A Mixtape of 25 Musical Theater Songs I Would Introduce To Our New Alien Friends

by Valerie Caniglia, Guest Editorial

About a month ago, the American government declared alien life forms exist and have come to Earth.

No one cares.  Quite frankly, I’m still laughing about the lack of concern or reaction from the American public when this news hit.  We have so much going on right now that we are COMPLETELY unphased by the fact that there’s life outside our planet. 

Last week, I was driving to work, thinking about it and it got me thinking about how I would interact with aliens if I ever met them. 

What’s the best way to explain yourself to complete and utter strangers?

The answer is obvious, of course: MIXTAPES!

Friends, I present to you the following: As We Stumble Along:  A Mixtape of 25 Musical Theater Songs I Would Introduce To Our New Alien Friends, Vol. 1.   

(Imagine, if you will, a Powerpoint or some other visual guide that would go along with the presentation of this mixtape).

SIDE A

#1. “The Overture/Audition” from 42nd Street (specifically the 2001 revival)

Music by Harry Warren

"Get out your tap shoes, Francis, Julian Marsh is doing a show!"

What better way to start the journey than with the overture of what is known as the mother of all musicals? Curtain up, baby, let’s go!

2. “A Musical” from Something Rotten

Music and Lyrics by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick

Sung by Brad Oscar, Bryan D’Arcy James and the company of Something Rotten

If there’s ever a song that explains the magic (and sometimes pure ridiculousness) of musical theater, it’s this song right here.

3. “Left All Alone Again Blues” from Very Good Eddie

Music by Jerome Kern

Lyrics by Schuyler Greene

I think my Musical Theatre History professor, Dr. Lauri Young, would absolutely reem me out if I didn’t include something from Jerome Kern in this mixtape for the aliens. Very Good Eddie premiered in 1915 as part of “Princess Theatre musical” series for audiences who wanted to see something not as extravagant of the Ziegfeld Follies or other shows dominating Broadway at the time.

4. “Shuffle Along” from Shuffle Along

Music by Eubie Blake

Lyrics by Noble SIssie

Shuffle Along is HUGELY important in musical theater history.  It was the first show with an all-Black cast, playwright, composer and lyricist to be on Broadway Not only was it a smash hit at the time of its opening, but is often said to have helped spark the Harlem Renaissance and usher in a new era of Black talent on and off stage. Fun fact, Josephine Baker was part of the chorus before making it big!

I also refer to the 2016 stage adaptation of Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed which deserved so much more than it was given. WHAT A CAST.  Lest we forget that high kick from Audra McDonald at the Tonys?!

5. “Over the Rainbow” from  The Wizard of Oz

Music by Harold Arlen

Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg

Sung by Judy Garland

Ah, the MGM golden age of musicals. The aliens would be missing out if I didn’t mention what’s probably the most famous ballad of all time sung by Ms. Judy Garland.  May you forever fly over the rainbow.

6. "NYC" from Annie

Music by Charles Strouse

Lyrics by Martin Charnin

Sung by Reid Shelton, Sandy Faison Andrea McArdle and the ensemble of Annie

For all the complaining we do about it, NYC really is the heartbeat of not only the theater community but the world.  Need I say more? There are (rare) times I actually miss Times Square. 

7. “My Rules/ Elliot Garfield Grant” from The Goodbye Girl

Music by Marvin Hamlisch

Lyrics by David Zippel

Sung by Bernadette Peters and Martin Short

Maybe not the perfect musical, but this iconic duo showcases the classic “enemies to lovers” trope.

8. “Johnny Can't Decide” from Tick...Tick...BOOM!  (The film version)

Music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson

Sung by Andrew Garfield, Vanessa Hudgens, Robin de Jesús and Joshua Henry

I have no doubt in my mind the universe knows who Jonathan Larson is.  However, I don’t think the universe quite understands the struggles artists face when confronted by the future.  Do you give in to fear or love? This song showcases that struggle perfectly.

9. “If I Were A Rich Man” from Fiddler on the Roof

Music by Jerry Bock

Lyric by Sheldon Harnick

Sung by Zero Mostel

No musical theater mixtape is complete without Fiddler on the Roof.  Its themes of family and tradition speak to everyone of every culture, and Zero Mostel’s performance as Tevye has gone down in history as one of the greatest performances of all time.  Thanks for ingraining the show in my brain, Dad.

10. “They Both Reached for the Gun” from Chicago

Music by John Kander

Lyrics by Fred Ebb

Performed by Jerry Orbach, Gwen Verdon, Michael O'Haughey and the ensemble of Chicago

THIS IS THE PERFECT ENSEMBLE NUMBER.  This song is just the right example of how the character Billy Flynn manipulates and wraps the media around his finger, just like a puppeteer.

Amazing how some people can do that in 2023 still.

11. "The Next Ten Minutes" from The Last Five Years

Music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown

Performed by Norbert Leo Butz and Sherie Rene Scott

One of the most beautiful duets written about a wedding.  How do aliens get married? I want them to shed a tear when they hear this song. 

12. “Pinball Wizard” from The Who’s Tommy

Music and lyrics by Pete Townshend

Performed by Shoshana Bean,  Allen René Louis & Anastasia Talley

We need some rock on this mixtape! I’ve watched this performance from the MCC 2023 Miscast concert multiple times on YouTube.  All three of them killed it and Shoshana’s vocals soar.   

