'Step in Time' made me gasp with excitement every time. It is something you absolutely MUST watch. Just trust me on it. Watch here. 128. 'Easy as Life' from Aida (Heather Headley as Aida) Original Broadway Cast (2000-2004) This was the last day of my amazing Disney World trip. I have a group of friends who absolutely love this show and I considered asking them which song I should choose, since I only saw it once and they saw it many times, but then I decided that I didn't need to. 'Easy as Life' is moving and haunting and Heather Headley sings the hell out of it, ,plus she'd been on my mind because I love her in the show Sweet Magnolias. I saw Aida late in the run and I always wished that I'd seen her, but at least there's always the cast recording. Listen here. 129. 'Underestimated' from Diana (Jeanna de Waal as Diana, Company) Original Broadway Cast (2020, 2021) July 1st was the birthdate of Diana, Princess of Wales, and since I love studying the Royal Family, I wanted to mark it with a song from the recent musical about her life. Although I was not certain how I would feel when I entered the theater (and it was the last Broadway show I saw before the pandemic shutdown) I thoroughly enjoyed this interpretation of her world. In particular, I thought 'Underestimated' was a beautiful song that does a wonderful job of setting the tone for a story about Diana's life. In fact, I like it so much that I have a pen from the show that says 'Underestimated' on the side, and it makes me happy. Listen here. 130. 'Pulled' from The Addams Family (Krysta Rodriguez as Wednesday) Original Broadway Cast (2010-2011) My dear friend Jill is a major Krysta Rodriquez fan and I spent much of my childhood being called 'Wednesday Addams' due to my pale skin, dark hair, and cheerful (ha!) demeanor. I also enjoy singing this song, which centers on Wednesday feeling like her whole world is changing because she's enjoying the stereotypically happy things she always used to shun. Listen here. 131. 'A Man Doesn't Know' from Damn Yankees (Jarrod Emick as Joe Hardy, Linda Stephens as Meg Boyd) Broadway Cast (1994-1995) I had seen quite a few unfortunately-done amateur productions of Damn Yankees that made me sigh at the idea of ever seeing it again. Then, in 2008, Encores! did a production that starred Cheyenne Jackson, Jane Krakowski, Sean Hayes, and Randy Graff. I had to go. I am glad I did. It felt like I was seeing the show for the first time. I was swept away by the tale of an older man who makes a bargain that puts his soul in peril so that he can be a young, successful baseball player, and in particular was attached to songs like 'A Man Doesn't Know', 'Near to You', and 'Two Lost Souls.' I ended up seeing it multiple times and loving it more each one. Unfortunately, that production did not release an official recording. So, I turned to the internet and began to listen to the mid-1990s Broadway revival, and as a fan of Jarrod Emick's voice from other shows, it was natural for this to become my favorite recording, which is why I selected it to showcase Damn Yankees. Listen here. 132. 'Somebody's Eyes' from Footloose (Stacy Francis as Rusty, Rosalind Brown as Wendy Jo, Kathy Deitch as Urleen + Company) Original Broadway Cast (1998-2000) Footloose opened on Broadway at the perfect time for High School Me to fall in love with it. Most notably, at the time I saw it, Christian Borle was in it as the humorous sidekick, Willard, and I immediately became a fan. I listened to the cast recording so frequently that it made it difficult for me to choose which song to share. I considered Willard's big song ('Mama Says') and Ren's early solo number ('I Can't Stand Still') and the excellent 'Let's Here it for the Boy', but I kept thinking about the delightful trio of Rusty, Wendy Jo, and Urleen leading 'Somebody's Eyes'--a song about how in a small town, everyone knows what you're doing, so that is the one I opted to showcase. Listen here. 133. 'Here I Am' from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Sherie Rene Scott as Christine Colgate, Ensemble) Original Broadway Cast (2005-2006) It's not every day that I get a spunky, fun Christine character to love. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels may center on a pair of scheming men (played admirably by John Lithgow and Norbert Leo Butz), but Christine Colgate (played by Sherie Rene Scott) had this fabulous number that I loved to listen to, and sing. It's fun and funny and over-the-top jubilant as she celebrates her arrival in the French Riviera. It always puts me in a happy mood and I listen to it every time I travel to France. Listen here. 134. 'Shy' from Once Upon a Mattress (Carol Burnett as Princess Winnifred) Original Broadway Cast (1959-1960) After 'Here I Am', I wanted to keep the bouncy, fun times rolling, and 'Shy' popped into my head. The first time I engaged with the comedic riff on The Princess and the Pea that is Once Upon a Mattress, was when Sarah Jessica Parker performed 'Shy' at the Tony Awards in the late 1990s. I thought it was as funny as could be. At this same time, a grade school classmate of mine had developed a major obsession with Carol Burnett, which caused me to look up the Original Broadway Cast Recording, so that I could hear her rendition of the song. 'Shy' is a classic case of someone protesting too much. The more the Princess Winnifred character claims how shy she is, the louder and more outrageous her performance becomes, assuring you that she is not shy in the slightest. It's a great number for anyone looking to work on their comedic timing and a ton of fun. I debated about which version to use for this an ultimately chose Carol Burnett (who I like to call An American Treasure), but in my opinion both she and Sarah Jessica Parker owned the song. Listen here. 135. 