Tag: Broadway

Mary Poppins the Musical…Anything Can Happen If You Let It!

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I’ve always believed that music has the power to carry us through life’s hardest seasons, and if there’s one musical that has walked beside me through both joy and trial, it’s Mary Poppins. Not the classic Disney movie version (sorry, Julie Andrews), but the stage adaptation—deeper, darker, and much more aligned with the tone of P.L. Travers’ original books. Yes, this Noteworthy Mommy has read them, and trust me, they’re dark! Which is why the musical version resonated so deeply with me, it captured that complexity in a way that felt honest and strangely comforting.

I first saw the Mary Poppins musical in 2009, when the original Broadway cast members Ashley Brown (as Mary) and Gavin Lee (as Bert) came through town on tour. From the very first note, I was enchanted. The music, the storytelling, the choreography, everything felt elevated and emotionally rich. I bought the cast recording immediately and listened to it on repeat. And repeat. And repeat. The new songs by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe were brilliant additions, seamlessly integrated that they felt like they’d always belonged. The reimagined book by Julian Fellowes (yes, the Downton Abbey guy) was, in a word, practically perfect.

And as magical as it was, it wasn’t just entertainment. That soundtrack came into my life right when I needed it most.

In 2009, my work life was in upheaval. I had only been working as a full time educational consultant for a few years, and we’d already gone through a small merger where a few people were let go. But then came the big one—we merged with our sister company (who also happened to be our biggest competitor). My manager, the woman who had hired me and mentored me, was let go. Suddenly, I was training on new products I hadn’t worked with before, working under a new manager who hadn’t chosen me, and my team had been dismantled. I felt like a stepchild in a new family that didn’t want me.

It was a confusing, discouraging, and emotionally draining time. And somehow, in the middle of that, one particular song from Mary Poppins became my anthem. My lifeline.

“Anything Can Happen.”

Here are some of the lyrics that carried me:

“Anything can happen if you let it

Sometimes things are difficult, but you can bet it

Doesn’t have to be so

Changes can be made

You can move a mountain if you use a larger spade…”

And especially this line:

“If you reach for the stars

All you get are the stars

But we’ve found a whole new spin

If you reach for the heavens

You get the stars thrown in.”

Those words gave me courage. They reminded me that change, while painful, could also be full of possibility. They gave me a thread of hope to hold onto. And they reminded me that I was not alone.

Of course, the ultimate strength that carried me through didn’t come from lyrics or melodies; it came from my faith. It’s only through God, my Heavenly Father, that I’m able to sit here today and write about that difficult season with perspective and peace. Music may have given me comfort, but it was God who gave me transformation. When I finally handed over all my worries and anxieties to Him, really surrendered, it’s like the floodgates of grace opened. That surrender changed everything.

I’ve written before about the power of music and how God uses it to speak into our hearts. It’s a gift that keeps on giving. But fast forward to 2025, and wouldn’t you know it? Mary Poppins found her way into my life again.

This time, it wasn’t a big Broadway tour. It was a local high school production at Lutheran High School. I almost didn’t go—I was too busy, overwhelmed with our family’s ever-growing calendar. But something nudged me to make it work, and so I carved out one evening (a Thursday night) to attend. Mini Me was going to see it the next day with a friend, I even planned to sneak out at intermission to make it to choir rehearsal.

But God had other plans.

As I entered the theater, I immediately saw two of my dear mommy friends, Beth and Becca, sisters in Christ from my Moms in Prayer group, women I faithfully pray with every week and who have become treasured mommy mentors. They invited me to sit with them, and then two more women from church joined us, ladies who love Advent by Candlelight, the special event I lead each year. I looked around and realized I was surrounded by community. Teachers from my daughter’s school. Parents and students in my daughter’s class. Church members who have poured into our lives in countless and beautiful ways.

And then the show began. It was so good I skipped choir and stayed until the end!

I recognized so many young faces on that stage—kids I’ve watched grow up in church, at Zion Lutheran School, in choir. And there, in the lead role of Mary Poppins, was none other than our senior pastor’s daughter. She sang beautifully, as did the entire cast, and flew high above us like the Mary Poppins in the professional productions! What amazed me the most is many of these young people are involved in other activities outside of theatre, but theatre is the thread that brings them together, unites them. And it’s through theatre that they created art for a room full of people to enjoy. They gifted me with this moment. Full circle. Full heart.

The Noteworthy Mommy with Mary Poppins!

During the show I thought of my loving church/school family, in the room that night, people whom I didn’t even know a mere ten years ago. They are exactly what I got on my knees and prayed for. Tears welled in my eyes as I realized how God works in layers and loops. That He’s constantly weaving stories we don’t fully understand until we’re living in the beauty of their unfolding. Mary Poppins wasn’t just a show that once got me through a tough time. It’s become a symbol of how God plants seeds of hope through art, through people, and through the unexpected magic of second chances.

