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See how your opinions match up with the rest of the Theatre Nerds community and take our Emmy-inspired poll:

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Pack your suitcase! Here are 11 dream vacations that will entice the theatre nerd at heart:

1. Salzburg, Austria

The hills of Salzburg are definitely alive with the sound of music – which is exactly why they were used for the set of the beloved film about Maria and the von Trapp family. If you’re a movie buff with a soft spot for this classic story, twirl and frolic through the rolling hills of Salzburg.

2. Stratford-upon-Avon, England

Nestled two hours away from London, Stratford-upon-Avon has long been a mecca for those who study and appreciate The Bard. The birthplace of William Shakespeare most certainly pays tribute to the famous playwright, and also offers a quaint and cozy getaway spot.

3. West End of London, England

Known for its incredible theatre scene, London’s West End district offers live entertainment of every genre. From hole-in-the-wall theatres producing original, avant garde work to grand-scale musicals, this charming city has it all.

4. Athens, Greece

Travel back in time and visit the ancient ruins that remain a breathtaking hotspot in Greece. Athens, known as the birthplace of western theatre, offers plenty of historical artifacts in the origins of performing arts.

5. Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo is an amazing city for food, shopping, sightseeing and – you guessed it – performing arts. The New National Theatre, a major performing arts center in the city, offers ballet, opera, contemporary dance and other drama. Audiences can also get a taste of the kabuki tradition at the regal Kabukiza Theatre.

6. Edinburgh, Scotland

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1. “Six” – Six

Treat yourself like the QUEEN you are! The finale of “Six”, the acclaimed pop-concert musical coming to Broadway in 2020, allows the infamous six wives of Henry VIII to “rewrite” their history, giving themselves the happy endings they deserve.

2. “The Schuyler Sisters” – Hamilton

Grab two of your best girls and jam with this fierce trio of ladies. These sisters are sure to *revolutionize* your day for the better. WORK!

3. “I’m Here” – The Color Purple

In this beloved musical, a young woman endures tragedy but prevails in finding her true self and offering some of the most empowering lyrics to date: “I believe I have inside of me everything that I need to live a bountiful life, and all the love alive in me, I’ll stand as tall as the tallest tree.”

4. “Defying Gravity” – Wicked

Whether you’re an Elphaba or a Glinda, it’s time to trust your instincts, close your eyes, and make that leap towards whatever goal you’ve been wanting to achieve. This inspiring song will help… You are unlimited!

5. “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” – Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

We hear you, Carole, we hear you.

6. “Dancing Queen” – Mamma Mia!

Is there a better way to start your day? Or end your day? Or to have a mid-day dance party? Whether you’re jamming solo style in your bedroom or getting ready for a night out on the town with girlfriends, this little ditty is just the one for you.

7. “The Lioness Hunt” – The Lion King

Claws out, ladies. This understated choral number from the ‘The Lion King’ Broadway musical is a beautiful tribute to the fierce lionesses of Pride Rock. And it’s awesome.

8. “Cell Block Tango” – Chicago

Pop! Six! Squish! This one is for that dude who wronged you…

9. “A Soft Place To Land” – Waitress

Sometimes sugar, butter, flour and the soundtrack of ‘Waitress’ is all you need. This modern musical is chock full of powerhouse-lady musical numbers but this particular gem is a favorite of ours. It’s the perfect add to your playlist, especially when you’re seeking relaxation vibes.

10. “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair” – South Pacific

This is our total breakup aesthetic, just saying…

11. “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” – Dreamgirls

Maybe you’re not going on that date you’re dreading. Maybe you’re not going to work today. Maybe you’re not going to leave your bed this entire weekend. Wherever you’re not going, YOU GOT THIS! (But for real, this is an amazing song. Take a listen.)

12. “Don’t Rain On My Parade” – Funny Girl

What better way to end the Ultimate Girl-Power Broadway Musical Playlist than with Babs? Perhaps one of the greatest hits from the iconic musical ‘Funny Girl’, this song is a belt-worthy tune all about shutting out the haters and living your very best life. As Barbra would say, “Life’s candy and the sun’s a ball of butter. Don’t bring around a cloud to rain on my parade!”

Have a show tune you would add to this playlist? Share it with us in the comments below!

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In honor of all the fallen tunes out there, we’ve rounded up 10 songs from contemporary musicals that you should add to your library ASAP!

1. “I Don’t Remember Anything At All” – 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

It’s our favorite cut moment of the bee! William Finn gifted us so much character-driven music in this colorful show that it’s hard to imagine more. Long before Broadway, Ms. Rona Lisa Peretti had a ballad smack dab in the middle of the show, belting out her glory days at the bee. Not to mention, you should jump at any chance to listen to Lisa Howard’s otherworldly vocals.

