Musical Theatre Mondays

One thing I really love about musicals is the settings they are placed in. The French Revolution? Sure! A convent in Switzerland? Even better! A pajama factory on the verge of a wage strike? Why not. The Pajama Game first hit   Broadway in 1954 and is one of my very favorite of the Golden Age musicals. Like Oklahoma,  it's done in a lot of community and schools because it's fun, bright and the music is crazy catchy. I know when my high school did it my Junior year we all had a good chuckle that all they wanted was a seven-and-a-half cent raise and then we couldn't get the song out of our head! It's the quaint, good ol' days type musical that works well for all ages. It was revived in 2006 and I'm just now learning this and acquainting myself with the soundtrack. Harry Connick Jr. is probably the closest modern day comparison I can think of to John Raitt and Kelly O'Hara is basically in every revival ever so of course it's good, but I have to go on ...

Oklahoma happens to be the first musical that I ever had a role in AND it also happens to be one of the most beloved musicals of the Golden Era of Musical Theatre or...ever, depending upon who you talk to. This classic Rodgers and Hammerstein (R&H) show is kind of the perfect beginning for this blog because have you ever met someone who didn't know at least part of the title song? Of course not. If you had, that person is probably not of this Earth and then you should be asking them like 50 other questions first. I don't think I would be too far off to suggest that this is probably R&H's most famous musical. It's done all the time and every where! A lot of community theatres and schools do it because it's "wholesome," but the people who think that aren't really paying attention. Uh...the little wonder? Smelling salts? Natalie's Five Favorites! Favorite Character:  Aunt Eller Favorite Song:  People Will Say We're In Love (It...