BWW Blog: Chelsey Robichaud - Signs You're a Musical Fan in a Small Town

When You're a Broadway Fan in a Small Town

If you live in a small town where NO ONE knows anything about Broadway nor understands your love for it, you feel lonely and misunderstood, with people asking "Why is she singing about Mormons?" (yes, I am a proud Book of Mormon fan).
Well you're no longer on your own Eponine, because this list was made JUST for you!

1. Going to a CD store and asking for Idina Menzel's Brave OR Holiday Wishes CD. They have NO IDEA who she is and they think you mean Adele.
Yes, this happened to me at Target before it closed (Target in Canada lasted one year). He looked at me like "Oh yeah her you mean Adele". In my mind I replied. "Uhhh no I mean the great Idina Menzel the 2004 Tony Award winner for Wicked". I took a breath and said "The girl from Frozen". I prefer to refer to Idina's stage work because that's where she started, but Frozen is as well known as Mr. Clean right now in pop culture. He still didn't know what I said. Thankfully the CD was at Costco! Yes!

2. Your favourite music consists of songs none of your friends (or peers) have heard of.
Insert loneliness here. I admit I do listen to regular pop/indie/acoustic/etc like everyone else, but I have a special place in my heart for showtunes. Especially in middle school/high school. Whenever a music teacher would talk about a musical like Les Miz or Grease, I would be the only one who knew what they were talking about. When my neighbour listened to rap, I listened to the Beautiful cast recording at full volume.


3. Broadway tours RARELY (or never ever) visit your province.

TRUE. I live in a province where only a handful of Broadway tours have ever stopped by. Every single week I check websites crossing my fingers that a show will tour in the area. Never. Any. Luck. I am fortunate to be able to visit NYC with family when possible, but I want those who do not have the chance to experience New York to see these shows.

4. Making a musical reference and no one understands, not even your drama teacher.

So one of my drama teachers did not know their musicals. They hardly new plays. Be careful when someone curses "Jesus Christ!" and you immediately say "Superstar" with energetic jazz hands.


5. Celebrating Broadway events on your own.
Today is the birthday of Sondheim AND Lloyd Webber?! No one cares.
Today is the anniversary of when Rent opened on Broadway?! You eat a cake by yourself. Send in the clowns.


6. Having to explain to everyone what the Tony Awards are.

If I had a penny (may it RIP in Canada) for every time someone asked me, I'd be rich. I have to say "They are like the Oscars but for Broadway musicals". Deep inside I say "IT'S CHRISTMAS ON BROADWAY AND IT'S MAGICAL AND SPECIAL AND IT'S THE BEST NIGHT IN NEW YORK".

7. A local theatre is putting on a classic Broadway musical. You're the only one who knows that the show has existed for years.
In my high school, we did a classic musical that is well known in the theatre community, but not so much in this town. When I found out about the show, I was already singing the songs, curious about the staging, the roles, EVERYTHING.
At the meeting, whenever the director would be like "Okay so who has heard of this song?"
Me: "ME!!!! IT'S A GREAT ONE"
Fellow peers: Stares.


8. You Knew Who Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison and Jenna Ushkotwitz were BEFORE Glee. And others.
In 2008, I listened to the Spring Awakening album non stop. Whenever "Mama Who Bore Me" played, I had this feeling inside that Lea would be famous. And that she is!
I even saw Jenna in Spring Awakening when she was in the ensemble!


9. You Knew About Wicked Before It Was POPULAR or really any other musical.
Back in 2005 (yes I didn't know about it in 2003 when it opened) I heard about this show and already familiarized myself with the original cast and story line. After talking about it to people and saying how amazing it is, a few years later everyone is like: OMG WICKED IS THE BEST SHOW EVER LIKE OMG.
I'm quite glad it's reached a height of popularity in my area, but you always feel kinda proud to know who knew of something before it was POP-U-LAR!


10. You Have HIGH expectations for local productions
Whether you've seen the show yourself or have studied it (aka reading websites and listening to the score), you have expectations of how it should be and are sickened when the actors have zero emotion.
Of course, everyone has their own interpretation of a role, but some aspects should remain the same. Like Mimi should be sexy in Out Tonight, not all "Come play with me I'm trying to be sexy but I'm really not".
There's are music festivals where some singers perform songs from musicals and the judicator always comments on how they have the notes right, but have NO IDEA about the character they are portraying nor the show.

11. You cringe at mistakes made by local theatres

If I had a dime for musicals in my area who mistakenly called a musical a "Tony Winner" or other "facts", I would be wealthy. Don't rely on Wiki, kids! BroadwayWorld is the way to go!

AND FINALLY

12. You celebrate the Tony Awards...alone

My dream has been to host a huge Tony party with snacks themed off of nominated musicals and having everyone play drinking games. Sometimes I celebrate with a fellow theatre friend of mine, other times I celebrate and scream at the TV by myself.

If you have any similar experiences of being a small-town Broadway fan, comment below with your story! Just remember: No one is alone. Really. Truly. See what I did there? ;)