As a self-proclaimed theater kid, I have spent years admiring the stage: the lights, the dance, the magic of it all. But as a teenage girl in theater, it is easy to get stuck picturing yourself as the love interest, never the lead: being the Maria to Tony or the Sandy to Danny. Let’s dream bigger. Let’s be the lead in our own stories. In order to flip the script, here are four musicals featuring female leads who take hold of their own narrative.
Chicago
Nothing screams female empowerment quite like murdering your good-for-nothing husband, right? While there may be a more impactful message hidden beneath the show’s gritty exterior, Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly do not resemble your typical female leads. The two “merry murderesses” find themselves locked in the same jail. They suffer through relentless media attacks, impending murder trials, and a warped justice system. If you leave the show feeling a sparked need for justice, then you probably got the message. While Roxie and Velma’s story serves more as a cautionary tale rather than a heroic one, they still deliver an impact that leaves you looking at everything with new eyes. So, while killing your husband might have more dramatic flair, this awareness of justice and corruption is the true message to take away.
Matilda
There is no such thing as too small to make an impact. Standing at only 4 feet 5 inches, Matilda is one of Broadway’s most powerful leading ladies. She single-handedly starts a revolution against the cruel Miss Trunchbull because sometimes you just have to be “a little bit naughty.” No other musical inspires you to get out of your seat and fight for that thing you believe in like “Matilda.” If in response to seeing a production of Matilda you leave the theater with a rebellion brewing, know that Matilda, small but endlessly mighty, left you with just the idea she intended: “if it’s not right, you gotta put it right.”
Legally Blonde
Sometimes, blondes really do have more fun. At least, Elle Woods surely thinks so. Elle screams sorority girl, but there is so much more beneath her stereotypical surface. As the musical unravels, Elle’s true depth is revealed; she is incredibly smart, dedicated, dramatically passionate, and always stands up for what she knows is right. While many in the show are quick to judge because of the box she appears to fit into, Elle defies everyone’s expectations and creates her own standards. Just as Elle is not just “legally blonde,” nobody is just one thing. Claim your inner Elle, defy the box you are put into, and do it in style.
A Chorus Line
Truly “one singular sensation,” “A Chorus Line” is a beautiful testament to show business and teaches you to love theater through theater. Nine women are featured throughout the show, each one teaching a different lesson through the various songs. Cassie sings about following her passion — “the music, the mirrors, and the chance to dance.” Morales sings about forgoing regrets and defying others’ opinions. Val sings about struggling with her appearance. Sheila, Maggie, and Bebe sing about their complicated childhoods and finding something beautiful “at the ballet.” This show’s amazing female leads reveal that there is no limit to the way a woman can exist on stage; she can always tell a unique story, profess a personal lesson, and be honestly, wholeheartedly herself.