2. “The Clouds Will Drift Away” – SPRING AWAKENING

This song existed in the original demo recording of Spring Awakening, which was performed by Duncan Sheik. It was later replaced with the haunting “Those You’ve Known”. Here’s the full demos and cut songs playlist.

3.“Beacon of Positivity” – LEGALLY BLONDE

This is the original seed that eventually grew up into “Positive.” While we love the way things wound up, there’s something catchy and inspiring about this rough repetitive tune. It’s especially worth listening to for the booming ending!

4. “Costco” – NEXT TO NORMAL

It’s hard to picture any other music existing in this breathtaking Pulitzer Prize winning dram-sical, especially a song about Costco. And yet, a frenzied ode to the wholesale store was in the tracklist shopping cart straight up until its Broadway checkout. Thank the Youtube Gods that you can still see Alice Ripley slaying the number Off-Broadway.

5. “Family Home Evening” – THE BOOK OF MORMON

This tickling demo, sung by none other than Trey Parker, gives us a cute look into the Mormons “home” life. Crank it up if you’re a BOM fan in search of more laughs!

6.“The Truth About the Moon” – NEWSIES

What a title, eh? Compared to many of Alan Menken’s magnificently fashioned songs, we understand why this one didn’t make the cut. It doesn’t totally seem necessary as it heavily relies on the show’s main anthem “Santa Fe.” However, it’s still a beautiful song and worth the listen!

7. “Word You Never Heard” – SOMETHNG ROTTEN!

So many “rotten” tomatoes were tossed out of this musical comedy that there could be a whole alternative show – oh wait, there is! Something Really Rotten was presented at the glorious sub Broadway hub 54 Below, showcasing all of the songs that did not make the cut from this quirky Shakespearean world. “Word You Never Heard” was hilariously performed by Christian Borle, who won a Tony for his performance as Will Shakes. Another recommendation is the beautiful “Lovely Love,” which almost made it into the Broadway run.

8.“Congratulations” – HAMILTON

This Lin-Manuel Miranda piece is especially exciting for the Angelica stans out there. “Congratulations” puts our pink-dressed Schuyler sister in a fiery spotlight as she strongly scolds Alexander Hamilton for writing The Reynolds Pamphlet. As many faniltons will tell you, a small slice of this still exists in the blockbuster hit’s song “The Reynolds Pamphlet” today.

9. “In The Bedroom Down The Hall” – DEAR EVAN HANSEN

WARNING: Get ready to feel all the feels. Just in case the original DEH soundtrack doesn’t well your eyes with enough tears, the team has released several cut songs from their award-winning show. Oscar and Tony Award-winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul’s provide particular insight into our map seeking mammas with “In The Bedroom Down The Hall.” This cements yet another reason for seeking out deleted material – you get to know the characters better! Check out this playlist for more cut songs. Sincerely, Theatre Nerds.

10. “Down at the Diner” – WAITRESS THE MUSICAL

To end this listicle on the same sugary note we started, here’s a sweet cut confection from the musical, ‘Waitress’.  “Down at the Diner” was originally the show’s opening number, welcoming audiences into Joe’s Pie Diner with that signature Sara country twang we all love.

BONUS: “Someone Gets Hurt” (Original) – MEAN GIRLS

While the current “Someone Gets Hurt” is a fetch dream, we think this original iteration is also, like, really pretty and wanted to include it here. It lives more in the film version of the story, but is chock full of LOL instances that have Tina Fey’s humor permenant-markered all over them.

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The pop concert musical centers around the six wives of King Henry VIII, most known for their gruesome short-lived marriages. This time around, audiences experience history in a new way: through the lens of each respective queen who retells her story in true pop-diva fashion. The result? A captivating, empowering musical experience that will have you rocking out the entire time.

Don’t lose ur head! Get down with these important tidbits about ‘Six’…

1. You’ve probably heard of King Henry’s ex-wives.

The ladies of King Henry’s court have long been adapted to both literature and Hollywood. Fictional versions such as ‘The Other Boleyn Girl’, ‘The Tudors’ and ‘Wolf Hall’ have introduced modern generations to names like Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour — two of the women we see featured in ‘Six’. The show also sheds light on the lesser-known queens, Catherine of Aragon, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Henry’s final and surviving wife, Catherine Parr.

2. It’s a true concert experience.

Don’t expect to be sitting in your seat by the end of this show…in fact, rising and rocking out is encouraged during the final musical performance. The cast is small (including only the six featured cast members, plus a live all-female band) and the stage itself is of pop concert caliber. Each woman brings a different style of music to the table, subtly influenced by famous pop artists. Catherine of Aragon and Anna of Cleves both seem to channel their inner Beyoncé (albeit different musical styles from the artist), Jane Seymour belts a heartfelt ballad, and Katherine Howard brings Ariana Grande vibes. 

