Favorite Non-Romantic Relationships

One of the main themes found in musicals is ROMANCE. However, there are other relationships outside of romance. Those belong to friendship and family. In terms of family, only loving families count and will include adopted families that get created during the musical. I decided to write a list of the relationships that exist outside of romance.

Friendship:

1. Newsies
2. Jack Kelly and Crutchie
3. Lumiere and Cogsworth
4. Friends of the ABC
5. Marius and Eponine
6. Annie and the Orphans
7. Omar, Babkak, Aladdin, and Kassim
8. Kristoff and Sven
9. Rent Friends
10. Glinda and Elphaba

Family

1. Valjean and Cosette
2. Fantine and Cosette
3. Annie and Daddy Warbucks
4. Belle and Maurice
5. Mufasa and Simba
6. Elsa and Anna

Importance of Disney Musicals

Growing up, most likely a lot of people were exposed to a couple of musicals. I am saying that because kids are around a LOT of Disney. Disney is well known for musicals, and most likely kids will fall in love with some of them. Disney musicals fall in two categories: classic and contemporary.

Classic

The classic Disney musicals became well-known in the 90s. These were the likes of Aladdin, Little Mermaid, Lion King, and Beauty and the Beast. Growing up, I was able to notice common patterns with Disney musicals. For starters, they usually had a collection of exciting songs. In addition, the love songs tend to have this kind of “magic” quality to them.

Contemporary

Yes, Newsies came out in the 90s, but I wasn’t aware of it until the 2010s. Newsies, Tangled, Moana, and Frozen are some of the contemporary Disney musicals.

Which made it to Stage- The ones I Love

1. Aladdin
2. Lion King
3. Newsies
4. Frozen
5. Beauty and the Beast

Frozen and Beauty and the Beast still haven’t been seen live. I have to wait till June 2022 to see Frozen.

Tragedies in Musicals

What tragedies are in the musical theatre world? At first glance, there really aren’t many tragedies that exist with musicals. True, there are a LOT of tragic moments, but may not necessarily be in a tragedy. So, what musicals automatically come to mind?

1. Hadestown
2. Miss Saigon
3. West Side Story
4. Rent
5. Les Mis

How do you think I discovered the genre of tragic musicals? I learned about that genre the hard way. Les Mis was the beginning, but had to be given a 2nd chance. True, I started in the movie theatre with the film, but didn’t really know if I liked the musical or not. Good thing I gave that movie a 2nd chance in March 2013- the rest is history after that. In some ways, it was more of a combo of Rent and Les Mis that made me love tragedy. I really once thought I would NEVER love a tragedy.

Rent did led me to giving opera a chance- due to it being based off of La Bohème (which is my favorite opera). Since I love Greek Mythology, it is of no surprise that I am fascinated by Hadestown- which luckily is coming to Charlotte later this year.

The Gathering Songs

One of the most important parts of Gardner Webb was The Gathering. The Gathering is a student-led worship service. We start the service and end the service singing contemporary christian songs. What exactly were some of those songs?

The Songs:

1. One Thing Remains
2. Anchor (You Make me Brave)
3. Come to the River
4. Fierce
5. Above All
6. Good Good Father
7. What a Beautiful Name
8. Power to Redeem
9. Great Are you Lord

True, I did sing more songs then those, but they are the only names I remember. The Gathering is a huge part of my spiritual journey. I got through university by trusting in the Lord.

Tale of the Cattail Forest Update

Followers who have been with me the most are aware of Tale of the Cattail Forest. Currently on my 5th draft and waiting on edits from my dad. I love the world, characters, and plot that I created. So, what are my most recent updates on the novel?

My dad actually gave me a challenge. He actually wants me to draw a map. Seriously, how can I draw a map for a world that really isn’t expansive. In addition, I am a worse drawer then Sparkle. It would actually help if I knew the boulders- meaning the overall shape. The four main places I need to show are Fairy Creek, Cattail Marsh, Graysloup, and The Bog. I have to show cattails, creeks, a gazebo, a path, bridges, a highway, ditches, mud, and rocks; etc…….There will be some tricky things. How can I show depth of things like water, mud, and ditches. Then, there’s the whole spacing locations out.