More great lessons from musical theatre

John and Jen (just for Tuffy)
book by Andrew Lippa and Tom Greenwald lyrics by Tom Greenwald music by Andrew Lippa
- sometimes the past will catch up with you, other times it will haunt you, either way don't spend too much time clinging to old regrets because it will stop you from living life
- don't expect someone to be exactly the same as someone else you once knew

Cabaret
book by Joe Masteroff lyrics by Fred Ebb music by John Kander
- no matter how much you want to ignore the reality of life outside your personal bubble it will always catch up with you in the end
- there's no sense in living your life too morbidly because life has got to have some fun despite the bad, in other words "Life is a cabaret, old chum, and I love a cabaret!"

Chicago
book by Bob Fosse and Fred Ebb lyrics by Fred Ebb music by John Kander
- never underestimate the power of a good story and a little bit of sensationalism from the press

Hair
book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado music by Galt MacDermot
- if you were on drugs in the sixties this show might actually make sense
- putting a Shakespearean sonnet to music makes for a pretty great song

The Sound of Music
book by Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II music by Richard Rodgers
- the path you initially set out on in life might not be the path that you end up on in the end, either way with a little help (and some singing) you can climb every mountain you come across

Aida
book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls and David Henry Hwang lyrics by Tim Rice music by Elton John
- time, place, race and status don't matter when it comes to love because in the end love is all that matters
- sometimes a dress can be your strongest suit

Little Shop of Horrors
book and lyrics by Howard Ashman Music by Alan Menken based on a film by Roger Corman screenplay by Charles Griffith
- don't let a man beat on you just because you're afraid to step out on your own, you don't know you own strength
- never trust a plant that sucks your blood

The Producers
book, lyrics and music by Mel Brooks
- old ladies might be willing to do just about anything for someone they like
- "Springtime for Hitler" - hahahaha! Enough said.

The Music Man
book, lyrics, and music by Meredith Willson
- don't' automatically believe that smooth-talking salesman doesn't have a conscience, he might just surprise you
- you CAN learn to play an instrument by the think system
- overly repetitive songs can wear on your nerves if they get stuck in your head for too long (Pick-a-little, talk-a-little-cheep-cheep-cheep...)

Funny Girl
book by Isobel Lennart lyrics by Bob Merrill music by Jule Styne
- never ever rain on a girl's parade, she's got a lot more going for her than you might think
- never count on a man to be your sole source of happiness
- Barbara Streisand really is "like buttah" in the movie musical

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
book by Hugh Wheeler lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim
- no matter how good a pie is remember that there might be something sketchy about the source of the meat
- revenge can get messy, maybe it's better to forgive before turning into a demon barber
- Stephen Sondheim is an amazing musical writer

Guys and Dolls
book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows lyrics and music by Frank Loesser
- there's always trouble when you decide to rock the boat, so "sit down, sit down, sit down!"
- men, don't leave an engaged woman hanging on for too long, she might just get sick of (or because of) the whole thing

Wicked
book by Winnie Holzman lyrics and music by Stephen Schwartz based on the book by Gregory McGuire
- there is always another side to a story, just ask Elphaba

Gypsy
book by Arthur Laurents lyrics by Stephen Sondheim music by Jule Styne
- you don't always have to listen to your mother, because sometimes even she might not have your best interests in mind all the time
- never let people tell you what you can and can't do because we all have hidden talents
- anyone can be "Moo-sical"

Into the Woods
book by James Lapine lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim
- really clever lyrics do exist!!!

The Pirates of Penzance
libretto by Sir William S. Gilbert music by Sir Arthur S. Sullivan
- even old school operettas can be very funny if you get the timing just right
- never underestimate the comedic power of an overextended coloratura moment
- trouble with orphans can happen "orph-ten"

Rent
book, lyrics and music by Jonathan Larson based on Puccini's opera La Bohème
- no matter how down and out, how sick, or how messed up you think you are, you can always find hope, love, and a good time when you open your eyes to the world

Urinetown
book by Greg Kotis lyrics by Greg Kotis and Mark Hollmann music by Mark Hollmann
- you CAN write a tongue-in-cheek Brechtian style music all about urine and still win Tony's
- "What kind of a musical is this anyway?"

West Side Story
book by Arthur Laurents music by Leonard Bernstein lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
- even though you might come from different backgrounds, you're more like your neighbour than you thought
- sometimes it's just nice to feel pretty, oh so pretty.

Songs for a New World

lyrics and music by Jason Robert Brown
- you don't have to have a story to make a worthwhile musical theatre experience

- "~ God knows it's easy to hide,

Easy to hide from the things that you feel

And harder to blindly trust

What you can't understand

~ God knows it's easy to run,

Easy to run from the people you love

And harder to stand and fight

For the things you believe"

- "~ Listen to the song that I sing

Listen to the words in my heart

Listen to the hope I can bring

And you'll start to grow

And shine

~ Listen to the song that I sing

And trust me

~ We'll be fine..."