So yes, Mary Poppins the musical will always be very special to me. Not just because it’s better than the movie (sorry again, Julie), not just because of the amazing score or the masterful writing, but because it was there—God placed it there—when I needed it most.

And I’ll never stop believing:

Go and chase your dreams
You won’t regret it. Anything can happen if you let it.

Anything Can Happen Video Link

Click on this link and see a special performance of Anything Can Happen Video featuring the leading women of past and present Disney Broadway shows (Ashley Brown is front and center) along with talented girls who participated in a special fine arts program in NYC.

SUFFS: A Broadway Revelation for Women’s History Month

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If you had told me a year ago that a Broadway musical about the women’s suffrage movement would become one of my all-time favorites, I might have been skeptical. But then I saw SUFFS. And not just any performance—I had the absolute privilege of seeing it on Broadway in December 2024, with the original cast, sitting in the second row, thanks to my amazing friend Auntie Jaime. Talk about an experience of a lifetime!

From the moment the lights dimmed, I knew I was about to witness something special. I consider SUFFS a “female Hamilton.” Shaina Taub not only wrote the book, the lyrics, and the score, but also starred as Alice Paul, just as Lin-Manuel Miranda did for Hamilton. And, like Miranda, she won Tony Awards for best book and score. But SUFFS goes even further in breaking boundaries—its cast is entirely female, where females play all the roles including the roles of men.

A Performance for the History Books—Literally

To our complete surprise, the performance we attended was being recorded for PBS! We even got to meet the show’s incredible director, Leigh Silverman, who spoke to the audience before the curtain rose. She reminded us that history was being made that day, that this story would be preserved for generations to come. She encouraged us to clap loudly, to laugh at all the right places—to help bring the energy of a live audience to the recording. It was an honor to be part of something so significant. If you think all Broadway musicals are filmed, think again—most are not. The fact that SUFFS was chosen to be immortalized in this way speaks to its importance. And I’m writing this article because I want my mother to know I was here. I want my students to know I was here. I want my great-granddaughter to know I was here! (If you listen to the music from SUFFS you’ll know I’m quoting a few lyrics here)

The Story That History Books Leave Out

Despite knowing how it all ends, I have the right to vote, after alI, I had no idea just how brutal and drawn-out the fight was. SUFFS brings to life not only Alice Paul’s fierce leadership but also the internal conflicts within the movement. The old-guard National American Woman Suffrage Association, led by Carrie Chapman Catt, took a more conservative approach, while Alice Paul and the National Woman’s Party fought aggressively, staging hunger strikes and picketing the White House.

But the most eye-opening part? The struggles of African American suffragists like Ida B. Wells and Mary Church Terrell. The musical doesn’t shy away from showing how racism tainted the movement—how Black women were told to march in the back of the parade so as not to upset Southern white suffragists. And yet, they refused to be silenced. Their determination in the face of opposition from all sides makes their story even more powerful and necessary to tell.

The Music That Moves You

The score of SUFFS is nothing short of brilliant. Taub masterfully weaves in period-appropriate musical influences while crafting lyrics that cut straight to the heart. I’ve listened to the cast recording countless times since seeing the show, with the song lyrics looping in my head. These songs don’t just tell history—they ignited something in me, a call to action.

Here’s a glimpse of the powerful lyrics from The March (We Demand Equality)

“We demand to be heard.

We demand to be seen.

We demand equality and nothing in between.

We demand to be heard.

We demand to be known.

We demand a voice of our own.”

And the show’s final number, Keep Marching, left me breathless. Alice Paul never stopped fighting—not after winning the vote, not ever. The song’s message is clear:

“You’ll rarely agree with whoever’s in charge

Keep marching, keep marching

‘Cause your ancestors are all the proof you need

That progress is possible, not guaranteed

It will only be made if we keep marching, keep marching on.”

An Experience I’ll Never Forget

I walked out of the Music Box Theater feeling electrified, as if I had been handed a torch to carry forward. SUFFS didn’t just entertain me—it educated me, challenged me, and made me want to dig deeper into the stories of the women who came before me.

And that’s exactly what I did! More on that in another post.

For now, let’s celebrate Women’s History Month by remembering the women who fought, struggled, and sacrificed, to get us where we are today. And let’s take a cue from SUFFS—we must keep marching. There is still a lot of work to be done. 