'I Won't Send Roses' from Mack & Mabel (Brian Stokes Mitchell) Broadway.com/Plays With Music (2019) This one is a strong departure from the joy of the last two days. Many years ago a friend and I were collaborating on a short story about a couple where the boyfriend had convinced himself he could not be the things the girlfriend needed him to be, although he already was them. Not long after, my friend sent me a recording of this song (it was so long ago that I don't remember the performer) because it reminded her of that story we'd written. It's was the first time I engaged with Mack & Mabel in any way, and I found it to be a heartbreakingly lovely song from a show that did truly have echoes of what we wrote but in a very different setting and with a vastly different tone. I knew I wanted to include it here, and of course as soon as I watched this version from Brian Stokes Mitchell, I had to use it. Watch here.

This installment of my 365 Days of Musical Theater Series marks the first time I started to lean into themes. The majority of the songs featured in this batch are of the older variety, many of which I first heard during my high school years. Once I used 'Madeleine' for song #105, my mind continued to conjure up songs that originated earlier than recent memory. You'll see what popped into my head at the top of the list below. The tail end of this begins my first intentionally curated songs. I spent two weeks from mid-June to the start of July on a road trip/vacation to Walt Disney World. Here, you will find the songs I chose to go along with the legs of my drive down and arrival in the Happiest Place on Earth. My next entry will cover my time Walt Disney World and the drive home. As always, all of these songs are ones I find enjoyable and hope you do, too. These songs were originally tweeted between June 8, 2022 and June 22, 2022. 106. 'Everybody Likes You' from Carnival! (Jerry Orbach as Paul) Original Broadway Cast (1961) I first encountered Carnival! when it was chosen as the musical for my high school in the early 2000s (I was not in it). It's a strange little show about a girl named Lili who becomes part of a carnival. Among the employees, is a puppeteer named Paul who makes his puppets thrill audiences with delight while struggling with depression and bitterness exacerbated by becoming disabled through injury. In this song, Paul (as played by Jerry Orbach) contemplates how unhappy and unliked he is in comparison with the puppets audiences--and Lili--love so much. It's not a song you hear too often, but it is one I have always appreciated. Listen here. 107. 'Masquerade' from The Phantom of the Opera (Company) The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall (2011) There are a lot of famous songs in The Phantom of the Opera, but coming off of the sadness of my selection from Carnival!, I wanted something big and splendid and majestic. As a result, I chose 'Masquerade' because it checks those boxes as well as also being associated with high school in my mind, because we sang it in choir. Put on your favorite costume and sing along. Watch here. 108. 'Everybody Says Don't' from Anyone Can Whistle (Jenn Colella) MCC Miscast (2017) The plot of Anyone Can Whistle centers around a town where a faux miracle is hyped in order to draw money to a town that is suffering from economic woes, and in the show 'Everybody Says Don't' is traditionally performed by a male character...but you know I love when someone who wouldn't usually sing a song takes it on and slays it. Well, Jenn Colella is a force of nature, 'Everybody Says Don't' is a fast-paced number that can serve as a call to arms for going against the grain and works extremely well out of context, and the combination of the two is a home run you need to watch. Watch here. 109. 'Falling in Love with Love' from The Boys from Syracuse (Rebecca Luker) My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies (1998) As with others in this adventure, 'Falling in Love with Love' from The Boys from Syracuse (based on Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors) is a song I sang regularly when I was first training as a soprano in my early teens. I particularly loved singing the opening section of this song, with its delicate underscore, and the soaring traditional soprano sound it showcased. This version, by the forever-missed Rebecca Luker, was my favorite, so it was the one I chose. Watch here. 110. ‘Bidin' My Time' from Crazy for You (The Manhattan Rhythm Kings as the Cowboy Trio) Original Broadway Cast (1992-1996) My freshman year of high school, I was introduced to Crazy for You when my friend was in the pit for the school's production of the show that is filled with Gershwin classics. While there are some extraordinary numbers in it (like 'Slap That Bass'), my friend and I always liked to sing the languid 'Bidin' My Time' to each other, both in its original form and the French version that comes later in the show. Is it deep or moving or a scene stealing act ender? Not in the slightest, but it is a small bit of comedy that has always stayed with me because, to this day, when I'm sitting around feeling lazy, this song comes to mind. Listen here. 111. 