When I was younger, I wanted to be a Broadway star.
In elementary school, I played the Grease soundtrack album over and over, acting out all the songs in my basement with my younger sister and two neighbors. I was the oldest and the bossiest, so of course I was always Sandy.
The first live theater show I saw was Annie, and afterwards I played the soundtrack cassette tape over and over, playing the starring role and belting out “Tomorrow” like there wasn’t one.
As a teenager, I saw A Chorus Line. I wrote down all the lyrics on notebook paper, and sang along with the soundtrack in my bedroom. I pretended to be Diana – she was my favorite because she was short and sassy. The song “Nothing” became my anthem, even though my story was nothing like hers.
But oh, how I wanted it to be. How I wished I could sing like a Broadway star. How I wanted to be on stage, dancing and singing my heart out to the applause and adoration of the audience.
Alas, it was not to be. I don’t even sing well in the shower. If you don’t believe me, listen here. I can hold my own on the dance floor, but certainly not on stage. My youthful dreams of becoming a Broadway star were fantasies, but I can watch others perform, and I do that every chance I get.
In the darkened theater, I hear the first notes of the overture. I clench my hands together, shift around in my seat, and grin like a little kid. I am in my happy place. For a few hours, I am mesmerized by the story and the music, just as I was years ago.
Kim in Miss Saigon. Eponine in Les Misérables. Elphaba in Wicked. I favor the alto female leads, perhaps because I imagine those would be my roles if I had the youth and the talent.
In my car, with the Broadway station on Sirius turned up high, I imagine having that talent. As long as the radio’s loud enough to drown out my voice, I can belt out the tunes and be on stage in my mind. At least until I stop at a red light. The spell is broken when the lady in the minivan next to me looks at me like I’m nuts.
Eh, I don’t care. When I hear the music, I just have to sing.
I also love Idina Menzel! And I have the same ‘Grease’ experience… loved acting and singing that one as a kid! When I was a young teenager my Dad asked me if I wanted to take singing lessons, because I loved to sing so much – and my response was ‘No, Dad, I don’t want to sing opera!’ (because that’s what I thought singing lessons did – teach you to sing opera!). Now that I’ve introduced myself to the world of Broadway musicals I wish I could smack myself back then… stupid, stupid, stupid…
I don’t think singing lessons would have helped me, but I think I could have been a decent dancer. Sadly, 5 year old ballet was the beginning and end of my dance lessons. Thanks for visiting, Samantha!
Ha! And dancing I definitely could NOT have done! 😛
Wicked is my favorite as well. I can listen to it over and over. Love both Idina and Kristin. I’d also recommend Memphis and Book of Mormon.
I’m seeing Book of Mormon in the fall – can’t wait!
I always wanted to be a broadway star too, but I was terrified of performing in front of anyone except myself!!!
I know – I talk a good game but if I were standing on stage in front of an audience, I would probably pee in my pants.
How interesting and fun to learn that about you! The video is a good one, her voice is nice.
Thanks, Rosey!
That Idina has talent left over for 3 more stars. You may not have made it to Broadway with your talent but you sure are a talented writer, Dana. Sorry to sound sappy but it’s true. Also, if I ever pull up next to you at a stoplight, I won’t notice your singing cause I’ll be doing the same thing.
You’re very kind, Jean – thank you! And maybe we can do a duet at a red light sometime!
I’ve never wanted to be on stage, but I do love to sing. It’s just that I have to find songs that require a girl with a man voice, i.e. Stevie Nicks stuff. Anything much higher than that and I’m screwed. 🙂
Ha – a man’s voice? You mean deep and sexy. I’m screwed regardless of the range, but I sound less awful in the alto range.
We have the same first two live theater experiences!!!! Man I wore the soundtrack to Chorus Line OUT! I have it on my iPod now and it is in the rotation. I always wanted to sing, I don’t know if I needed to be on Broadway though. I went to a sleepover camp for the performing arts for 8 weeks every summer for 11 years. I imagine it would have been like heaven for you. It was for me!
Oh, that would have been heaven, Jen. For me, not for the other campers, but whatever.
