"What is this feeling, so sudden and new?"
Brianna Carroll, a freshman studying nursing, thought so too. After seeing "Wicked" in movie theaters in November 2024, it changed a belief that she and her family shared: a dislike for musicals.
Now she's immersed in the world of musical theater, and "La La Land" is her newfound favorite.
"After I watched 'Wicked,' I was like, 'Wait, I really do like musicals,'" she said. "It kind of opened the door."
Musicals have been guilty pleasures for years, but recently, movie remakes of old classics have pushed the genre into the limelight of social media — a stray away from the stage lights.
Karyl Ligasan, a freshman studying fashion, said she felt a stronger connection to the "Wicked" movie than when she saw it live.
"It's literally movie magic," Ligason said. "I cried."
"Wicked" became the top-grossing movie adaptation of a Broadway musical in 2025, surpassing "Mamma Mia!" in 2008, and received a staggering 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
READ MORE: 2024 might be the year of the movie theater comeback, students weigh in
"Movies are helping it get mainstream," Ligasan said. "But then there's also those original fans who are critiquing it."
Ligasan referenced the "Mean Girls" movie, which she said received backlash from fans who were disappointed by the adaptation's failure to capture the essence of the musical. She also said some people thought this adaptation was disappointing because it differed from the original.
"It's becoming more mainstream, but it's not traditional musical theater-esque," Akayla Tonishea, a sophomore studying theater, said. "It's more of the musicals that are more palatable to the general public."
Tonishea said "Wicked," "Hamilton" and "Mean Girls" have become the most popular because they don't sound like musical theater. These musicals have a sound rooted in pop and rap, which makes them digestible to the average person.
ASU alum Honestine Mbuyenge said while the resurgence of musical theater is exciting to see, she hopes people will explore beyond the popular films.
"I'm glad it's reaching people, because art is art, and it should be consumed … But don't call yourself a musical theater head," Mbuyenge said.
"When you only listen to Hamilton," Tonishea finished her thought.
It's important to venture beyond the mainstream because the productions put on by local community theaters can't be replicated anywhere else, Mbuyenge said. Interpretation, budget, cast and set are all factors that make a show unique, and touring companies are a way to see Broadway musicals near home, she added.
Mbuyenge described ASU Gammage as the University's "commercial house," meaning it doesn't often showcase experimental or non-traditional theater. She said it's what the rest of the world is always seeing.
Mbuyenge and Tonishea are preparing for roles in "…for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf." Running at Galvin Playhouse Theatre starting Nov. 7, the show is a set of poetic monologues, dance and music.
"You keep seeing the same actors in everything, so I think coming out to support local shows … teaches you not to diminish the talent just because this person isn't a big A-list actor," Tonishea said.
Some fans just want to see their favorite singer on the big screen, such as Carroll.
Carroll said casting celebrities such as Ariana Grande, Reneé Rapp and Chris Briney in musicals has been crucial in appealing to wider audiences. She also said the celebrity influence allowed for the movies to circulate more on social media and draw in theater and non-theater fans alike.
Carroll said before "Wicked" started trending, she never heard people talk much about musical theater. Recently, she enjoyed hearing her peers share in the excitement for "Wicked: For Good."
Tonishea believes that this stunt casting – the practice of casting celebrities – can benefit publicity, but ultimately takes the spotlight from lesser-known actors.
"There's still so much talent out there that's not just the same five actors that we're seeing in Hollywood over and over right now," Tonishea said.
READ MORE: More theater, less sleep: ASU's first-ever 24 hour play festival takes the stage
Tyra Jordan, a junior studying theater who is in the cast alongside Mbuyenge and Tonishea, said the accessibility of musical theater movies allows more people to watch. However, it's important to remember that theater was originally meant to be consumed live, Mbuyenge said. Jordan added that watching shows live is more intimate.
Seeing "Hamilton" in the movies and seeing "Hamilton" in Gammage are two distinct experiences, but one isn't necessarily better than the other. The experiences can be supplemental to each other rather than competing.
"It's not live, it's not the same," Jordan said. "But I wouldn't throw it away."
Edited by Sophia Braccio, George Headley and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at ajanusee@asu.edu and follow @lexijanusee on X.
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Lexi Janusee is in her first semester with the State Press. She is a freshman studying Journalism and Mass Communications with a minor in Theatre. Lexi also works for Blaze Radio, and is an on-air host for Open Mic.