'Johanna' from Sweeney Todd (Benjamin Magnuson as Anthony) Broadway Revival Cast (2005-2006) There are multiple versions of the song 'Johanna' in Sweeney Todd. The first, and most famous, is features the character of Anthony vowing to be with the woman who fascinates him. The second, and most disturbing (in truth, it is very high on my Most Disturbing Musical Songs List, likely at #2) involves Judge Turpin flagellating himself while he thinks about his obsessive lust for the girl. The third is a quartet featuring the titular Sweeney Todd, Anthony, Johanna herself, and a beggar woman. All three are extraordinary and should be appreciated. However, for this list, I went with the first version of the song, because I wanted to showcase Benjamin Magnusson's vocals, which always send a shiver down my spine. Listen here. 112. 'Forget About the Boy' from Thoroughly Modern Millie (Tony Yazbeck, Eddie Korbich, ensemble) Broadway Backwards (2016) 'Forget About the Boy' was always a popular song from the musical Thoroughly Modern Millie, and why wouldn't it be? It's catchy and features some really fun dancing with a sentiment that is incredibly similar to South Pacific's 'I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair'. As we've established though, I love seeing these songs done in a new/nontraditional way, and much like Jenn Colella's 'Everybody Says Don't', Tony Yazbeck taking on 'Forget About the Boy' left me grinning from ear to ear. Watch here. 113. 'The Simple Joys of Maidenhood' from Camelot (Julie Andrews as Guenevere) Original Broadway Cast (1960-1963) 'The Simple Joys of Maidenhood' was one of the songs my voice teacher assigned to me when I was a young teen learning technique and interpretation. My first memories of it aren't of Julie Andrews singing it, but of my teacher recording herself singing it on cassette tape for me. It's a sweet number where the future queen, Guenevere, prays to St. Genevieve because she is unhappy with her (arranged marriage) fate and longs for, well, the simple joys of maidenhood--like men fighting for her hand. Listen here. 114. ‘Waving Through a Window' from Dear Evan Hansen (Ben Platt as Evan Hansen) Original Broadway Cast (2016-2022) The day I tweeted this song, my mother had just watched the film version of Dear Evan Hansen, a musical that I saw on Broadway with the original cast. I have a track record of loving music composed by Pasek and Paul (see my obsession with the soundtrack to The Greatest Showman), but my feelings about Dear Evan Hansen are mixed. When I was a junior in high school, a classmate of mine died by suicide and although I barely knew him, the loss was a kick to the stomach of the school community, resulting in numerous tributes to him throughout the remainder of the year, the chorus I belonged to singing at his funeral, and our junior prom being postponed so that students could attend his wake. To quote The History Boys, 'someone dies at school and you remember it all your life.' As a result, I was incredibly sensitive to the material in Dear Evan Hansen (the plot, after all, centers around the aftermath of a teenager's suicide when the titular Evan Hansen fabricates a tale of friendship with him that makes him the undeserving object of people's attention and sympathy), and my rage festered and bubbled and boiled over as the show progressed and I found myself unable to do anything but loathe Evan and feel heartbreak for those legitimately mourning. That said, I thought Ben Platt did a tremendous job portraying a character I will never like, and I found 'Waving Through a Window' (which comes very early in the show and reveals Evan's struggling outsider status) to be compelling, thus its inclusion here. Despite all my feelings about the rest of the show, this song always makes it on my playlists. Listen here. 115. 'Hey, Tom Sawyer' from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Company) Original Broadway Cast (2001) The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a musical based on the novel of the same name, which has many of its plot points intact, and was presented as with a smiling, energetic cast that included the now-famous Kristen Bell as Becky. In truth, if it was made now, it would likely be a different show, with more (better) attention paid to cultural representation and historical context, and maybe one day that will happen. My main memories from attending its brief Broadway run when I was in high school (an unintentional recurring theme of this installment) are being charmed by the cast and thinking several parts of the score were full of life and truly darling (see: 'This Time Tomorrow' and 'Angels Lost'). I remember vividly that I wanted to hear some of the numbers again, which is why I included one here. I went with the opening number, 'Hey, Tom Sawyer', because it was an exuberant company song that introduced Tom and his world and made young me tap my toes. Listen here. 116. 'Somewhere That's Green'/'Suddenly Seymour' from Little Shop of Horrors (Ellen Greene as Audrey, Teddy Kempner as Seymour) Hey, Mr. Producer!: The Musical World of Cameron Mackintosh (1998) Some people just become so synonymous with a character that is hard to picture anyone else playing the role as well. As much as I've enjoyed other people I've seen play Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, to me (and many others) no one has matched the quirky vulnerability of Ellen Greene, so I had to share this performance of her two biggest numbers in the show from the Hey, Mr. Producer! concert, because it is a wonderful opportunity to not only hear, but also watch, embody Audrey on a stage. Watch here. 117. 