To celebrate Pride Month, Alexa Terry flies the (rainbow) flag for her favourite LGBTQ+ musicals.

⏱ 2 Minute Read

With Pride Month kicking off next week, BAST’s musical theatre aficionado Alexa Terry has shared some of her favourite queer repertoire.

Alexa compiled a list of ten songs for the Singing Teachers Talk podcast that “celebrate and give voice to the LGBTQ+ community and their stories”.

Some of Alexa’s top tracks come from four lesser-known LGBTQ+ centred musicals.

Each show contains repertoire that students in your studio may love to sing, so why not check them out?

Love in Hate Nation by Joe Iconis

Set in the strait-laced 1960s, Love in Hate Nation tells the story of depressed teen Susannah.

She’s sent to reform school, aka ‘Juvie Hall’, where she falls for the rebellious Sheila.

The pair and a cast of other female misfits plot a revolution – and belt out rock numbers.

The standout track from the show is the duet Oh Well, an impressive and powerful ballad sung by Susannah and Sheila.

Bare: A Pop Opera by Damon Intrabartolo and Jon Hartmere

Bare is a coming-of-age rock musical set in a repressive Catholic boarding school St Cecilia’s.

It follows a group of teens as they navigate the themes of sexuality and shame while preparing to stage Romeo and Juliet.

It features Duet, sung by the characters Peter and Jason, who are in a secretive and passionate relationship. While Peter wants to come out, Jason wants to stay in the closet.

Fun Home by Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron

Described as the “first mainstream musical about a young lesbian”, Fun Home is an adaptation of cartoonist Alison Bechdel’s graphic novel memoir.

It explores Alison’s journey of coming out and her relationship with her (closeted) gay father.

The backdrop for the story is the family-run funeral home (or Fun Home) of Alison’s childhood.

Check out the track My Major, which is performed by college-aged Alison, who is giddy after spending the night with Joan.

& Juliet by Max Martin and David West Read

What if Juliet decided not to kill herself after learning of Romeo’s death? And what if Juliet had a non-binary friend called May?

All this, and more, is explored in & Juliet, which includes a version of I’m Not a Girl Not Yet a Woman (originally released by Britney Spears). In the show, it’s May who belts out this tune.

Learn more

Tune in to the Singing Teachers Talk podcast to listen to this episode: Ten Songs to Celebrate Pride.