Epilogue

Suffs opened on Broadway on April 18, 2024, at the Music Box Theatre, where it received mostly positive reviews from critics. It was nominated for six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, winning two, for Best Music and Best Score. It closed on January 5, 2025, far too soon in my opinion! A national tour kicks off in September 2025 in Seattle, WA.

Merrily We Roll Along…It’s a Hit!

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The musical Merrily We Roll Along is a Tony Award winning hit! Winning this year’s Tony award for best revival, lead actor, supporting actor, and best orchestrations, Merrily is one of Stephen Soundheim’s celebrated scores, a personal narrative that moves backwards in time. Merrily follows the turbulent relationship between three lifelong friends played by Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, and Lindsay Mendez and traces every milestone of their lives for nearly two decades as they navigate success, show business and unbreakable bonds. (Taken from Merrily’s website)

Merrily is one of the best musicals I have seen on Broadway. I saw it in January 2024 with one of my bff’s and fellow theatre aficionado, Auntie Jaime! It has all the feels, and is relatable no matter where you are in your friendship dichotomy. And did I mention the dynamic score? After the show we turned to each other and said in unison, “Merrily is going to sweep the Tonys!”

The Noteworthy Mommy and Auntie Jaime in the lobby at the Hudson Theatre prior to seeing Merrily We Roll Along.

But when Stephen Soundheim and Hal Prince premiered Merrily on Broadway in 1981, it was a major flop! It closed after a mere 16 performances. Perhaps audiences weren’t ready for Merrily, it was ahead of its time. But more than likely the show was confusing for theater goers to follow as it starts at the end and goes in reverse chronological order, ending at the beginning. Pure genius in my opinion!

While many saw failure, others saw Merrily’s potential, and over the years Soundheim and Furth (book writer) gave permission and subsequent successful productions were staged throughout the world.

But it wasn’t until Maria Friedman took hold of Merrily that the stars aligned. Friedman transformed the cult flop and brought the little show that could back to Broadway for the first time since 1981. Merrily finally got the recognition it deserved! I think Friedman was robbed at the Tony awards; she should have won for best director.

Merrily will sadly play its last Broadway performance on July 7, 2024. How I wanted to make it back to NYC to see it again, the show is that good! Thankfully, I will get to see it again! Merrily was recently filmed and will likely appear on a streaming service within the next year, allowing fans like myself to relive this amazing production for years to come and allowing those who were unable to visit the Hudson Theatre in NYC to experience the magic in their living rooms.

Epilogue: The story behind the musical Merrily We Roll Along, going from failure to award winner, epitomizes “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again.” It illustrates you may have a brilliant concept, but if the execution is completely off, your project won’t stand a chance. It reminded me, don’t get discouraged, move on, it simply isn’t the right time. The story behind the rebirth of Merrily shows you can start something good but sometimes you need to let it go, allow someone else to take over, and as a result, something extraordinary can happen!

COVID-19 May Have Cancelled the Tony Awards but You Can’t Stop the Beat!

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COVID-19 may have cancelled the Tony awards this year but Broadway performers have taken to the Internet and proven that nothing can stop the beat! Many current and former Broadway casts have come together and created Zoom like performances that have brought a little bit of Broadway into homes across America. These are my top picks for award winning virtual performances. Although some are produced better than others, every single video fills this Noteworthy Mommy with pure joy.

And the winners are…

Legally Blonde the Musical– Laura Bell Bundy along with the original cast of Legally Blond the Musical created this hilarious COVID-19 version of “OMIGOD You Guys Sanitize for Corona!” CLICK HERE to watch.

Company– This is by far my favorite performance, so clever and so well done! I can’t wait for the cast album. CLICK HERE to watch the current cast of Company perform the opening number in a Zoom call. Cell rings, text chimes, Zoom calls…Company!

Hairspray– Alumni from numerous casts of the musical “Hairspray” come together to perform “You Can’t Stop the Beat.” CLICK HERE to view.

Hamilton- The original cast of Hamilton performs “Alexander Hamilton” for one of their biggest fans. CLICK HERE to view.

A coloring page completed by me and my mini me from the Playbill Coloring Book a dear friend sent us.

How I dearly miss the theatre! I was anxiously awaiting the opening of the Broadway revivals of “The Music Man” and the reinvented production of “Company.” Both are musicals that hold a special place in my heart having played in the orchestra for both shows in summers past. Summers I innocently took for granted. Summers filled with music and rehearsals and friends. Summers where I felt part of something bigger then myself. Nothing is greater then being a member of a group of talented individuals who come together and shape and mold and create something beautiful for others to enjoy. It is something COVID-19 has taken from me and my world won’t be “normal” until I can create music with my friends once again.

Pulling the Curtain on the Summer of 2020

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As our city begins to open back up, a huge announcement came from The Muny, the largest outdoor musical theatre in America, located in Forest Park in St. Louis. MO. For the first time in 102 years, The Muny stage will be empty.

