Musical Mondays: Putnam County Spelling Bee

When I was younger, like elementary school younger, I distinctly remember the soundtrack that played every time we drove somewhere. I don’t remember what I got for my birthday most years, I don’t remember most things on my schedule, and it’s not unheard of for me to forget what I’m talking about in the midst of making an exceptional point. Or an exceptionally bad point. I don’t remember. But I will always remember the most played soundtrack of my drives to school: Rocky Horror Picture Show. I found the soundtrack one day, and my mom said I could listen if I kept any words I learned within the safe confines of the car. I fell in love with musicals by belting about being a sweet transvestite riding on I-85 at 8 years old.

The first time I actually saw a show on Broadway was when I was 24 years old and in New York to interview for a legal internship at my current job. It was Aladdin, and it was magic like I’d always wanted. Now every time I see a kid at the theater, wide-eyed and full of excitement I know I’m seeing someone falling in love with theater from a young age. But not everyone gets that opportunity—we didn’t travel a ton as a kid, and I didn’t go to New York. But that didn’t stop me from consuming all of the musicals I could. There is regional theater and touring shows of course, but there is one simple way I found to keep up with what was on Broadway and reminisce on other shows: cast albums.

As I continue writing, Musical Mondays might feature cast albums that I think are fun to listen to—maybe well-known or maybe less so. My day-to-day soundtrack is all over the place, but there is not a day that goes by where I do not at least listen to one piece of a musical at some point in the day. Something else I love about cast albums: you can enjoy the music without particularly enjoying the show. If I ever suggest a soundtrack, I am not necessarily going to discuss my thoughts on the show. Things that are good to listen to are good to listen to. It’s both an obvious and a grammatically sound fact.

So what have I been listening to recently? Give the album to The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee a shot. Incredibly funny songs range from “My Friend, The Dictionary” to “My Unfortunate Erection.” The songs capture the awkwardness of youth in the highest stakes of low stakes settings—a county spelling bee. I laugh at a number of the songs, but I also find myself regularly humming along.

Let me know if you have any particular favorite cast albums below!