My dad's love of musicals embarrassed me. When he drove me places, the car door would swing open and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" would permeate the unsuspecting ears of my classmates. Sometimes he would even sing — loudly. But secretly, I kind of liked the catchy tunes, the love ballads, the 'It's Broadway, baby' vibe.
It's true, my dad is a connoisseur of Broadway. He couldn't care less about the Red Wings and has never been anxious about an upcoming Pistons game. He looks forward to seeing a great show.
My secret Broadway love affair began in my living room. My sisters and I gathered in front of the TV to watch "Singin' in the Rain," "Grease," "The Sound of Music," "Gigi" and "Hello, Dolly!" We watched "The Pajama Game" right before bed. I became awed by Paul Robeson's booming bass in "Show Boat" and wanted Julie Andrews as my personal nanny.
But I really only began to understand Broadway when my dad started taking me to shows. By the time I saw "The Phantom of the Opera" for my 12th birthday, it had hit me — show tunes were the angel of music.
From there, "42nd Street," "Forbidden Broadway," "Titanic," "The Lion King," "Little Shop of Horrors," "Mamma Mia!" and "Saturday Night Fever" followed. We even had a star sighting — Sarah Jessica Parker was in the audience of "Seussical." She left before the intermission because she was being bugged for her autograph, but I still felt like I was among the stars.
Undoubtedly, my real epiphany, was in "Eponine." That's right, "Les Misérables." In my mind, the mother of all musicals, the granddaddy, take-it-away musical.
Maybe that's how I became interested in the French language. I always thought I started French because my middle school class was supposed to take a trip to France. That ended up falling through, and our class ate French pastries at a bowling alley instead.
Still, whether it was the sweet and desperate love scenes, the dynamics of the revolution or the wonderful music, I was hooked.
My dad and I went to New York together a few years ago — armed with tickets to see "Rent." He had already seen it, and it wasn't one of his favorites. I think it's because my dad's more of an old soul. He likes the classics. My mom likes to say he should have been born a generation before.
To be honest, it wasn't one of my favorites at the time. The rock opera didn't sit well with me — it seemed dissonant, too harsh, with the exception of "Seasons of Love." It was not until recently that I embraced it. I'll admit it. It was around the time the movie came out. So the movie might not have been great, but oh, the music.
With "Chicago" and the renewed interest in the movie musical, I've reclaimed my Broadway beginnings. I'm not ashamed to jam out to show tunes. I'm content to make life a "Cabaret."
Melissa Talon is the State News arts reporter. Reach her at talonmel@msu.edu.