The Muny had previously announced a shortened season due to COVID-19 but were optimistic they would be able to put on a few shows this year. Sadly, The Muny joins the rest of the theatre world as theaters have turned off their lights across our country. Broadway abruptly shut down on March 12 and announced an anticipated January 2021 return. All of the touring productions have been canceled and who knows when or if all of those shows will be rescheduled? And community theatre and summer stock have been cancelled leaving us with a summer void of live shows.

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My daughter standing on The Muny stage in May 2018.

Although I was sad to hear about The Muny pulling the curtain on the entire 2020 season, I know they did not make the decision lightly and they are doing what is best for their patrons, performers and employees. Keeping everyone safe has to be first and foremost!

My heart goes out to the entire Muny organization who will suffer revenue loss after recently undergoing a major face lift project that included updates to the stage and backstage areas. I feel for the young performers, some from my daughters dance studio, who were going to be in shows this year. And most of all, I am sad for all of the patrons, including my family of three, who have a history of escaping to The Muny during the summer and making memories that span over multiple generations. As a child my parents took me to The Muny every summer and that is where I fell in love with musical theater! My parents were engaged at The Muny, my husband and I took our engagement photos at The Muny and our daughter attended her first show last summer. A summer without The Muny, with evenings spent under the stars in Forest Park, just won’t feel like …summer!

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My daughter sitting in front of a Muny brick commemorating her grandparents 50th wedding anniversary.

 

 

 

The Tonys and the Stanley Cup…The Seasons Greatest Singers, Dancers and Hockey Players!

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Everyone in St. Louis is wearing blue these days as we enthusiastically cheer on our hometown hockey team, the Saint Louis Blues, to what we hope will be a historic Stanley Cup victory! But on Sunday, June 9, this girl isn’t excited about game 6 of the championship along with the rest of the city. Instead, I’m wrapped up in my own game, my personal Super Bowl taking place on the Great White Way. A magical night filled with both victory and defeat that I look forward to all year long with great anticipation. I’ll be cheering on the best of Broadway as I watch the 73rd annual Tony Awards!

My Musical Theater Beginnings- My fascination with musical theater began at an early age. My dad was a high school art teacher who designed the sets, supplied the props and was in charge of the house (ticket sales, posters, program design, ushers) for the annual high school spring musical. Having an “in” with the house manager privileged me with front row seats to every performance! I must have been five or six when I saw my dad’s first show, “West Side Story”and I immediately became hooked. I remember sitting there completely mesmerized. I fell in love with everything… the music, the dancing, the emotion, the set, the costumes, the spot lights! A new world opened for me and I eagerly entered in by acting out the shows I saw in our backyard and critiquing the performances (I saw each show three times).

As a child, the high school productions introduced me to many of the classics like Rodger and Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music” and “The King and I,” and Meredith Wilson’s “The Music Man” and “Guys and Dolls.” I also saw contemporary productions like “Pippin” and “Working” by Stephen Schwartz.

One of my favorites was “Grease” and to this day it remains in my top ten. I remember feeling like I was part of that production when I saw my mom’s makeup table and baby blue Samsonite carry-on cosmetic bag being used by Rizzo and Sandy on stage. As an impressionable preteen I related to Sandy, yet sympathized with Rizzo when she belted out, “There Are Worse Things I Could Do.”

Meeting My Broadway Tribe- The Tony Awards didn’t enter my life until high school. That’s when I met friends in marching band who were just like me… Broadway obsessed! It was the era of “Phantom of the Opera” and “Les Miserable” where musicals were mostly all sung through. We spent hours studying the CD liners, memorizing every, single, word! In concert band and in the pit orchestra for our own high school musicals we played music from the shows we were so passionate about. And on the night of the Tony Awards we gathered together, seeing numbers from nominated shows and cheering on our favorite performers.

The 60th Annual Tony Awards- In 2006 I checked a huge event off of my bucket list when I attended the 60th annual Tony Awards in person at Radio City Music Hall! Jersey Boys won best musical that year. My friend and I dressed in elegant evening gowns and experienced a once in a lifetime opportunity that we will never forget! Although legendary performers like Chita Rivera, James Earl Jones and Julie Andrews appeared tiny from our mile high seats, we were thrilled to simply be present.My story ends with the band geek marrying the captain of the football team (although he played in the orchestra during off season). And we are raising a well rounded little girl who is gaining an appreciation for live theater and live sporting events. So on Sunday, June 9, with an assist from a sophisticated remote and DVR, our family will avoid any interference and have a night choreographed with the seasons greatest singers, dancers and hockey players.