A modern adaptation of Puccini's La Boheme, this uplifting rock opera is about a group of friends learning to cope with life and love in the midst of poverty and the AIDS epidemic. It does a great job blending humor with drama, and this OBC soundtrack is simply amazing. I was lucky enough to catch Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal reprising their roles in NY--just wow!

A modern adaptation of Puccini's Madame Butterfly that is set during the Vietnam War, this poignant musical tells the story of a Vietnamese woman's doomed love affair with an American GI. This original London cast soundtrack is amazing.

Tony nominated composer Paul Gordon brings to life Jane Austen's Emma in a delightful new romantic musical comedy which had it's world premiere in Palo Alto, CA. It follows the matchmaking mischief of Emma, an effervescent ingenue who is obsessed with romance but clueless about love. This will serve as a placeholder till a cast CD comes out. Some of the music can be found at indieclectic.com.

Adapted from the movie, this fun & upbeat musical follows Valley Girl Elle Woods' efforts to be regarded seriously at Harvard Law School to win back her ex. I've only seen the MTV broadcast and would love to catch the show live. Laura Bell Bundy shines as Elle! And the supporting cast is solid. I esp. love the numbers with her Delta Nu sisters.

Based on Frank Wedekind's controversial 1891 German play of the same name, this rock opera explores the tortured inner lives of a handful of adolescents as they deal with family, friends, school, and sexuality. The OBC cast is simply amazing--it's no wonder they won Best Musical for 2007. I'm glad I was able to watch this in NY--twice!

This musical uses ABBA songs to tell the humorous story of how one girl's search for her father leads to her mother's confrontation with 3 past lovers. A great, fun OBC soundtrack that will definitely get you grooving. :)

Adapted from the Disney movie, this enchanting fairytale about looking beyond outer appearances is now brought to life on stage. I was never a fan of the movie but found myself really loving the stage production. The original songs of the movie are still present, along with great additional numbers such as "Home", "Human Again", and "If I Can't Love Her".

This musical adaptation of Monty Python's Spamalot is funny & entertaining as it parodies both the Arthurian legend & musical theater. I was really impressed by the numbers sang by The Lady of the Lake. Not only does she showcase an amazing voice, but comedic chops as well. Marin Mazzie in London was incredible in this role--she had both the voice and the comedy down.

A funny and entertaining musical about the pressures 6 kids face competing in the 25th annual Putnam County spelling bee. The music wasn't really memorable. The one standout song was "The I Love You" song. But the characterizations and interactions between the characters and the audience were hilarious. I was pleasantly surprised.

Unlike traditional musicals, a much visible pianist & band performs all the songs on a platform above the stage while the principal actors dance out the story. I thought the dancing was great & they did a decent job stringing together Billy Joel songs to tell a story about a group of friends growing up in the 60s & dealing with the Vietnam War. Not as interesting as Mammia Mia/Jersey Boys though.

Adapted from the Disney movie, this coming-of-age story about a young lion prince comes to life on stage. Although the costumes are amazing & the songs are beautiful, I didn't really love the stage production--maybe it was too overhyped. I was disappointed with some of the scene stagings also. Anyways, I'd still recommend seeing it & deciding for yourself.

A musical black comedy about a nerdy florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood. The storyline is farfetched but the music is very catchy and the humor is offbeat. I really like Lee Wilkof's Seymour. I saw Christiane Noll in a touring company as Audrey and really loved her rendition.

Based on Alice Walker's novel, this musical focuses on young, black and uneducated Celie. Although abused throughout her young life, Celie slowly discovers her strength and beauty through her encounters with strong black women Sophia and Shug. Although the performances were amazing, the music wasn't memorable and I'm not sure if a musical is ideal for this story.

I actually saw the touring cast with Molly Ringwald. For Molly not being a natural singer/dancer, I thought she did a great job acting/singing/dancing. Although the show had its funny moments & some good musical numbers, it ended a bit weak for me.

Based on T.S. Eliot poems, this is one of the most popular musicals of all time. After finally getting a chance to watch it, all I can think of is why? I think the performances were great but the storyline could have been fleshed out more. I still enjoyed some numbers, particularly The Jellicle Cats, Gus: The Theater Cat, Mr. Mistoffellees & Memory.