Write Around The Corner // Beth Turnbull

451 shows in the span of one year. The Broadway 2 A Day challenge is complete. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the 3-5 people who followed this blog for a whole year. This challenge has allowed me to connect with new people and share my love of musical theatre while unable to see shows due to COVID.  Although this challenge became overwhelming at times I'm so glad I stuck with it and continued to document it on this blog and on my  Spotify.  Early in the new year, I plan to do a "Best Of" style recap to recommend a handful of shows for listening, then I will be taking a long break from this blog. Thanks again, let's dive in one more time. Hadestown Have I heard of it before? Yes, this is one of my favorite shows of all time. This was my top album on my Spotify Wrapped in 2019. Did I enjoy it? Yes, this music is so beautiful and haunting.  Synopsis: Orpheus, a passionate and talented musician, and Eurydice, an independent and resilient young woman, fall ...

Hello again! We are down to the penultimate blog and what a journey. Don't forget you can listen to all my favorite songs from the year in my mega Spotify playlist.  Let's get into it. Frozen: The Broadway Musical Have I heard of it before? Hasn't everyone at this point? Did I enjoy it? Yes, I like all the added songs Synopsis: When newly-crowned Queen Elsa accidentally sets off an eternal winter in the town of Arendelle, her younger sister Anna (along with her friends Kristoff, Olaf, and Sven) goes off on a thrilling adventure to find her sister and save the kingdom. Facing an unsuspected villain, unpredictable ice powers, and something new waiting round every corner, Anna must fight alongside her friends to bring back summer. Frozen reveals how true love can come in many forms, and that the bond between sisters is something truly special. (Stage Agent) Favorite song: Monster Pretty Woman: The Musical Have I heard of it before? This is one of my favorite movies of all time...

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays! I am soooo close to the end of this challenge. I've had fun with it but I am ready to take a break and just listen to my favorite musicals for my own enjoyment and nothing else. I've got about two more blogs' worth of shows after this post so stay tuned. Then early in the new year, I will do a "best of" wrap-up. Thanks for reading all year, let's dive in. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Have I heard of it before? Yes Did I enjoy it? Yes, but I'd rather just watch the Gene Wilder movie Synopsis: When young Charlie wins a golden ticket to the mysterious Wonka Chocolate Factory, it's the chance of a lifetime to feast on the sweets and chocolates that have always been right under his nose but unaffordable for the Bucket family. Could it also be his family’s route out of poverty? Along with the other winners--Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, Mike Teavee, and Augustus Gloop--Charlie is swept inside of the mysterious factory...

This blog might just include the best shows of modern musical theatre in one grouping. This is the third blog I've written this week to keep up so let's dive in!  Amazing Grace Have I heard of it before? Nope Did I enjoy it? I really like Josh Young but this show did not really need to exist Synopsis: A tale of romance, rebellion and redemption, the show follows one man whose incredible journey ignited a historic wave of change that gave birth to the abolitionist movement. John Newton, a willful and musically talented young Englishman, faces a future as uncertain as the turning tide. Coming of age as Britain sits atop an international empire of slavery, he finds himself torn between following in the footsteps of his father—a slave trader—and embracing the more compassionate views of his childhood sweetheart. (Broadway.com) Favorite song: Truly Alive Hamilton Have I heard of it before? ... Did I enjoy it? I really do love this show and will always feel so lucky I got to see it ...

By the grace of God, I will catch up with this challenge - mark my words! I can't believe we're already in 2015. These shows were coming out as a graduated high school - time flies. And as always you can listen to all of these favorite songs on my Spotify . Buckle up this is a long one. Rocky Have I heard of it before? Yes but I have never seen the movie don't get mad at me Did I enjoy it? Andy Karl was great but I don't really think we needed a Rocky musical Synopsis: Rocky the Musical is based on the 1976 film of the same name written by Stallone. (Wikipedia) Favorite song: Fight From The Heart Aladdin Have I heard of it before? Of course, this is one of my favorite animated Disney movies of all time. I haven't seen the stage show yet. Did I enjoy it? Yes, the added songs really do fit well with the show. Synopsis: In Agrabah, City of Enchantment, every beggar has a story and every camel has a tail! Aladdin, a kind but wily, street urchin, falls in love with beaut...

