Family Musicals: The Best Dads on The Stage

Published on: 24 September 2022 Last Updated on: 21 February 2023

To pay tribute to all fathers out there this year, we’ve decided to bring together the best dad performances in West End productions.

From lawyers to boy-band leaders, these father figures are the source of inspiration for so many of us.

So, without further ado, here are the best dads on the stage in 2022.

Top 6 Best Dads on The Stage

1. Lance DuBois

& Juliet is filled with unique bonds, and the relationship between Lance and his son Francois is fraught from the start. However, as the show progresses, we see Lance accept his son for who he is and accepts his vision for his future self.

By joining a family boy band, Lance and Francois strengthen their bond and create an on-stage alliance that you’re sure to fall in love with this year.

2. George McFly

Who hasn’t wondered what their parents were like when they were younger? In Back to the Future, Marty has the opportunity to interact with his dad when he travels back to a time when he meets his mum.

It’s scintillating stuff, and there are laughs and jokes along the way as Marty ends up coaching George to impress his mum, so the two can fall in love.

Among other things, Marty inspires his future dad to stand up to bullies, and their relationship evolves as Marty races against time to ensure his future is just as it should be. This timeless classic has been reinvented for the stage, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint.

3. Sam, Bill, and Harry

No matter how you look at it, Donna rocks as a single mum. With some help from her Greek friends, she’s given everything she possibly can to Sophie, and there’s no questioning the depth of the relationship between mother and daughter.

In Mamma Mia, Sophie lets curiosity get the better of her, and her subsequent journey proves that biology isn’t everything. In this Abba musical, Sophie interacts with not one but three dads and learns some super important lessons along the way.

4. Walter

When Will Ferrel informs his short-tempered, city-dwelling dad of his existence in the film adaptation of Elf, Walter’s reaction is one of the best things about the movie. But without spoiling the plot line, the on-stage adaptation shows us a slightly different side of Walter.

In fact, Buddy and Walter develop an incredible relationship that blossoms as the production develops. This feel-good family favorite is one of the West End’s most popular Christmas productions, and the dynamic between Walter and Buddy is a huge part of the show’s success.

5. Jean Valjean

Following his branding as a criminal, Jean Valjean is inspired to become a gentleman. He uses his newfound status, charm, and wealth to do good, helping those in need throughout Les Mis.

Jean steps up and looks after Cossette, becoming a father figure to the young girl and doing everything he can to keep her alive. Book your tickets today to see Jean in action and enjoy one of the West End’s legendary shows in all its splendor.

6. Atticus Finch

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus plays the role of a single father quite brilliantly. He encourages his children to speak their minds, explore new ideas, and challenge racial stereotypes.

His relationship with Calpurnia plays out beautifully on stage, and the character that is based on Harper Lee’s own father is one that Rafe Spall certainly does justice to.

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Demystified: The interesting connection between politics and music