'Veronique' from On the Twentieth Century (Madeline Kahn as Lily Garland) Original Broadway Cast (1978-1979) No one loves On the Twentieth Century (a musical comedy about the hubbub that occurs while riding on the famous train, the Twentieth Century) as much as my father, so I chose to showcase it on Father's Day in his honor. I picked the song 'Veronique' because Madeline Kahn is just delightful on the cast recording as an actress called Lily Garland who played a character named, you guessed it, Veronique. Listen here. 118. 'When I Drive' from Bonnie and Clyde (Jeremy Jordan as Clyde Barrow, Claybourne Elder as Buck Barrow) Original Broadway Cast (2011) I am an absolute sucker for Frank Wildhorn musicals, and Bonnie and Clyde is one of my favorites. This musical came out at a great time for me, it was the same year I took a road trip with my friend from New York to Louisiana to see where the real Bonnie and Clyde were killed. 'When I Drive', in which Clyde (played by Jeremy Jordan) sings about his love of being in a car with his brother Buck (played by Claybourne Elder) quickly became a staple on my road trip playlists. The date in June that I tweeted this was the start of my drive from New York to Disney World in Florida, so of course I listened to it, and tweeted it. It's been over a decade since I first heard the song, so skipping it was unfathomable. Listen here. 119. 'By the Sword/Sons of Dixie' from The Civil War (Broadway All Stars) The Complete Work Recording (1999) I didn't realize I placed two Frank Wildhorn songs in a row until just this minute, but here we are. I didn't get the opportunity to see The Civil War on Broadway, but the score was something I listened to regularly. Its fictional depictions of the various phases of the US Civil War, peppered in with readings from history, were a wonderful way to enter learning about the topic. There are a great many songs from this show that I think all people should hear (including 'Virginia', 'Freedom's Child', 'Missing You (My Bill)', and my friend Jill's favorite, 'Sarah') but when I drive from my home in the north down across the Mason-Dixon line, I always listen to 'By the Sword/Sons of Dixie' because it introduces the Union and Confederate soldiers with their own musical themes as they are filled with confidence at the start of the war and serves as a perfect contrast to the later song 'How Many Devils?' which visits the soldiers as the war has crawled on and they have faced death and continual hardship. Listen here. 120. 'Kiss the Girl' from The Little Mermaid (Tituss Burgess as Sebastian, Animals) Original Broadway Cast (2008-2009) Arriving at Disney World's beautiful Art of Animation Resort, which I'd always dreamed of staying in due to it's amazing theming, meant sharing my favorite song from The Little Mermaid to commemorate staying in the area with décor inspired by the film. In both the film and stage production, 'Kiss the Girl' is my favorite number, for its perfect use of romantic crooning (here provided by Tituss Burgess, whose voice I always love) and a hint of humor from the backup animals. It may not be as boisterous as 'Under the Sea' or as infamous as 'Poor, Unfortunate Souls' but it always makes me smile. Listen here.

This segment of my 365 Days of Musical Theater adventure was significant to me because I cross the 100 songs line! I've now covered over 100 fabulous songs from 100 different musicals and I'm not even 1/3 of the way through the year! In addition to celebrating song 100 on a beach with Mamma Mia!, this installment includes my favorite take on a Carousel classic, an oft-forgotten show that my medievalist friends in particular should love, a blood-thirsty vampire girl's song performed by Elton John, a wonderful Miss Saigon clip featuring my favorite Chris and Kim, and multiple songs where women tell it like it is with no holding back. These songs were originally tweeted between May 24, 2022 and June 7, 2022. 91. 'Run Away with Me' from The Mad Ones--formerly The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown (Aaron Tveit) Concert at the Zipper Theater (2008) I don't remember how I came across this song initially, but I know it was this version, so it was probably during Aaron Tveit's run in next to normal. What I do remember is that I was instantly in love with it. It is an honest, heartfelt, dream-filled plea for the love of your life to be with you. It was also something that I really, really wanted to sing, so when I went to a Musical Theater intensive in the summer of 2010, it was in my regular rotation. I remember those days so fondly, and I love revisiting the song whenever I get the chance, so there was no way I would skip out on including it. A YouTube search for 'Run Away with Me' will bring up dozens of interpretations, but Aaron's has always been my favorite. Watch here. 92. 'I Don't Remember Christmas' from Starting Here, Starting Now (Christiane Noll) A Broadway Love Story album (1998) In the late 1990s, Christiane Noll was slaying it as Emma, Dr. Jekyll's fiancee, in Jekyll and Hyde and as a fan I purchased her solo album. Through this, I first heard 'I Don't Remember Christmas', a fabulous song about what happens when you realize you have stopped missing the person you are no longer with (or at least, want to convince someone that is the cast). I knew the song was from the Maltby and Shire revue Starting Here, Starting Now but I loved Noll's interpretation so much that I never looked into a cast recording from the actual show. As a result, despite all my years of loving theater and this song, I must admit that I only recently realized that in Starting Here, Starting Now (at least as far as the cast recording I heard was concerned) it was sung by a man. It just goes to show that in so many cases, equally great versions of a song can come from many different performers. Listen here. 93. 