I am going to make this obsession really obvious, but I LOVE MUSICALS! Give me a bunch of people breaking into random song and dance and I am a happy girl. However, if I had to pick one musical, one melodiously filled plot, it would have to be the 1992 cult classic Newsies.

Directed by Kenny Ortega (he did High School Musical) and starring Christian Bale (yes, it is actually him singing), how could this film ever be overlooked? Good question! I ask it many times myself. Featuring dance-in-your-seat numbers like “Seize the Day,” dance-around-the-room songs like “Carrying the Banner,” and heartfelt ballads that bring a tear to your eye like “Santa Fe,” this musical has it all. Witty one-liners, tap solos and a bit of romance, Newsies overlooks nothing.

I have taken it upon myself to create a top 10 list of my favorite musicals for you to check out. I even gave the reasons why! The first one obviously being…Newsies! How did you guess (lol)? The rest are in no particular order.
 
1) Newsies (movie)
Christian Bale and other fine men dancing and singing, sometimes shirtless. Need I say more? No, I think not. My whole journalism future is based off this movie. Don’t judge me.
 
2) Rent (movie or stage)
The emotional tale. I saw this twice on stage and three times on the big screen. Each time I sobbed like a tiny child and left the theater wanting to call everyone I know and tell them how much I love them.
 
3) Wicked (stage)
Because I enjoy dancing through life, swaying and sweeping, and always keeping cool. I like to chill with the Wizard, the Wizard and I. And because I know, one day, I will defy gravity. (If you know what I’m talking about, you must love Wicked too!)
 
4) Singing in the Rain (movie)
Who doesn’t love Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor breaking out into
those intense tap sequences? This is a feel good 1950s musical, complete with all the glamour that comes with Hollywood at the time. Added plus: You now have a song to sing while you dance through puddles. Life is complete.  
 
5) The Last Five Years (stage)
The plotline of this show is crazy, so crazy it works. Jamie starts at the
beginning of the relationship and Kathy starts at the end of it. The only time they meet during the show is in the middle of the five years at their wedding. By the time the whole thing is over Jamie has moved on to another woman, Kathy has just fallen in love with Jamie, and you’re sitting there simultaneously clapping and sobbing. Bring tissues.
 
6) Evita (movie)
Why you ask: Madonna and Antonio Banderas—need I say more? They do the tango! Yeah, now you’re hooked. I so got you.
 
7) Grease (stage or movie)
If you haven’t seen Grease yet I would like you to turn off the computer and go to the nearest movie store.
 
8) Hairspray (stage or movie)
’Cause you can’t stop the beat…for two and a half hours. And then you can’t stop the beat…for the weeks after when the music is stuck in your head. You don’t even want to stop the beat. Sick, isn’t it?
 
9) Seussical (stage)
Dr. Seuss’s amazing rhyming skills matched with the musical stylings of Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime) is the most entertaining thing ever created. With an attitudinal kangaroo, a band of rebellious monkeys, an elephant with a good heart and a small who-boy with big dreams, you are bound to have good times. Reminds me of some of my friends actually.
 
10) Sweeney Todd (stage or movie)
For the movie, I have three words: Johnny. Depp. Singing. Yeah, you want to see it now. I won’t lie, that fine talented man is the reason I saw it. Sadly I haven’t seen the stage version, but I have it on good authority (a girl I know, lol) that it is excellent.
 
 
So here is my Top 10! Tell me what you think. Do you have any top musicals? Do you like any of mine? Are you gonna check out the latest musical offering in theaters, Mamma Mia!?
 
P.S. I expect all of you to check out Newsies. Live it, love it, sing it.