Being a Broadway star would be really cool…if only I didn’t have really bad stage fright…and bills, that keep multiplying.
Well if you were really good you would win a Tony and get a TV show and make lots of money and pay off all those bills…but I guess the stage fright would be an issue. Guess you need a different dream, MJM!
I don’t dream…that way I won’t be disappointed.
Awww, a guy’s gotta dream. My dreams are completely unrealistic and I know they would never happen. My goals are attainable, but not nearly as fun.
I do dream…but little dreams…like for example I may dream that one day I will get an ice cream cone…I know it will happen and when it does I feel like I’ve actually accomplish something.
Gotcha! I dream about ice cream cones too 🙂
Ahh but even if you’re not convinced of your worth as a singer, you get to enjoy the singing, and that’s the main part of it. I have a dear friend who honestly cannot hit a single note, but she loves to sing and she puts her heart and soul into it, and that in itself is compelling.
And there are always musicals to watch.
True – I do love singing even though I suck. That’s probably part of the reason I adore musicals – I can sing in my mind while the talented people do it out loud.
I think I still might want to be a Broadway star… I will say this though- I am a terrible dancer. Really, really bad. Not graceful. All flailing limbs. I’m pretty sure Broadway stars shouldn’t be awkward. Guess I won’t quit my dayjob. This was so much fun to read! I share your passion for those shows…
I think I still do too, Stephanie. But you, my friend, can sing! Your description of you dancing reminded me of Elaine from Seinfeld, but I’m guessing you are not that bad. And even if you are, you can be a singing-only Broadway star, right?
<3 – I have no idea what you wrote, i just skipped to the video! LOL JK I still get chills.
I figured you might ignore the writing for this post! But I’m with you, Lisa – you know I am.
I haven’t seen wicked yet, but I heard it’s good. As for Grease, I watched that movie WAY too many times as a teen! I wanted to be in the musical so badly in high school!
OMG, Julie – it is the best show ever. I’ve seen it 8 times, and it’s still not enough.
My singing is just good enough that my kids don’t *always* tell me to be quiet.
I would take “just good enough”! But I’d rather sing alone so no one can tell me to be quiet.
I would LOVE to be able to sing. This is my dream, I’d love to sing and dance. I’m not a bad dancer, but I am in awe of those professional dancers that are in such perfect control of their bodies. Same thing goes for singing. I am a sucker for talented people in general, in whatever field.
I love how you describe that jittery sensation you get at the theatre before the curtain pulls up. I hope I don’t forget to click on your recording, I am totally curious, but baby is sleeping.
You’re not missing anything, Katia. And it certainly isn’t worth waking the baby.
HAHAH I’m laughing hysterically that you sang that song and posted it! Love love love. Also I’m pretty sure you sound WAY better than I would. Well-a-well-a-well-a! Gonna be stuck in my head all day. I sing in the car too. More often than not, my son says “MOMMY NOOOOOOO” and gives me the “talk to the hand” thang. Whoop.
Wow, a talk to the hand from a little kid – you may just sing worse than I do:)
I do. Which is why there’s no recording of me and that the fact that the ONE time I tried karaoke, the DJ got on stage to help me. I was cuter back then.
OMG…my singing is so bad too babe. People pay me to stop singing, LOL…
If only I were paid to stop singing…
Lol! – “belting out “Tomorrow” like there wasn’t one.” I could screech that one too. And the thing is, I really hated that song. My voice can blend nicely in a choir but no solo’s for me.
I can’t sing either, but I do sing at the top of my lungs in the shower and in the car. Sometimes, you just gotta do it. 🙂
Exactly! Singly loudly just makes you feel good. But it doesn’t make anyone else feel good, so I do it alone!
I, too, love to sing, but just like you couldn’t carry a tune to save my life. But again, I could care less either and sing whenever I feel like. When I do a dog is probably crying somewhere, but still doesn’t deter me, lol!! But seriously, I enjoyed this so much because you also named so many Broadway shows I loved, too. Grease, Annie and Wicked are totally tops in my book!! Thanks so much Dana for linking this up with us and hope you have a wonderful weekend 🙂
Ha – I shudder to think of the pain I put my dog through! Thanks for a fun link up!