13. “Soliloquy” from Carousel (from the 2018 revival)

Music by RIchard Rodgers

Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II

Performed by Joshua Henry

Okay, I admit. I am not the biggest fan of this show.  But Joshua Henry’s Soliloquy is…I don’t have words.  He is one of the greatest musical theater actors in the world right now and this version of the song will stand out for years to come.  A brilliant and genius performance with beautiful orchestrations.

Flip the tape over!

SIDE B

14. "Little Shop of Horrors" from Little Shop of Horrors

Music by Alan Menken

Lyrics by Howard Ashman

Sung by Marlene Danielle, Jennifer Leigh Warren and Sheila Kay Davis

We’re kicking off Side B with one of the catchiest opening bops of all time.  Do you think aliens would appreciate the tongue-in-cheek B movie tone of the show AND that the villain comes from space?

15. “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid

Music by Alan Menken

Lyrics by Howard Ashman

Sung by Jodie Benson

This song was gifted to us by the late, great Howard Ashman and became the perfect “I Want” song. Part of Your World has been interpreted brilliantly by the core four Ariels: Jodie Benson, Sierra Boggess, Auli'i Cravalho and Hallie Bailey.

16. “Bosom Buddies" from Mame

Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman

Performed by Dame Angela Lansbury and Bea Arthur

Enough said.

17. You Won’t Succeed on Broadway” from Spamalot

Music by John Du Prez and Eric Idle

Lyrics by Eric Idle

Performed by David Hyde Pierce and the ensemble of Spamalot

There’s a few reasons why this is on here: it’s funny, it’s a great ensemble number and David Hyde Pierce plays piano.  However, even though this is a parody number, the truth is that it gives a really great commentary on how we would not have the Broadway we know and love today  if it weren’t for Jewish writers and composers crossing over from Yiddish theater.  Thank you!

18. “I Won’t Mind” from The Other Franklin

Music by Jeff Blumenkrantz

Lyrics by lyrics by Annie Kessler and Libby Saines

Performed by Audra McDonald

As we know, there are plenty of musicals out there that get workshopped or read but either never get finished or produced.  The Other Franklin, an unfinished musical about the relationship between William Franklin and his father Benjamin, is an example of how great songs can still survive from dead projects.  Audra McDonald's performance sparks a plethora of emotions with her beautiful soprano.

19. “Paciencia y Fe” from In the Heights

Music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda

Performed by Olga Merediz

If you know me, you know In the Heights is one of my favorite musicals and “Paciencia y Fe” makes me sob. Every. Single. Time. This is perhaps the best number in the show.  In another universe, Olga Merediz, as the community matriarch Abuela Claudia, won the Tony because of this song.

Ay Mama, what do you do when your dreams come true?

“Prologue: Jellicle Cats” from Cats

Music by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber

Lyrics by Trevor Nunn

Performed by the ensemble of Cats

There are three reasons why this is on here. One: I have to pay respects to Sir ALW.  Two: We need one song featuring an eighties synthesizer. Three: The aliens need proof this show actually exists and is not some fever dream made up. Sorry in advance, alien friends. 

21. "Dust and Ashes" from Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812

Music and Lyrics by Dave Malloy

Performed by Josh Groban

This song from this remarkably underrated show highlights the struggles of deep depression within one of the lead characters but how they pull back from the brink because they “want to wake up.” This ethereal and haunting melody deserves its place on the mixtape. 

They say we are asleep until we fall in love….

22. "Revolting Children" from Matilda

Music and Lyrics by Tim Minchin

Performed by the children and ensemble of Matilda

In a complete 360 from Dust and Ashes, this song is just pure, tongue-twister FUN.  I hope our alien friends try the choreography!

23. “Who I’d Be” from Shrek the Musical

Music by Jeanine Tesori

Lyrics by David Lindsey-Abaire

Performed by Bryan D’Arcy James, Daniel Breaker and Sutton Foster

Sometimes an Act One closer is a bombastic musical number complete with dance break and high notes. Other times, it’s three actors on a stage with a giant moonbox behind them singing about happy endings, or lack thereof.

24. “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” from Dreamgirls

Music by Harvey Krieger

Lyrics by Tom Eyen

Performed by Jennifer Holliday

Jennifer Holliday will forever reign as the Queen singing the musical theater canon’s most well-known torch song and that’s all there is to it.

25. “Being Alive” from Company

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Performed by Dean Jones

And last, but certainly not least, we close out the mixtape with a nod to the greatest musical theater composer of all time, Stephen Sondheim.  Being Alive is about the inquiry to commitment but also  goes deeper than that: it asks the question “what makes life worth living?” Dean Jones recording this song in the midst of a bitter divorce makes it raw and real and relatable.

But alone is alone…not alive…

Please note: in the visual presentation to our alien friends, I would also present alongside the song Garret Zuercher’s performance of “Being Alive” in American Sign Language from the Deaf Broadway production of Company. This song performed in ASL is heartbreakingly beautiful.

And there you have it.   The mixtape’s done and over.

I do hope the aliens (and you) enjoy the adventure.

Stay tuned for Volume 2!