3. It’s got a modern touch.

In this musical, Anne Boleyn uses lingo like “LOL” and Anna of Cleves sings about her profile picture (a.k.a her painted portrait). Need we say more?

4. It has a royally successful future ahead.

‘Six’ first made its debut at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2017 and went on to open Off-West End at the Arts Theatre. Subsequently, its success made way for a UK tour, followed by a recent production in the US at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre (where it’s set to play again in 2020). Along with the Chicago production, the show is set to head to Sydney for its Australian premiere and, of course, to Broadway in the coming year.

5. There is serious girl power.

In the words of the Ex-Wives, they are “Divorced. Beheaded. Died. Divorced. Beheaded. Survived.” In this unconventional retelling of the women known only for being married to a violent king, audiences are introduced to six powerful women, each with more to their story than presented in history books. This tale of empowering Tudor ladies is enough to make anyone say “YAS QUEEN.”

Broadway preview performances of ‘Six’ will begin Feb. 13, 2020 and open officially at the Brooks Atkinson Theater on March 12, 2020.

The post YAS QUEEN! ‘Six’ Is Coming To Broadway And Here’s Everything You Need To Know appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

Next time you’re feeling blue, belt one of these show tunes to brighten your mood:

1. “Don’t Rain On My Parade” (‘Funny Girl’)

Don’t tell me not to live
Just sit and putter
Life’s candy and the sun’s
A ball of butter
Don’t bring around a cloud
To rain on my parade

2. “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out Of My Hair” (‘South Pacific’)

Wash him out, dry him out!
Push him out, fly him out!
Cancel him and let him go (yeah, sister!)

3. “One Day More” (‘Les Misérables’)

Tomorrow we’ll discover
What our God in Heaven has in store
One more dawn
One more day
One day more

4. “Dancing Through Life” (‘Wicked’)

Dancing through life
Mindless and careless
Make sure you’re where less
Trouble in life
Woes are fleeting
Blows are glancing
When you’re dancing
Through life

5. “I Have Confidence” (‘The Sound Of Music’)

I must dream of the things I am seeking, I am seeking the courage I lack
The courage to serve them with reliance
Face my mistakes without defiance
Show them I’m worthy
And while I show them
I’ll show me!

6. “Wait For It” (‘Hamilton’)

I am the one thing in life I can control
I am inimitable I am an original
I’m not falling behind or running late
I’m not standing still
I am lying in wait

7. “You Will Be Found” (‘Dear Evan Hansen’)

So let the sun come streaming in
‘Cause you’ll reach up and you’ll rise again
Lift your head and look around
You will be found

8. “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” (‘Gypsy’)

Well, someone tell me, when is it my turn?
Don’t I get a dream for myself?
Starting now it’s gonna be my turn
Gangway, world, get off of my runway!
Starting now I bat a thousand!
This time, boys, I’m taking the bows and
Everything’s coming up Rose!

9. “Tomorrow” (‘Annie’)

The sun’ll come out
Tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar
That tomorrow
There’ll be sun!

10. “I Got The Sun In The Morning” (‘Annie Get Your Gun’)

Got no mansion, got no yacht,
Still I’m happy with what I’ve got;
I’ve got the sun in the morning and the moon at night.

11. “Put On A Happy Face” (‘Bye Bye Birdie’)

Gray skies are gonna clear up,
Put on a happy face;
Brush off the clouds and cheer up,
Put on a happy face.

12. “Seize The Day” (‘Newsies’)

Now is the time to seize the day
They’re gonna see there’s hell to pay
Nothing can break us
No one can make us quit before we’re done
One for all and all for one!

13. “Non-Stop” (‘Hamilton’)

Why do you write like you’re running out of time?
Write day and night like you’re running out of time?
Ev’ry day you fight, like you’re running out of time
Keep on fighting
In the meantime
Non-stop

14. “I Believe” (‘The Book Of Mormon’)

And now I can feel the excitement, this is the moment I was born to do
And I feel so incredible to be sharing my faith with you

15. “Defying Gravity” (‘Wicked’)

So if you care to find me
Look to the western sky
As someone told me lately
“Ev’ryone deserves the chance to fly”

16. “Dancing Queen” (‘Mamma Mia!’)

You can dance
You can jive
Having the time of your life!

17. “You Can’t Stop The Beat” (‘Hairspray’)

‘Cause you cant stop the motion of the ocean
Or the sun in the sky
You can wonder if you wanna, but I never ask why
And if you try to hold me down I’m gonna spit in your eye and say
That you can’t stop the beat!

Do you have another show tune that never fails to cheer you up? Share it in the comments below!

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