'Maybe This Time' from Cabaret (Natasha Richardson as Sally Bowles) New Broadway Cast (1998-2004) Although I've seen Cabaret many times (my favorite Sally was Sienna Miller) and never actually saw Natasha Richardson in the role, this was the cast recording I always listened to. I've also always felt that 'Cabaret' was an overrated number and 'Maybe This Time' was Sally's greatest moment. It's also just a phenomenal song. (The TV series Schitt's Creek clearly agrees with me in a way, they used 'Maybe This Time' as a significant moment in the arc of the character Stevie.) Listen here. 94. 'Amsterdam' from Passing Strange (Ensemble) Original Broadway Cast (2008) I had a friend who really loved Passing Strange, the musical about a young Black man (he isn't given a name, but is called Youth) growing up and seeking to become a successful musical artist. My friend was very clear to me that the show was extremely loud, and I read in several other places that this was true. So, when I went, I purposely bought a seat on an upper level and in the back, hoping it would soften the sound. Then, when I picked up my ticket, I learned they had bumped me down to the front orchestra, dead center. I hoped for the best, but I ended up missing parts of the show because the extreme sound was so much that I could feel my chair vibrating and left it with a serious headache. This could have meant I hated my experience, but I didn't. In particular, I loved the song 'Amsterdam' which occurs when Youth arrives in the city and is confronted with all that such a metropolis has to offer. Luckily, the cast recording is only super loud if you pump up the volume, so you can enjoy it without fear. Listen here. 95. 'Soliloquy' from Carousel (Michael Hayden as Billy Bigelow) Broadway Revival Cast (1994-1995) I was feeling nostalgic as a round-numbered anniversary of my high school graduation was approaching. That nostalgia caused me to think about Carousel, the musical we did my senior year. When I was cast in it, I immediate got a professional recording to play over and over, and the 1990s Broadway revival cast was the one I chose. It's incredibly difficult to do Billy's lengthy 'Soliloquy' in which he ruminates on the news he is going to become a parent, and I found Michael Hayden's recording of it wonderful. Billy is not a great person, but Hayden definitely humanized him and for the length of this song, he had me in the palm of his hand. Listen here. 96. 'Last Night of the World' from Miss Saigon (Lea Salonga as Kim and Will Chase as Chris) The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1999) The first show I ever saw Will Chase in was Miss Saigon, as Chris, but unfortunately there is no (that I've found, anyway) professional recording of his 'Why, God, Why?' although I wish there was because my memory is that it was absolutely stunning. Luckily, though, I found this clip of Will and the incomparable Lea Salonga singing 'Last Night of the World' together from an appearance on The Rosie O'Donnell Show in 1999, so you get to see my favorite Miss Saigon pairing in action. Watch here. 97. 'What Makes a Man' from Allegiance (Telly Leung as Sammy Kimura) Original Broadway Cast (2015-2016) Listening to Lea Salonga in Miss Saigon for #96 made me segue into thinking about Allegiance, the Broadway show she starred in alongside George Takei, that was based on his family's experience during World War II, when Americans of Japanese descent were removed from their homes and forced into 'relocation centers'/'internment camps' where they were incarcerated, often for years. You can read more about it here. I view Allegiance as an underappreciated, but incredibly important, musical about American history and I chose 'What Makes a Man' (in which Telly Leung's Sammy contemplates masculinity, tradition, patriotism, and a way out of their situation) to feature because I think it serves as a good entry point into the show. This musical was professionally recorded, and I highly suggest watching it if you can. Listen here. 98. 'Hell No'/'The Color Purple (reprise)' from The Color Purple (Felicia P. Fields as Sofia, LaChanze as Celie, Company) Tony Awards Performance (2006) The original Broadway production of The Color Purple may not have featured the now super-famous Oprah Winfrey as Sofia like the movie did, but it did have the extraordinarily talented Felicia P. Fields whose number, 'Hell No', brought down the house as she made it very clear that a woman needs to now how to stand up for herself and not take abuse from their significant others. Watch here. 99. 'I'm a Monarchist' from Blondel (Paul Nicholas as Blondel + 'the Blondettes') London Cast Recording (1983) At some point when I was in college studying medieval history, one of my friends asked me if I'd ever heard of Blondel, a musical (or rather, a pop/rock opera not unlike Jesus Christ Superstar in style) set in the middle ages during the Crusades, about a musician attempting to write his first big hit for King Richard the Lionheart. Early in it, he reveals his song, 'I'm a Monarchist' which makes this historian chuckle with delight. It's one of the shows I was afraid I wouldn't be able to find to share, but I did! Huzzah! Listen here. 100. 