Decades ago, opinions were formed and voiced. The difference between then and now is plain for anyone to see. Social media, the 24-7 news cycle, and the internet (of course) has revolutionized the world we live in. Equally as impressive is how segments of the music industry have utilized these mediums to forwardly advance the issues that tug at their hearts. With the open forum of the internet, and the unfiltered jabs at the opposing viewpoints, comes conflict. We should be thankful, as a society, for the open debate. The intriguing dynamic that has unfolded in the music industry is how each side, dependent upon their respective role, has handled the “opposition”. We will look at examples including artists, record labels, and the conflict that can arise between music venues and artists. A Voice Musicians for decades have used their public forum as activists. Certain artists have demonstrated a commitment to causes that have raised awareness globally. Their selfless efforts to put out what they view as wrongs in the community, country or world in this new age of technology has brought millions of people to a crossroads. Bono, the lead man of U2, has been heralded as an ambassador for pushing his audience to give thought to causes that do not directly affect them. His efforts have brought attention, and subsequent positive actions, to issues ranging from repressive government policies in South Africa to Aids. Record Labels Take a Stand The humility found in Firebrand Records statement “We know that music alone does not change the world, but we recognize that it is an integral part of the movements that do” speaks to the core of this record labels mission. Leaving behind any fear of succumbing to the beliefs of others in an attempt to pad the bank account, Ryan Harvey and Tom Morello are focused on the voice that goes with a protest against corruption, injustice, and militarism. Are they setting out to take on the giants in the music industry? No. Instead, Ryan and Tom have found a void in the politically correct mass and are doing their small part to fill the need. Hungry listeners crave a voice with a message of depth and weight that sings to their soul. The Venues Have a Voice Too We all know of at least one bar or nightclub that caters to a unique class of customers. What makes these customers, and venues, unique? They are not the typical mainstream. The “outliers” of society who dress and speak as they see fit. Calling out the improper use of power and influence in a corrupt world. Joined together under one roof for a common cause, all the while letting the music and lyrics move them. The independent band Downtown Boys is openly critical of what they perceive as white supremacy, and they intend to use their music as a method to dissolve just that. A venue called The Smell welcomed them with open arms to carry their message in lyrics, as evidenced in Rob Shepyer’s piece which is best summarized as Downtown Boys: Coachella to The Smell. It an equally impressive protest, the Downtown Boys wrote an open letter to voice their displeasure with the owner of a festival called Coachella, a festival they have performed at. The root of their protest is with Philip Anschutz, who founded and now oversees AEG (they operate the festival). Phillip has been an open supporter of anti-LGBT groups. Each of us should be thankful for the courageous voice of those willing to set aside their self-centeredness just enough to take the heat for taking a stand, regardless if you agree or disagree. Read more: How To Choose The Best Soundbars System For Your Home

How to Choose the Best Soundbars System for Your Home

So, you have bought a brand-new TV but it's sound system doesn’t please you at all. Well, there is so much that TV manufacturers can do but when it comes to quality sound, slim TVs usually have a problem projecting the best sound possible. This is because they have very little room for a powerful and quality sound system. Most of these TVs are ideal for watching your favorite TV shows but they are not great for watching movies or even some of your favorite TV dramas. The good news is there is a solution to make your TV’s audio just as clear as its pictures. Soundbars are enclosed speakers that are designed to sit in front of or underneath your TV. If you have mounted your TV on the wall, you can also mount your soundbar right beneath it because they also have their own mounting kits. Choosing the best sound system for your home can be a daunting task, but don’t worry, you will get all the tips and the help that you need here. How Big Is It? Soundbars come in all shapes and sizes. If you are planning to place it directly beneath your TV, then it is important that you get a soundbar that is going to fit the size of your TV. In addition, make sure that you have enough space for your soundbar. This is very vital especially if your TV is in an enclosure. Another important thing to note is that there are soundbars that are made by the same company that built your TV. For example, Samsung has its own soundbars that match well with their curved TVs. One thing though, TV manufacturers don’t always build the best audio products. Connectivity Are you planning to plug your new soundbar system into an HDMI port on your TV? If yes, then you need to look for a soundbar that offers that option. It is important to shop for a soundbar that has the connections that you need for proper installation. The best type of soundbar is the one that has a variety of inputs for connecting various video and audio sources. It is also important to ensure that the outputs on your soundbar match those of your TV. In this regard, it will be better if you look for a soundbar that supports HDMI, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Digital Audio Inputs and Streaming services. Subwoofer A subwoofer can simply be described as a speaker that is designed to reproduce only the lowest bass frequencies. The thing about soundbars is that most of them are too slim to reproduce lower sound frequency, so you will need a separate subwoofer if you want to have the best sound possible. If you love video games, action movies, or TV programs that require low bass frequency, a soundbar that comes with a separate subwoofer is most likely the best system for you. Another important feature of these subwoofers is that most of them are wireless. This means that you just need to plug them on a power source and you are good to go. Surround Sound It is true that soundbars are better than portable speakers, but when shopping for one it is always in your best interest to consider the effects of surround sound. You can still get a better quality sound from a soundbar system even if you don’t have enough space for a multi-speaker sound system. In this case, you will have to choose a multi-channel sound bar system. This type of soundbars usually has five or seven audio channels, with distinct sounds assigned to each and every one of them. They are highly recommended if you want to create a three-dimensional surround sound effect. Some sound speakers can easily fool your brain into hearing things that are not there. The most recommended way to choose the best soundbars for your home is to consider all your options. Know what your placement options are, the amount of space that you have, the size of the soundbar that you are looking for, the effect or surround sound, and whether or not you will need a separate subwoofer. It’s obvious that a good soundbar is better than the portable speaker and a perfect way to boost the sound system of your TV. Read more : Demystified: The interesting connection between politics and music

