There’s nothing quite like a good musical. I’ve been lucky enough to see several of them performed both on and off Broadway, and while watching a musical is a great experience, listening can be just as fun! Today, I’ve paired some of my favorite musicals with the TV shows I can’t get enough of. Let’s dive into it!
Love The Good Place? Listen to Standby.
I discovered Standby when I was home for summer break after my sophomore year of college. Back then, I was working in the stock room at the local Skechers shoes, shelving hundreds of pairs of shoes with nothing but my headphones and iced coffee to keep me company. When a random Instagram account for a musical I’d never heard of followed me, I decided to give it a shot. I listened to the album. And then immediately put it on again, and again, and again. I repeated this cycle for five months, until I got the lyrics to my favorite song, Travel On, tattooed on my thigh. Standby begins when five strangers wake up in an airport with no idea of where they are or where they’re supposed to be going. Like the afterlife comedy The Good Place, Standby creates a world in which nothing is what it seems. Every character from both works holds a special place in my heart. I won’t give away too much about Standby (listen for free HERE), but just trust me: If you love Eleanor, Chidi, Michael and the rest, you’ll love Richard, Andrew, Cynthia, Peter, Jonathan and Samantha, too.
Standby contains themes of death and suicide. Please be careful if you are sensitive to these topics.
Love Elite? Listen to Heathers.
Inspired by the 80s movie of the same name, Heathers tells the story of Veronica Sawyer, a nerdy girl who is determined to become popular. When she meets mysterious newcomer Jason Dean (swoon), her plans go up in smoke…literally. If you haven’t watched the Spanish-language Netflix show Elite, allow me to fill you in: When high schooler Marina is murdered, everyone is a suspect. The brilliant ensemble cast guides us through the events leading up to the murder until we finally learn the truth. Both works follow glamorous high schoolers doing…questionable things. If you’re not sold on Heathers yet, listen to Barrett Wilbert Weed’s rendition of Dead Girl Walking, and report back.
Heathers contains themes of death and suicide. Please be careful if you are sensitive to these topics.
Love Stranger Things? Listen to Carrie.
Yes, I too was surprised when I found out that the Stephen King novel Carrie was adapted into a musical! The music is stunning–I can’t stop singing it! The horror elements pair perfectly with the spooky vibe of Stranger Things. Carrie the Musical is perfect for any horror fan.
Carrie the Musical contains themes of bullying and abuse. Please be careful if you are sensitive to these topics.
Love Dead to Me? Listen to Dear Even Hansen
I’m pairing these two together because of their deep themes of lies and deception. In Dead to Me, main character Judy is hiding a HUGE secret. In Dear Evan Hansen, Evan lets a lie spiral so far out of control that he accidentally goes viral. If you’re looking for amazing acting, stunning vocals and songs you won’t be able to get out of your head, Dear Evan Hansen is your pick. I was lucky enough to see this one on Broadway, and it was one of the best nights of my life!
Dear Evan Hansen contains themes of death and suicide. Please be careful if you are sensitive to these topics.
Which of these shows or musicals have you seen? What other musicals should I check out? Please let me know in the comments, as I’m always looking for my next musical obsession!
