“All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players.”
This brilliant William Shakespeare quote offers a pretty incredible perspective on life — all of us are just characters in one grand theatrical performance that continues forever. We have our own love interests, antagonists, plot twists and more — just like any good play.
Theatre has been an integral part of my life for as long as I can remember. My parents took my siblings and I to see “The Lion King” on Broadway when we were in elementary school. I honestly barely remember anything besides the animals parading down the theatre aisles during “Circle of Life.”
A year or two later, we saw “Aladdin” (Disney is big in our household), and then “Wicked” and “Frozen.” I think seeing “Wicked” is what really sparked my fascination with the performing arts — the explosive act one finale “Defying Gravity” could do that to just about anyone.
From there, I joined my middle school musicals, took singing lessons once a week for four years and tried to take as many trips to Broadway as I could.
The West End cast of “Les Misérables” taking a bow after the show.
Courtesy of Kaitlyn Murphy
When I came to Penn State, I absolutely loved covering School of Theatre shows for the Collegian because it felt like getting a professional musical experience for less than a quarter of the ticket price of Broadway.
Today, even for shows like “The Lion King” that have been running for decades, the worst seats in the house are upwards of $140.
True, certain days are discounted or some shows give away cheaper lottery tickets, but overall, Broadway prices are steadily increasing to make attending a show feel like a luxury.
That changed when I came to London.
The West End is one of my absolute favorite places to be because while it reminds me a lot of the Broadway that I grew up loving, I’ve been able to find affordable tickets for shows that either have left Broadway or are hundreds of dollars more expensive in New York.
There are many reasons why West End Shows are less pricey than Broadway, including the British government subsidizing the arts, Broadway shows costing much more to make and maintain than West End shows and different labor costs in the United Kingdom.
However, cheaper doesn’t mean lower quality.
One of my first experiences when touching down in London was seeing “Les Misérables” in the Sondheim Theatre with my mom.
The “Les Misérables” sign outside the Sondheim Theatre.
Courtesy of Kaitlyn Murphy
As an alto who’s belted out “On My Own” in my bedroom more times than I care to admit, watching “Les Mis” live in London was life-changing.
It’s one thing to watch the movie or listen to the cast recording in my headphones, but to watch Fantine lose her dignity and daughter, see Jean Valjean become a new, honest man and hear the orchestra passionately play “Do You Hear The People Sing?” — I was moved to tears more than once.
The West End is only a 30-minute tube ride away from me, and with tickets starting at 30 or 40 pounds for mezzanine and some orchestra seats, I’m able to see incredible shows without breaking my bank.
Making live theater accessible to everyone is crucial to ensuring a successful future of the arts, and for those who love to support them.
Theatre isn’t just entertainment — it’s an immersive and connective experience that unites an audience for a brief moment in time to laugh, gasp and (at least for me) cry together.
All it takes is one show to completely change a life.
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As someone from right outside of Philadelphia, I know a thing or two about parades.
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