'Lay All Your Love on Me' from Mamma Mia! (Dominic Cooper as Sky, Amanda Seyfried as Sophie) Film version (2008) For day 100, I told myself to pick something that was just pure fun and contained a performer I love. I found the stage production of Mamma Mia! enjoyable (thanks, ABBA classics!) but the film has my heart entirely for this scene of Dominic Cooper singing a duet on the beach. I have fond memories of going to see the film in theaters so, even though I knew I should have used the cast recording, since it was a special day (100 songs is a lot!) I let my fangirl flag fly and went with the film scene. Watch here. 101. 'I Am What I Am' from La Cage aux Folles (Douglas Hodge as Albin) New Broadway Cast Recording (2010-2011) As Pride month was starting, I thought it was a good idea to pull out a classic anthem to recognize all those celebrating. I've seen many versions of La Cage, and the emotion Douglas Hodge put into this song is my favorite, so there you have it. Listen here. 102. 'I Want More' from Lestat (Elton John singing the Claudia part) Demos for what ultimately became the 2006 Broadway production Just like I'm the person you know who enjoyed Lennon, I am also the person you know who loved Elton John's score for Lestat (yes, as in the famous vampire). Although the Broadway production based on Anne Rice's novels didn't last very long and a cast recording was never properly released, demos (like the one here) and other aspects of the musical have made their way onto YouTube over the years. I've always thought this show was underrated, and songs like 'I Want More' deserved a longer life. Here, Elton John's demo shows him singing a song that would belong to the character Claudia, a young woman who has become a vampire and, well, constantly craves blood. It's a great song to listen to and a fun one to sing. I'll always hold out hope that the cast recording that was created eventually gets an official release because Allison Fischer did a phenomenal job as Claudia on stage. Listen here. 103. 'Mr. Hopalong Heartbreak' from Urban Cowboy (Lauren Kennedy) Here and Now album (2007) Much like Lestat, Urban Cowboy wasn't on Broadway for long. Also like Lestat, it had some good music, primarily this country-inspired anthem where a woman (Sissy) tells a man exactly where he can stick it. If you need to feel empowered or want to tell someone they don't get your time anymore, this one is great for it. In fact, it'd probably be great to pair with 'I Don't Remember Christmas' when it comes to theme and energy, both are perfect for breakups. Listen here. 104. 'Everybody's Girl' from Steel Pier (Debra Monk) My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies (1998) When I was a kid, watching My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies like the musical theater devotee that I was, Debra Monk's performance of 'Everybody's Girl' struck me as utterly scandalous. I loved Monk's boldness and the lyrics laden with entertaining sexual humor--she is, after all, singing about being everybody's girl. As funny as this song is to listen to, you will benefit more from watching her, because she sells it so well that you'll be thoroughly entertained from start to finish. Watch here. 105. 'Madeleine' from Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (Elly Stone, Mort Shuman, Shawn Elliott, and Alice Whitfield) Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording (1968) There are a lot of great songs in this revue of Jacques Brel music in English translation, but 'Madeleine' is probably my favorite. Why? Because it is so damn catchy. Want a giddy, peppy song about a man who waits for a woman named Madeleine with the same success as those hoping Godot will show up? This is the song for you. Heck, even if you don't think it'll be up your alley, give it a try because I promise you, it will make you bop. It's a good song to end this installment, because it will stay with you. Listen here.

This entry contains a true mix of musical theater genres and time periods, beginning with a currently-running production and ending with a modern recording of a musical originating in the 1940s. It also contains the only song I've ever truly loved from Grease!, which probably isn't one that people would guess, or even remember. There are two songs in particular that I feel I should point out. One is 'I've Decided to Marry You' from A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder and the other is 'Almost Like Being in Love' from Brigadoon. These both hold a special place in my heart. The former because it proved that new musicals showcasing traditional musical theater sound could still be successful, and the latter contains one of my favorite phrases to sing. You can watch them below as you investigate this selection: These were tweeted between May 9, 2022 and May 23, 2022. 76. 'El Tango de Roxanne' from Moulin Rouge! (Aaron Tveit as Christian, Company) Original Broadway Cast (2019 - Present) I didn't grow up as a fan of the film Moulin Rouge like many of my friends, but when it was announced as a Broadway-bound stage production I drove to Boston with my friend to see it. I was taken most of all by the ornate set design that enveloped you as soon as you entered--especially the stunning elephant! Later, the show did transfer and my friend developed a love for Aaron's version of 'El Tango de Roxanne' so I chose that song for her. Listen here. 77. 