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Anna Marie Tendler is a complicated woman, and my feelings after reading her memoir are complicated too.

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  TW: mentions of psychiatric hospitals, self-harm, suidicial ideation, disordered eating, depression, anxiety, general discussion of mental illness “Men Have Called Her Crazy: A Memoir” follows artist Anna Marie Tendler in early 2021 as she voluntarily “checked herself into a psychiatric hospital following a year of crippling anxiety, depression and self-harm.” At this time, she is also mid-divorce with comedian John Mulaney, which is likely a significant reason why a lot of people wanted to read this book (spoiler: he isn’t mentioned explicitly, this is her story.)  The subject matter of this book is heavy. Tendler discusses her long history of depression, anxiety, self-harm by cutting herself with scissors, disordered eating, suicidal ideation, her difficult relationship with her mother, her storied dating history, her career high and lows, and her struggle to get the mental health support she truly needed. The memoir bounces back and forth between her time in the hospital and “how
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BEST OF: Broadway 2 A Day (Favorites by Decade + Suggestions for Listening)

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Happy New Year! As promised, this is the final  Broadway 2 A Day blog where I will list my favorite listens from the challenge and suggest a smaller number of shows for those of you looking to expand your musical theatre horizons.  The creator of this challenge is providing materials for a One A Day challenge this year which will allow folks to listen to one show each weekday for a longer timeline. If you are interested in doing that please let me know!  Note, I'm going to try to pick shows that don't get as much attention where it makes sense. Okay, one last time - let's dive in. Best Shows by Decade 1950s Brigadoon Annie Get Your Gun West Side Story  Gypsy 1960s Camelot She Loves Me Sweet Charity  Cabaret 1970s Company Jesus Christ Superstar A Little Night Music Sweeney Todd 1980s Sunday in the Park with George Into the Woods Les Miserables Phantom of the Opera 1990s Falsettos Rent Jekyll & Hyde The Secret Garden 2000s Aida The Producers Spring Awakening Next to Norma
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FINAL Broadway 2 A Day: 2018 - 2020 (Hadestown, Beetlejuice, Diana and Six)

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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 in lov
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Broadway 2 A Day: 2017 - 2019 (Frozen, Mean Girls, The Prom, etc.)

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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
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Broadway 2 A Day: 2016 - 2018 (Anastasia, Band's Visit, Spongebob and more)

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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
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Broadway 2 A Day: 2014 - 2017 (Hamilton, Waitress, Great Comet, DEH, Come From Away)

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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 o
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Broadway 2 A Day: 2013-2015 (If/Then, Fun Home, Something Rotten and more)

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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
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