We have a long-standing Friday ritual called “Show tune Friday.” It’s a musical custom, adored by some (mainly me) and abhorred by others. But in the words of Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof” – it’s tradition.

Every day, we help to imagine houses that eventually become homes. Recently, I began to think of all the theatrical songs that speak of “home”. In my second official McAlpine Tankersley playlist, I’d like to share a few of my favorites.

“Bring Him Home” from “Les Miserables”
A monumental tearjerker in an epic show chock full of of tearjerkers. Our hero, Jean Valjean, rescues his ward’s wounded beloved from a government attack by secreting him away through subterranean Paris. In this song, he pleads with God to spare the life of the young rebel.  It’s probably the best aria ever sung in a sewer.

“Far From the Home I Love” from Fiddler on the Roof 
Speaking of Fiddler (which is a musical all about family and home), Tevye’s oldest daughter opines about leaving the familial home to go away with her rebel fiancé (what’s with all these rebel boyfriends?).  She explains to her worried father that wherever her dearest is, home resides.  A great song of cutting apron strings – or tzitzis strings as it were.

“Is This Home?” from “Beauty in the Beast”
In this Disney ballad, our heroine Belle finds herself imprisoned by the hideous Beast.  While she is now forced to live in a strange place, her brave heart is free and true home lies far away from this dismal incarceration.  In true Disney fashion, however, the captor transforms into a prince and changes Belle’s determined tune.

“I’m Going Home” from “The Rocky Horror Show”
In this 11:00 number (google the term if you don’t know it – all great musicals have one), our anti-hero(ine) finds (s)he’s mucked things up beyond repair here on Earth and is being forced to return to his (her) home planet Transexual.  If you’re not familiar with the show, I’m sure this all sound horribly weird – and it is – but it’s one of the best going home songs.

“This is My House” from “Matilda”
A sweet little song where a sad, poor school teacher explains to her student, Matilda, that her humble accommodations offer everything she could possibly need. Presented here, by the composer Tim Minchin:

http://youtu.be/kPGCQIqX4xM

“When You’re Home” from “In the Heights”
“In the Heights” is a stirring musical about an urban neighborhood – New York’s Washington Heights. In this song, one of the few locals who’s scrambled and fought to leave the ‘hood comes back from college and discovers how much she’s missed home.

http://youtu.be/lcnn9oYxcfk

“Home” from “The Wiz”
Is there a greater fable about yearning for home than “The Wizard of Oz”?  “The Wiz” is an urban retelling of the classic tale and the 11:00 number (see note above) is all about getting back to dear Auntie Em.  Let the inestimable Ms. Ross click her heels together and wrap this list up:

Fellow theatre geeks, feel free to leave your favorites in the comments.

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