'Full Moon Lullaby' from King Kong (Christiani Pitts as Ann Darrow) Broadway Cast Thanksgiving Day Parade Performance (2018) When King Kong was on Broadway, I saw it multiple times. I instantly fell in love with the gorgeous puppetry used to make the gigantic ape come alive. I fantasized about a professional video recording of the show as a whole so that those who could not make it to the theater could still marvel at the beauty of the production. I loved the show's color scheme, thought the casting was wonderful, and was hooked on the score from the opening notes...but there was never even a cast recording. I was concerned that this would make it difficult to include a show I loved deeply in this list, but then I found this tender performance of 'Full Moon Lullaby' that was filmed for the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Now you can see how beautiful the show was and how wonderful Christiani Pitts sounded and join me in lamenting the show's unrecorded fate. Watch here. 78. 'Belle (is the only word)' from Notre-Dame de Paris (Garou as Quasimodo, Daniel Lavoie as Frollo, and Steve Balsamo as Phoebus) English Version/London Cast (2000) Although I am an established fan of Disney, their famous version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame was never one of my favorites. However, when I first heard this non-Disney approach to the story, 'Belle (is the only word)' instantly was added to my regular rotation. The show never made it to New York back in those days, though this July--over two decades after the recording I used for this entry--a production has finally reached this city. But, whether or not you love the novel or the Disney one, you should listen to 'Belle (is the only word)' because it is one heck of a pop-centric power trio. Listen here. 79. 'Imagine' from Lennon (Will Chase, Chuck Cooper, Julie Danao-Salkin, Marcy Harriell, Chad Kimball, Julia Murney, Michael Potts, Don Scardino) 54 Sings Lennon: A Broadway Reunion (2017) As with King Kong, Lennon did not get a cast recording, and that makes me sad. The show was interesting, with all of the cast members taking their turns depicting John Lennon at different points of his life. They did not have character names, and it was a true ensemble piece. It was also not a success, but I loved it, and I was in no way a John Lennon fan going into it. I thought the arrangements and talented performers made his music soar. 'Imagine' would not have been my first choice from this show, but this video from the reunion concert I attended was one of the clearest representations of the way the music was done that I could find (Note: Don Scardino, far right, was filling in for missing original cast member Terrance Mann). My actual favorite number was the powerful yet heartbreaking 'Mother' performed by Chad Kimball, Will Chase, and Julie Danao-Salkin. To this day, I can't listen to the actual John Lennon version without hearing echoes of their stunning interpretation in my head. I'm not going to share bootleg videos on my blog for obvious reasons, but, you know, you might be able to find that song around somewhere if you looked...Watch 'Imagine' here. 80. 'Find Your Grail' from Spamalot (Sara Ramirez as Lady of the Lake, Tim Curry as King Arthur, Michael McGrath as Patsy + David Hyde Pierce, Hank Azaria, Christopher Sieber, Steve Rosen as the Sirs) Original Broadway Cast (2005-2009) Having grown up loving Monty Python and the Holy Grail, when Spamalot came to Broadway I thought, this is either going to be hilarious or horrible. It was hilarious. The comedic timing of all involved was fantastic and songs like 'I am Not Dead Yet' and 'I'm All Alone' never cease to bring a smile to my face. In the middle of this was Sara Ramirez as the Lady of the Lake, who took the show to a whole new level with their killer pipes on songs like this showstopper, 'Find Your Grail.' You can watch the Tony Awards performance below or listen to the original cast recording version here. 81. 'Simply the Best' from Tina: The Tina Turner Musical (Adrienne Warren as Tina, Company) Original London Cast (2019) Watching and/or listening to Adrienne Warren as Tina Turner often feels exactly like watching and/or listening to Tina Turner herself. The woman is a chameleon who disappears into the character with such totality that it cannot help but impress you, so I had to feature her. Listen here. 82. 'The Parisians' from Gigi (Vanessa Hudgens as Gigi) New Broadway Cast (2015) I knew absolutely nothing about Vanessa Hudgens before I saw her in her Broadway debut as Gigi, but I thought her performance was darling. The show centers around a young woman (Gigi) who develops a relationship with a wealthy man while she is preparing for a life as a courtesan, but the score is not as dark as the idea of such a plot might make you expect. In fact, Gigi's 'The Parisians' is an amusing rumination on the obsession that Parisians appear to have with love. It's perfect for when you want something a little bit bouncy and easy to enjoy. Listen here. 83. 'The Music and the Mirror' from A Chorus Line (Donna McKechnie as Cassie) Original Broadway Cast (1975-1990) One of my earliest musical theater memories is listening to A Chorus Line's cast recording (on cassette) with my mom in the car. Even though I had never seen the show and had no idea what the dance number looked like that accompanied 'The Music and the Mirror', I fell in love with the lyrics and the passion for the performing arts that they conveyed. Although I was also a huge fan of Charlotte d'Amboise's version of the song when I eventually saw the Broadway revival, I knew that it was the original, by the brilliant Donna McKechnie, had to be the one I showcased or my mom would never forgive me. Listen here. 84. 