Meaningful Sad Musicals of My Life

True, there are people who believe ALL musicals are happy and comic. However, the true musical theatre fans are aware there are tragic and heartbreaking musicals. I had to discover the truth the hard way—–only because I was close-minded to tragedies in high school. I literally thought the genre was pure sad. Turns out I would be proven wrong in more ways than one. So, what heartbreaking musicals would prove to be the most meaningful?

Les Mis

This was actually expected. A powerful, epic, inspiring, and enlightening musical. A musical with a beautiful underlying spirituality. Complex and amazing characters, who sing such beautiful, emotional, and powerful songs, as in songs that hard to choose your favorite from. I can’t even choose my favorite character. Weird that I can’t choose my favorite character, but my favorite survivor. I actually am obsessed with Les Mis- the stage show was seen six times.

Below comes from each time I saw the stage show: 2013 (3x), 2015, 2017, and 2019

Les Mis taught me a LOT- 1) death can be memorable and can happen through song, 2) tragedies are more than heartbreak, 3) tragic musicals exist, 4) heartbreak is a musical emotion—just a basic list.

Rent

True, I just said Les Mis taught me I can love tragedies. But here is the funny thing- I fell in love with Rent before Les Mis. But I fell in love with Rent by songs alone- meaning they were out of context, so I didn’t know what the characters or story were. Soon enough, I learned that Rent was a sad show——-the original reason why this musical became meaningful was because of its message. Another reasoning was that it led me to want to see La Bohème, the opera it is based off of.

However, as years went by, I found out I could relate to the musical. I actually can relate to the characters’ struggle. Yes, I have Epilepsy and the characters have HIV/AIDS, but the emotions are similar- as in uncertainty, fear, stress, anxiety, frustration (I get it—not so much the disease but the struggle). My favorite song in Rent is “Seasons of Love”.

Conclusion

Both of these musicals make me an emotional wreck. I have nothing wrong with that due to my emotional connection.

Escapes in my Life

Well, everyone has escapes in their life. For different people, they need an escape from “something”. In my case, it usually is from epilepsy—not the other disabilities I have. Yes, I have various escapes, but some feel BIGGER than others.

Musical Theatre

The power of live theater—-there are no words to describe it. There is a difference between looking at a screen versus being in an actual theater with the actors right in front of you. After all, no performance is exactly the same (even if you get the exact same cast). Only know that from experience- November 15th, November 17th, and November 24th of 2013 taught me that————-that was because it was CPCC’s production of Les Mis, but why did I see it 3x (well, once with my family and twice as an usher).

The two-way-conversation isn’t possible on screen. The actors feed off the audience and the audience feeds after the actors. So, your emotions, in some ways, are STRONGER and HEIGHTENED. But what about the live-streams in cinemas—-that really isn’t exactly in person—you are not physically there (so part of that two-way-conversation is missing).

There really is no way to describe the power of live theater

Books

Yes, it is another escape—but not as strong as musical theatre. At least, it still is an escape. Just like the theater, you escape into the world of the characters and get lost (as in ignoring everything around you).

Bitty and Beau’s

Wait, why am I calling my job an escape? Well, it is a job I really really really love. A job that understands. The bond the employees have is incredible. I went from mainly being cashier to mainly being drink maker, two positions I really enjoy for different reasons.

Conclusion

To make it through life, you have to find some kind of escape. Something that makes you forget about the struggles you are going through. Or somewhere that truly understands (as in to make you feel like you are not alone). When it comes to books and musicals, you can find characters to look up to and ones you can relate to.

Favorite Animals in Books

There are a wide number of characters in literature. True, you have children to adults. But you also have various fantasy and mythology characters- meaning humans, who have powers (as in demigods, wizards, elves, witches, fairies, and hobbits). Well, for the animals—-might have to just say the character’s names.

Animals-Creatures-Beasts (going to include mine)

1. Dragons
2. Nifflers
3. Unicorns
4. Phoenix
5. Owls
6. Ents
7. Hippogriffs
8. Fairy Frogs
9. Toads
10. Aslan
11. The Beavers
12. Reepicheep
13. Dobby
14. Marsh-Wiggle
15. Pan

Conclusion

Based on this, you can tell that animals do talk in certain fantasy books. One of the fun and wonders of Narnia. Look at the Wizarding World—–there are many delights there when it comes to Owls and other beasts and creatures. I could have included other kinds of characters on that list, but could have taken a while.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Review

This is the 4th book of the Harry Potter series. Things really start to get dark in this one.

Harry Potter wants to get away from the pernicious Dursleys and go to the Qudditch World Cup with Hermione, Ron, and the Weasleys. He wants to dream about Cho Chang, his crush (and maybe do more than dream). He wants to find out about the mysterious event involving two rival schools of magic, and a competions that hasn’t happened for hundreds of years. He wants to be a normal fourteen-year-old wizard. Unfortunately for Harry Potter, he’s not normal; he’s different- even by Wizarding standards.

And in his case, different can be deadly.

Unlike the first three books, it didn’t start as magical due to a nightmare. Harry Potter is now 14, and terrifying things do happen to him—that isn’t any scar he has (it does hurt and burn at times). At least, he can still go to The Qudditch World Cup with his best friends and the Weasleys, but even that ended deadly.

The novel primarily focuses on The Triwizard Tournament, a competition between three Wizarding Schools, which has three dangerous tasks. This year, each champion must be 17 to compete, but for some reason Harry’s name was put in the Goblet of Fire. This book has one of the most annoying characters- Rita Skeeter, a lying journalist.

I will always love The Golden Trio. Love seeing how they develop throughout the books. Love that they help Harry with the tasks. Prior to each task, the champions are told information about them so they have time to prepare—Ron and Hermione are willing to help Harry with that. Love their relationship to Hagrid.

In some ways, the book was better than the movie. For example, you got to see Dobby (glad to see him again). Plus, the 3rd task (the Maze) is somewhat different. The Maze has creatures and different obstacles in it, which is so different from the movie. True, it still remains my least favorite task—-because of the Graveyard scene.

Despite the chaos of the tasks, there are still some enjoyable scenes. Such as The Yule Ball- love how Hogwarts was designed for that.

Power of a Coffee Shop

True, there are many coffee shops. However, only some truly stand out. Bitty & Beau’s Charlotte is one such place- well actually, all Bitty & Beau’s are like that. The Bitty & Beau’s location in Charlotte recently won Best Coffee Shop in Charlotte and wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for family, friends, and corporate- the employees couldn’t do it alone (I do work there).

But, what is so special about Bitty & Beau’s? The place is “more than a cup of coffee”, and is “radically inclusive”. The place hires people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and shows that we are “not broken”. The coffee is amazing, and the place is welcoming. The one in Charlotte has only been open since October- just about 3 months. Love grows there in many ways.

Well if you live in a city that has a “Bitty & Beau’s”, please stop by.