Matilda the Musical and a bit of Pride

This Saturday was AMAZING. Probably one of my favorite gifts ever... thanks Emma! If you've read her post already, you know that we went to see Matilda The Musical on Saturday. So many memories were brought back to me from my Senior year of high school. This musical is part of my 'soundtrack' and I couldn't be happier to relieve some of it. Let me give you some background.

My senior year at Derry Area (yeah... laugh it up... go ahead) was tumultuous as hell to say the least. There was so much happening. I was about to leave the safety of high school, an environment I felt I was just beginning to flourish in. I had some of my most life-affirming moments as a senior at Derry. I acted regrettably at some points as well. I was still learning who I was, even though I thought I knew for certain. That's the thing about growing up. You never entirely know who you really are. You learn more and more about yourself every day for your entire life. You learn from mistakes you have made. You learn how to be a person by being a person. Experience is growth. A few ways that I grew my Senior year of high school include...

Leading an inspired group of musicians with my best friend as Drum Major. I began to be seriously interested in music to a point where I wanted to further my education in it. Writing became a way of expressing myself. I was involved with the Bachelor Auction for my second year, which was a huge confidence booster in my life. And our marching band took our spring trip to New York City, where among other things, I first saw Matilda the Musical on Broadway.

http://www.broadway.com/shows/matilda/photos/matilda-show-photos/185867/show-photos-matilda-cast

Production shots of Matilda by Joan Marcus © Broadway.com

The music, written by Tim Minchin, has had a lasting impact on me. Such so, that listening to it live at the Benedum Center reduced me to tears. It came into my life at such a turbulent time that it has ingrained itself into my mind. I must have mentioned it so many times to Emma that she just had to buy tickets when they went on sale.

The touring show was just as amazing as Broadway show. Specific songs such as "When I Grow Up", "School Song", and "The Smell of Rebellion" blew me away for a second time. The song of the week just happens to be "The Smell of Rebellion" if you noticed. Take some time to listen to this amazing musical that I would recommend to absolutely anyone. Some of it's musical influences include rock, classical and jazz but you can only classify certain aspects of this musical. It's a huge collaboration of musical styles that work very well together. All of this as well as Tim Minchin's comedic interpretations helps the story to be depicted so well on stage. I am so happy that I got to see it again and you should see it too.

After leaving the Benedum, we hoped that we might be able to catch some of Kesha's performance at Pride and what do you know...

Just in passing we were able to stand and listen to a couple songs and it couldn't have been a better way to end the night. Getting to be involved in this celebration was really exciting, standing with many others holding the same feelings towards an amazing community. Just standing there, you could feel the sense of community and love. It was an awesome moment.

The next morning the same community that was enjoying prideful celebration was in mourning. Over 50 people celebrating LGBTQ community were murdered in an Orlando nightclub. Whatever way that this atrocity is twisted through media and politics, a human being decided it was up to him to damage a community of human beings. I don't want to speak for the LGBTQ community but I don't believe that any act of hatred or violence can damage the pride that they feel. They grieve the loss of their community but will never lose their community.

When I grow up, I hope that everyone will understand that love is love. And though we never truly know ourselves, we must know that inherent fact.