'Rain/Hold On' from Ghost (Caissie Levy as Molly, Richard Fleeshman as Sam, Company) Original London Cast (2012) I had never seen the film Ghost when I went to see the stage production. In fact, I still don't think I've seen it in it's entirety. That said, I enjoyed the state production, especially the moodiness of the music. It combined with stellar lighting to truly draw you in. I loved 'Rain/Hold On' in particular so much because of the pulsing beat at it's core...in fact, I liked it so much that it was my ringtone for some time. Listen here. 85. 'Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered' from Pal Joey (Marin Mazzie) My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies (1998) Whenever the opportunity arises to share a song as interpreted by the incomparable Marin Mazzie, I take it. Hers was one of the voices I dreamed of having, and when she passed away, I cried. Although I'm saving my favorite song that she recorded for later, I couldn't hold back any longer on bringing her into this list. She was pure class and talent. If you didn't love her before coming across this list, now is your chance to watch greatness. Watch here. 86. 'A Boy from Nowhere' from Matador (John Barrowman) Reflections from Broadway (2000) After I saw John Barrowman in Putting it Together (which I talked about here) I starting looking for other things he did. To this day, his Reflections from Broadway album remains in my regular rotation, and although I've never seen Matador, I've listened to 'A Boy from Nowhere' so often that I feel like I should know the show well. I also think more people should know it, especially if you're looking for an underutilized solo that has an appealing emotional arc. Plus, well, I just wanted to share another song that showcased Barrowman's talent. Can you blame me? Listen here. 87. 'Corner of the Sky' from Pippin (Matthew James Thomas as Pippin) Broadway Revival Cast (2013-2015) I'm that person you know who listens to Christmas music all year. Around the time I tweeted this song from Pippin, I was listening to the beautiful version of 'The Cherry Tree Carol' that Michael James Thomas and Rachel Bay Jones contributed to the 2013 volume of Carols for a Cure. They did this duet to represent the cast of Pippin, so I decided it was time to share my favorite song from that show. 'Corner of the Sky' is a gentle song exploring the desire to have it all and find one's place in the world and it's got an earnestness to it that I appreciate. Listen here. 88. 'I've Decided to Marry You' from A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (Lauren Worsham as Phoebe, Lisa O'Hare as Sibella, and Bryce Pinkham as Monty) Tony Awards Performance (2014) I've trained as a traditional/classical soprano since I was a young teen, but as I grew up that style lost popularity in favor of mixing and belting. I learned that, too, but I always lamented that modern musical theater composers rarely chose to showcase a traditional sound...then A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder came around. Set in the early 1900s, the show follows a man called Monty as he seeks to knock unsuspecting family members out of the way so that he can be the heir to the D'Ysquith family fortune. The show is a complete comedy, the pinnacle of which (for me) is reached in this brilliant number where Monty finds himself caught, quite literally, between his mistress and his distant cousin. As a lover of traditional sound, seeing it employed in this fashion was fresh, exciting, and amazing. The production's success made me truly hope that more new shows would embrace this style of singing. Watch here. 89. 'Those Magic Changes' from Grease (Sam Harris as Doody, Company) Broadway Revival Cast (1994-1998) As a child, I always hated Grease. I didn't understand why everyone liked a film (I had only ever seen the film) where, in order to get a boy to like her the lead girl had to completely change who she was. It didn't make sense to me. However, when I went to see the mid-90s Broadway revival with my family, one song made a significant impression on me, 'Those Magic Changes.' Doody is a secondary character that no one ever really talks about and 'Those Magic Changes' doesn't get a lot of love. In fact, in some productions I've seen, Doody can barely carry a tune. However, one of the hills I'm willing to die on is that Sam Harris produced the single greatest version of 'Those Magic Changes' ever done. I was captivated by his voice, with all of its different colors and sheer power. Doody may be a small role in a show made famous by Danny, Sandy, and Rizzo, but Harris made the character a true rock star. Listen here. 90. 'Almost Like Being in Love' from Brigadoon (Patrick Wilson as Tommy and Kelli O'Hara as Fiona) New York City Center Cast (2017) I've been performing 'Almost Like Being in Love' any chance I get for years, thanks to my voice teacher introducing me to it. In fact, it contains one of my favorite lyrics of all time to sing: 'All the music of life seems to be/Like a bell that is ringing for me!' Something about the note progression feels so sweet and perfect when I do it, and if you're a singer, you know what I mean. It's a true gem when used as a soprano solo, and not one you hear as often as, say, 'I Could Have Danced All Night.' Here, you get to hear it as it appeared in a Brigadoon production for New York City Center, as a duet performed beautifully by two modern Broadway icons, Patrick Wilson and Kelli O'Hara. After using Gentleman's Guide to show some recent musical theater written for a traditional sound, it is unsurprising that I was drawn to showcasing old school musical theater again so soon. Watch here.