Tuesday night we went to see the touring Broadway musical, “If/Then.”  I was excited to see it, because Anthony Rapp (of Adventures in Babysitting fame – ha!), who starred in it on Broadway, was also with the touring company.  I listened to the Broadway Cast Recording a few times and I knew that there was a dual story line of “what could have been,” but the ending was a surprise to me – very sweet.

Then & Now: Daryl in Adventures in Babysitting and Lucas in If/Then

The story shows the life lived when chances are taken, when the heart wins over the mind, and when a life is lived fully.  Tonight at Cosmo Girls we watched “About Time,” the little British drama about time travel that is also sweet and thought provoking.  The movie and the play  both have the message that each day we get to start over and make a choice about what kind of life we’re going to live.  Each day is filled with choices and what we do with the road we travel is what can make life meaningful and full.

The musical numbers do not translate well into a singalong, but the songs tell quite a story.   Songs encouraging taking leaps, songs wondering “what if?”, songs of love to a baby, songs questioning whether you would change your path if you knew  your story ends with hurt, and a song with an expletive in it questioning what just happened.  Idina Menzel was the original lead on Broadway, but the touring actress was a look-alike and sound-alike – quite a powerhouse.

So glad we saw it.  Enjoy a few clips of the music.  And ponder your own “What if…”

Minneapolis, MN Orpheum 3.8.16