What If Musicals Were Real?

People who hate musicals always have the same argument: "People just don't spontaneously burst into song and dance." This attitude has always struck me as the basic definition of someone with a stick up their ass. I'll make no secret of it- I love musicals. When I was twelve years old my mother took me to see a local production of "Man of La Mancha" and it changed my life. Literally. I spent the next 25 - 30 years of my life involved in every aspect of theatre imaginable.

Musical theatre to me is the highest form of performance- it combines the sacred ritual of theatrical performance with music- an art form that bypasses your thinking mind and reaches directly into your heart and soul.

Well, what if people did actually spontaneously burst into song and dance? What would the world be like? How would people react? On March 23rd of this year the people in the train station in Antwerp, Belgium got to ponder these questions. Okay- it was a publicity stunt for a television show, but it's really an amazing event. After only two rehearsals 200 dancers filled the station and as the song "Do Re Mi" poured forth from the loudspeakers they performed their own version of the song. Check it out:




Now really- after watching that, don't you feel like bursting into song and dance yourself? Look how happy all those bystanders look! I'll confess that my co-workers and I sometimes DO sing to each other on the job. We've even been known to break into dance a few times. It helps us deal with the craziness of the environment around us. So- all you musical haters out there- remove your sticks and have a little fun. Share some joy with the people around you! Next time things are getting you down - SING! DANCE! Make the world a little happier.


P.S. - I can't stop watching this video. I must have watched it at least 20 times in the last 24 hours. It brings me to tears. Why can't the world be more like this?

Here's another little clip. An impromptu musical in a mall food court. This could be happening right where I work. It's not as cool as the Antwerp Sound of Music, but it's pretty cool.