Musicals To Make Us Smile

This year's telecast of the Tony Awards featured wonderful tributes to classic Broadway musicals.  Going into commercial breaks we saw casts from currently running shows singing numbers from  "Phantom of the Opera," "Guys & Dolls," "Cabaret," "The Lion King," and "Rent," among others.

Since the Tony's were celebrating their 70th anniversary, it got me thinking of the musicals I've been fortunate to see over the years.  And if I didn't see them, I at least knew the music.  Soundtracks were often played on the stereo in my house as I was growing up.

The celebration of Broadway on Sunday night seemed to tap into the universal joy that comes from music.  So as difficult as the weekend was, with so much tragedy, I found myself smiling and tapping my feet along with each singer and dancer on stage.

Among my favorite Broadway classics are "A Chorus Line," "Jekyll and Hyde," "Dreamgirls" and a show that represents a traditional Broadway musical with love story, shiny costumes, and lots of tap dancing: "42nd Street." If you'd like to see a feel-good number, watch this clip (starring Jerry Orbach of "Law & Order" fame.)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNAM45hCBpw

Seeing as Manhattan is pretty easy to get to from Ocean and Monmouth Counties, do you go to the Theatre District?  What are some soundtracks or Broadway musicals that you enjoy?