if/then with idina menzel :: review

When I was in middle school, my grandmother took me to see The Phantom of the Opera. I fell in love with musical theater in a matter of moments, long before the chandelier crashed into the crowd. I’ve been to countless shows since then and it never gets old. The music washes over me and my emotions bubble to the surface and I’m spell-bound. These days I don’t get to go to the theater as often as I’d like, but I listen to musicals more than any other type of music. I think I’m one of the few parents who isn’t tired of the Frozen soundtrack yet. Every time Elsa begins to sing, I fall in love with Idina Menzel a little more. She is one of my all-time favorites. And right now she’s back on Broadway. (My aunt and cousin went to see the show this weekend and I have to admit that I’m completely, totally jealous)!

But if you, like me, can’t figure out how to get to Richard Rodgers Theatre, you can upload the If/Then soundtrack instead. It’s the story of a woman who rebuilds her life in New York City, a place with unending possibilities. For a while, we are able to follow Elizabeth living parallel lives, both stories of what might have been. This show dares to dig deep. It asks hard questions; questions like what would you do if you could do things all over? Knowing what you know now, would you live your life the same way? Would you give your heart to someone even if you knew it would end in heartbreak? Would you?

I was in the middle of a project when I first turned on the album and by the time I reached the second half of the show, I sat back and closed my eyes so that I could really take it all in. Even though it’s covering some tough topics, it still manages to be witty and amusing at the same time. I laughed aloud several times and certainly shed more than a few tears by the end. That is what a perfect musical looks like to me – one that makes you feel all the feels!

There is one other thing that I must mention. Although this musical is amazing and I’ve listened to it non-stop in my office, I haven’t (and won’t!) let my kids listen to it. It has a lot of adult themes and even more adult language.

If/Then Soundtrack :: $11.99 on iTunes

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