\u201cAll the world\u2019s a stage, And all the men and women merely players.\u201d<\/p>\n
This brilliant William Shakespeare quote offers a pretty incredible perspective on life \u2014 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 \u2014 just like any good play.<\/p>\n
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 \u201cThe Lion King\u201d on Broadway when we were in elementary school. I honestly barely remember anything besides the animals parading down the theatre aisles during \u201cCircle of Life.\u201d<\/p>\n
A year or two later, we saw \u201cAladdin\u201d (Disney is big in our household), and then \u201cWicked\u201d and \u201cFrozen.\u201d I think seeing \u201cWicked\u201d is what really sparked my fascination with the performing arts \u2014 the explosive act one finale \u201cDefying Gravity\u201d could do that to just about anyone.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The West End cast of \u201cLes Mis\u00e9rables\u201d taking a bow after the show.<\/p>\n
Courtesy of Kaitlyn Murphy<\/p>\n
When I came to Penn State, I absolutely loved covering School of Theatre shows for the Collegian<\/a> because it felt like getting a professional musical experience for less than a quarter of the ticket price of Broadway.<\/p>\n Today, even for shows like \u201cThe Lion King\u201d that have been running for decades, the worst seats in the house are upwards of $140.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n That changed when I came to London.<\/p>\n 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\u2019ve been able to find affordable tickets for shows that either have left Broadway or are hundreds of dollars more expensive in New York.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n However, cheaper doesn\u2019t mean lower quality.<\/p>\n One of my first experiences when touching down in London was seeing \u201cLes Mis\u00e9rables\u201d in the Sondheim Theatre with my mom.<\/p>\n The \u201cLes Mis\u00e9rables\u201d sign outside the Sondheim Theatre.<\/p>\n Courtesy of Kaitlyn Murphy<\/p>\n As an alto who\u2019s belted out \u201cOn My Own\u201d in my bedroom more times than I care to admit, watching \u201cLes Mis\u201d live in London was life-changing.<\/p>\n It\u2019s 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 \u201cDo You Hear The People Sing?\u201d \u2014 I was moved to tears more than once.<\/p>\n 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\u2019m able to see incredible shows without breaking my bank.<\/p>\n Making live theater accessible to everyone is crucial to ensuring a successful future of the arts, and for those who love to support them.<\/p>\n Theatre isn\u2019t just entertainment \u2014 it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n All it takes is one show to completely change a life.<\/p>\n MORE ABROAD COLUMNS<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n