Classical Guitar Lessons for Beginners

Okay so you want to learn how to play the classical guitar but you have no idea where to begin. It really isn’t that hard to learn how to play as long as you have the necessary time to put into the craft and the patience to make it through the tough learning curve. In this classical guitar lesson, I will be going over something for you to get started such as your posture and the way you hold the guitar. If you didn’t know the classical guitar is the model every other acoustic guitar is based on. The main way you can tell the two guitars apart is that the classical normally has a wider fretboard and utilizes nylon instead of the steel strings you’ll see on acoustics. This type of guitar is designed to let the top of the musical instrument vibrate but keep the neck, back, or sides from vibrating. Try to avoid picking a classical guitar that has a laminated top since they won’t give you the quality sound you want. If you don’t mind spending a little extra money trying to get a classic guitar made out of rosewood or spruce. However, the guitars that have the plywood tops with a thin layer of cedar will do just fine. Keep in mind though that going for a guitar with better wood will help preserve your guitar for longer since they age better. The guitars made of cheaper wood will be good when you first get them and then the quality of the guitar and sound produced will decline over time. Meanwhile, the guitars made with better woods will actually keep getting better as time goes on. Your posture is very important when it comes to playing this hollow bodied instrument. Take a look at any professional classical guitar player and you’ll notice that they have an upright posture with their foot on a stool. With the right sitting position, you’ll be able to minimize the amount of effort you have to use and you’ll be more stable and comfortable. The proper sitting position involves keeping your back straight and resting the guitar on the thigh that is on the neck side. You will need the help of a footstool or a support placed on the thigh to raise the head of the guitar level. You will rest the elbow on the edge of the body of the guitar and place the hand that plays the strings over the sound hole. You will need to bring the hand up to the height of the shoulder and to do this you’ll need to bend the arm on the neck side. Position your thumb behind the neck, below the 2nd fret, and behind the 3rd string. The key to playing the guitar properly is to relax your entire upper body from the shoulders to your hands. Now get a chair so you can support your guitar and make it more stable. Try to use a chair that will make your thigh horizontal. If your thigh is not angled correctly your guitar will keep slipping and interrupt your playing. Once you get the grasp of holding the guitar in the proper position it’s time to start practicing pieces. You must make sure you avoid difficult pieces like Asturias or you might end up giving up on the guitar forever. Start with pieces like Fernando Carulli. You can head to your local music store and get a book to study him. Pieces like “Waltz in E Minor” and “Country Dance” should get you started and help you build technique and confidence. If you are using tabs I would suggest that you try using sheet music. Just do a simple search for it online for some sight reading books. One good book I know of is authored by Robert Benedict called “Sight Reading for the Classical Guitar levels 1 to 3″. Start off with the simple pieces and as your technique gets better you’ll begin to learn more complex pieces. Not only should you learn how to play music on your classical guitar but you should also get familiar with how to string it and tune it. Many classical guitar players attempt to grow their nails to pluck the strings, while others use the flesh of their fingertips. This decision is all yours and depends on what you’re comfortable with. Also, when you take classical guitar lessons for beginners it’ll be in your best interest to learn how to read conventional music notation. Try to learn more about half notes, whole notes, time signatures, scales, and accidental notes. Once you learn the proper sitting position and learn a few easy pieces you’ll be well on your way to becoming a pretty good classical guitar player. Read Also: Expert Advice On How To Learn All The Notes On The Guitar Demystified: The Interesting Connection Between Politics And Music

Family Musicals: The Best Dads on The Stage