Would you believe me if I told you I had listened to 415 Broadway cast recordings so far this year? I truly cannot believe how far we've come... There are just a few more years left until we reach the 2020 shows and the end of this challenge - but don't worry I will do a "best-of" style wrap-up. Let's dive in. Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson Have I heard of it before? No Did I enjoy it? It had some fun numbers but was forgettable overall Synopsis: The musical relates events in the life of early 20th century evangelist and pop culture icon Aimee Semple McPherson. It follows her life and career from her childhood to her controversial death in 1944, focusing on her mysterious kidnapping and the ensuing trial. Other highlights include her becoming the first woman to obtain a radio broadcast license in the United States, her cross-country drive unaccompanied by a man, her multimedia empire that included several newspapers, and her interactions...

Legendary composer Stephen Sondheim passed away yesterday at the age of 91. He was a creative giant in the Broadway community and inspired so many artists throughout the years with his unique concepts and intricate songwriting.  Sondheim's most notable work included the music and lyrics for Company, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Into the Woods, A Little Night Music, Merrily We Roll Along, Passion, Sunday in the Park with George, Sweeney Todd, and the lyrics for West Side Story and Gypsy. He worked on 20+ shows throughout his career and never really wrote about the same topic twice. I have loved Sondheim's work for as long as I can remember loving musical theatre in the way I do now. The first role I ever played (granted, I played her pretty poorly) was The Baker's Wife in Into the Woods Jr. I feel more in love with his finesse for songwriting and just how witty and emotional his shows could be. In honor of his legacy, I would like to share just some (I cou...

Hello all and happy belated Thanksgiving - I'm a bit behind on this challenge (shocking) but am determined to finish no later than January.  In recent news, theatrical genius Stephen Sondheim passed away yesterday at the age of 91 - leaving behind a powerful legacy. I plan to post a compilation of some of my favorite lyrics of his soon so stay tuned.  In the meantime let's check in on these 2010s shows. Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark Have I heard of it before? Yes, this show made a lot of headlines for cast member injuries and going over budget Did I enjoy it? Not really Synopsis: The musical follows the story of teenager Peter Parker, whose unremarkable life is turned upside-down—literally—when he’s bitten by a genetically altered spider and wakes up the next morning clinging to his bedroom ceiling. This bullied science-geek—suddenly endowed with astonishing powers—soon learns, however, that with great power comes great responsibility as villains test not only his physical str...

Howdy howdy - we are in the second to last month of this challenge and I truly cannot believe it. I am listening to shows from 2011 and I started this with shows from 1950. Strange the passage of time. There's a lot of great shows ahead and we're heading into the holiday season so spirits are high. Let's dive in.  The Story of my Life Have I heard of it before? Nope Did I enjoy it? Absolutely not, this was truly awful Synopsis: The Story of My Life is a musical with music and lyrics by Neil Bartram, and a book by Brian Hill. The show follows two childhood friends from age six to 35 and has only two characters. (Wikipedia) Favorite song: The Butterfly The Addams Family Have I heard of it before? Yes Did I enjoy it? Yes this is a fun show Synopsis: The Addamses have lived by their unique values for hundreds of years and Gomez and Morticia, the patriarch and matriarch of the clan, would be only too happy to continue living that way. Their dark, macabre, beloved daughter Wedn...

Happy November! I can't believe how simultaneously slow and fast this year has been. I hope everyone had a fun and festive Halloween and is excited for the coziness of Thanksgiving and Christmas, the best days of the year in my opinion.  We are squarely in the mid to late-2000s of this challenge and so it is my time to shine. So many of these shows hold a special place in my heart and I'm excited to continue to share them with you. Let's get started.  The Little Mermaid Have I heard of it before? Of course Did I enjoy it? I did, Disney does a great musical Synopsis: Beautiful mermaid Ariel should be a happy girl -- she lives in an enchanted undersea country, her father is a King, and she has the most beautiful singing voice. But she is a passionate, headstrong teenager, and wants what she cannot have -- to live on land. When she falls in love with a handsome human prince, Ariel is more determined than ever to gain a pair of legs. But her only option is to defy her furious...