Theatre Song Brands

from Musical Theatre Song by Stephen Purdy

Precipice
Usually occurs when the singer appears to be on the verge of an extremely high stakes, life changing
event, and/or is convinced that there is no way of turning away from the inevitable. The playing energy is
usually extremely heightened and can even go as far as controlled musicalized mania.
Examples: “At the Fountain” - Sweet Smell of Success, “Lonely Room” - Oklahoma, “Somethings
Coming” - West Side Story, “Yes, My Heart” - Carnival, “I Can See It” - The Fantasticks, “The
Wizard and I”- Wicked, “Goodbye” - Catch Me If You Can

Comes the Dawn

Comes about as a result of a character having passed through one or a series of life lessons/realizations,
or upon the conscious comprehension of what he really wants, thinks, knows, or believes after all is said
and done. Often delivered directly to the audience (as inner monologue or directly) or to one other actor
onstage (possibly a beloved whom they have forsaken in some fashion.
Examples: “I Know the Truth” - Aida, “There But for You Go I” - Brigadoon, “On the Steps of the
Palace” - Into the Woods

Ode to You
Occur when a character is singing to or about another character and offers superlatives relative to how
character A (the singer of the song) appreciates character B (for whatever reason). The important
performance quality that character A should bring to the proceedings is that they should allow us (the
audience or panel) to completely see, feel, and understand the effect character B has on them.
Examples: “Mama A Rainbow” - Minnie’s Boys, “You Do Something to Me” - Fifty Million
Frenchmen, “She Wasn’t You” - On A Clear Day You Can See Forever,”You’re the Top” -
Anything Goes

Narrative
Either a back story pertaining to character’s life or sometimes illustrates some whimsical, often
exaggerated, or extravagant description of events yet to come that now exist only in their mind.
Examples: “Nothing” - A Chorus Line, “The Miller’s Son” - A Little Night Music, “The Best in the
World” - A Day in Hollywood/A Night in Ukraine, “That’s the Way it Happens” - Me and Juliet

End of the Line

Signals some mode of moving forward past the current state. Important to note is that these songs are not
always gloom and doom, but instead may actually be upbeat and optimistic in nature. In addition, there’s
sometimes a fine line between this lind of song and Comes the Dawn songs.
Examples: “Back to Before” - Ragtime, “Defying Gravity” - Wicked, “Moments in the Woods” - Into the
Woods, “Serious” - Legally Blonde
Existential
Where the singer asks themselves questions (who am I and where do I fit in?) or with the singer acting on
the cusp of the emergence of fresh self-realization.
Examples: “Who Are You Now?” - Funny Girl, “Where Do I Go” - Hair, “Alone in the Universe” -
Seussical, “Is It Really Me?” - 110 in the Shade

I Am What I Am
Sate what the character believes is factual information about themself and may exist as a means of
working through what they believe is some obstacle related to that self-truth. Somes these occur at the
beginning of a musical, snd serve as songs which frame the character and profess specific traits for the
audience.
Examples”: “Man” - Full Monty, “Different” - Honk!, “I Can’t Say No” - Oklahoma, “Aldonza” - Man
of La Mancha, “Whatever Lola Wants” - Damn Yankees, “Take Me or Leave Me” - Rent, “Corner
of the Sky” - Pippin, “I Believe” - The Book of Mormon

It Is What It Is
Often makes sweeping commentary about a state of life or facts of the singer’s relationship to another.
Example: “Love Changes Everything” - Aspects of Love, “It’s the Perfect Relationship” - Bell’s Are
Ringing, “The Music That Makes Me Dance” - Funny Girl

Hat in Hand
Occurs as the singer humbly asks someone for something related to matters of the heart, and may often
occur as the singer attempts to win the heart or confidence of another.
Examples: “Unworthy of your Love” - Assassins, “You Should be Loved” - West Side Story, “They
Were You” - The Fanatasticks

Love Affair Gone Awry

Sung as a result of the singer’s heartbreak, or when the singer is at the mercy of another’s disinterest,
insensitivity, and/or carelessness.
Examples: “I Got It Bad” - Sophisticated Ladies, “But Not For Me” - Girl Crazy, “Maybe I Like It
This Way” - Wild Party

I Remember
Often sung as singer reflects on past events and is sometimes nostalgic in nature.
Examples: “Those Were the Good Old Days” - Damn Yankees, “Too Many Mornings” - Follies, “I
Had Myself A True Love” - St. Louis Women

I Did It Because
Sung as the singer explains themself or discussing some action taken, and often occur to describe some
action or event that has taken place offstage or before the play’s setting.
Examples: “Cell Block Tango” - Chicago, All for You” - Seussical, “Rose’s Turn” - Gypsy

Survivor
Sung when the character is offering narrative of past events and describing his plight therein.
Examples: “Another Suitcase in Another Hall” - Evita, “I’m Still Here” - Follies, “Your Daddies Son”
- Ragtime