My Top Five Favorite Contemporary Cast Recordings

Sitting in the basement of my house, I get comfy on the couch, put my earbuds in and immerse myself in Jagged Little Pill’s cast recording. I listen all the way through and forget the outside world for 75 minutes while the intense, emotional, powerful, edgy music of Alanis Morissette fills my entire body and soul.

I was once encouraged by a very smart professor of mine to listen to a full cast recording all the way through, in order, before I even tried to judge it. I am happy to say that advice has worked well for me ever since. Over the course of a few years, I have developed a strong vocabulary of cast recordings and there are some that are just worth sharing over and over again.

Of course every cast album has artistic merit, but some speak right to your inner soul and make you feel emotions that you have never felt before. Here are the cast recordings that make me smile, cry, laugh, and overall make me feel a little more human every time I listen. I encourage the reader to to give them a listen for the first time (or 2nd, 3rd, 4th…), and remember listen all the way through—you won’t regret it!

1) Bare: A Pop Opera

A tear jerker. This one TELLS A STORY I tell you! A musical that is all song (we love those) will walk the listener through a full circle story about the LGBTQ+ teen community in a private Catholic high school environment. As you can imagine, it is a bit intense. Bare: A Pop Opera speaks candidly about the unique experiences of all high schools in private school. Perhaps the listener did not go to private school and is not a member of the LGBTQ+ community? Never fear! This recording somehow finds its way into the hearts of all and leaves them with a story to remember.

I saw this production in a small church on the outskirts of the city of Chicago and boy was I changed. I will never forget the impact that this music left on me. To check out my favorite song from this recording, click here.

2) Finding Neverland

Ok, maybe this one is not a fan favorite, but there is some good material in it! Every time I listen to this album all the way through, I fell empowered to do my best, keep going and I somehow believe in magic a bit more (I’m telling’ ya it’s magical!). Pirates, varies and curses all laid out in a realistic setting? Sounds strange, right? But maybe that is why the listener believes in the power of magic and wishes by the end. This is good for someone who is missing Disneyworld and doesn’t want to listen to a Disney soundtrack per say. Beyond the magic, there is a nice romantic storyline and I’m a sucker for true love…it gets me every time.

I happened to get front row, student rush tickets to the National Tour of this production in Downtown Chicago and have loved it ever since. It was a very special experience for me, and I hope listening to it, the listener receives the same sort of experience! To check out my favorite song from this recording, click here.

3) If/Then

With the circumstances surrounding our current societal environment, asking “what if” all the time is not uncommon. I know that I am a culprit of doing this CONSTANTLY. What if I did this…? Or, what would happen if I did this…? I hope I am not the only one going through this! Actually, I know I’m not! There is a musical about it! If/Then is all about the questions in life and it discusses extremely hard situations to go through in life, but presents them in a way that encourages healing—and we could all use a bit of healing in our life right now. This score and the lyrics attached, give the listener the ability to experience hard times and feel the empowerment of overcoming challenges and “[learning] to live without.”

This was my first Broadway show and I am so happy that it was! Because of this, this musical holds a special place in my heart. To check out my favorite song from this recording, click here.

4) Come From Away

My generation should be so thankful for this musical as it illustrates, so poignantly, the unique lives of everyone involved in 9/11. This devastating day was something that I endured, but can not remember. This score put it into perspective for me and allowed me to live through something that I had no appreciation for when I was two years old in my mothers lap watching the daily news. This score leaves you feeling heartbroken, yet hopeful. It represents and presents humanity in such a way that makes you feel united with any person you see walking down the street. When I listen to this score I am reminded just how lucky I am to be living today, and I know that if something really terrible were to happen again, we, as humans, would come together. There is something to be said about humanity right now and the current state of our world. I have watched endless amounts of compassion and empathy being shown on TV, and I am reminded of this recording every time.

The first time I saw this production, I was with my mom in Chicago. It was truly an experience I will never forget as I watched the older audience around me connect to the material being presented on stage and begin to think about what I would have done if I had been older in an experience like 9/11. I will never feel more connected to an audience than I did that night. To check out my favorite song from this recording, click here.

5) The Spitfire Grill

Maybe I am not a small town girl, but I would like to think I know something about small towns from living in Stevens Point, WI for 3 years. With the help of this musical, I now know much more. If you are one for heartfelt, feel good stories about overcoming adversity and finding your true self, this is it! This music, with its folk background, perfectly creates a world in which your heart can grow and feel good in. Plus, the lyrics help you acknowledge the beautiful earth we have been given. Especially now, we can see just how beautiful the earth is if respect it, and these lyrics acknowledge this. It is a wonderful way to feel empowered and warm, and the soothing nature of the recording will put your mind at ease. I know every time I listen I ask for the sun to shine on me through thick and thin!

This show is near and dear to my heart as this was a production that allowed me to assistant direct for the first time and I will never forget the fulfilling experience. To check out my favorite song from this recording, click here. Truth of this song: if you have never lived in a Midwest town during the winter, especially up north Wisconsin, the beginning of this song will give you a taste of what we, northerners, have to endure every year!

What are YOUR favorite contemporary cast recordings and why? Comment below!