The Maze Master

For Annie, I chose Les Mis because in the end, it's a story about hope and connection in the hardest of times. There are also a wide variety of roles in this show, which I think reflects Annie's broad range of ability, and most of the dialogue is sung in a very dramatic fashion, which I think suits her. It's also super iconic and everything she's done on-stage has been super iconic imo.

I may be being a little cruel to assign Chris The Last Five Years, but I think with his penchant for angst and drama in the roles he chooses, he would love Cathy and Jamie's story. The dual timeline progression, too, is something I think would interest him very much. The songs are very emotive and play well with his dramatics. (this is your sign to listen to tl5y if you haven't. I prefer the newer version w/Anna and Jeremy, but the original recording with Norbert and Sharie is also fire!!! and in fact checking something, i found out that Jonathan Bailey (THE Anthony Bridgerton) and Samantha Barks (THE many roles but among them Eponine in Les Mis) played Jamie and Cathy in the Off-West End run in 2016 that's so fuckign awesome akjf;kdj) Anyways, Chris and angst are my otp and tl5y gives SO many great opportunities for it.

Dennis as The Lightning Thief is mainly because the show and story are ones I'm quite fond of, and I think Percy's persistence is something that Dennis shares. Even when he has no idea what's going on and doesn't know his lines properly, he still tries. I also made him a satyr in my fantasy AU, and he suits ungulates so well imo.

Lucy as Into the Woods is because she's done so many things in the Cornley shows, and itw isn't a specifically singular fairytale portrayal. I think she'd thrive as Little Red Riding Hood, honestly, but she could also for sure pull off Rapunzel. It's a fun musical with a lot of emotional range for every role, so no matter what, I think she'd be able to perform well (until her Uncle incapacitates her accidentally, of course.)

Max and Catch Me If You Can… Originally, I wanted to make a joke about Max's bisexual awakening being Aaron Tveit as Enjolras in the 2012 Les Mis movie (which I do believe in, don't get it twisted), but I do genuinely think that the musical is just so fun and whimsical (if you ignore the whole fraud and endangering people's lives aspect of it) and there's a lot of breaking of the fourth wall to see the audience's reaction, which I think Max would adore.

Robert as Chicago. The first rule of Chekov's gun. Have a gun. Reach for the gun, the gun, the gun, the gun, the gun, the gun, the g-*gunshot* (The show is full of dramatics and iconic songs and lines and lying, I think it works.)

Sandra and Phantom of the Opera to me is such a true thing? Like, here's a performer who is new to the stage and is trusting in this man who claims to know what he's doing, and his actions are a mix of selfish self-serving ambitions/revenge and a genuine desire to help this young woman grow in herself and her career. She's stuck between two men, one who suits her to the bone and another who knows her and knows her potential and her mind. If I were just to focus on the actual singing ability of Christine, I would cast Nessa in her place simply because I do believe she'd be able to hit those notes, but from an acting standpoint, I do think Sandra does have the capabilities to portray Miss Daaé, and portray her well.

Trevor and RENT… Part of it, I will not lie, has to do with the aesthetics of the show and what we see him wear when he's not in costume. I think that the mix of desires to help yourself while you're struggling and help your friends who are struggling, too, and how those desires can be at odds has great potential in being compared to the dynamic that Trev has with Cornley. After all, it is canon that he didn't want to be there originally, but he stayed nonetheless because he was needed. The economic and sociopolitical crises that are portrayed in the musical, which is set in the early- to mid-1990s, do have their parallels to today. (not going to go further into that here, plus there are better posts made by more studied people than i who have gone into it) at the end of the day, RENT is a story about friendship and love and connection with a group of weirdos who are as weird as you, and to me that suits Trevor.

Waitress is Vanessa because, well, partly because she is my most special poor little meow meow and I really love the music of the show, I won't lie to you. But there's a certain melancholy to Vanessa that we get to see sometimes from her, and it pairs well with the vibes of Waitress. While the exact plot of the show and her character do not share the same beats, in part because I don't see Vanessa ever wanting to have kids of her own due to her mother, I do think that the introspection and constant analysis of where one stands in the world and in relation to others is similar to her. (i say this mother part knowing the relationship Jenna had with her mom was the complete opposite from my headcanon lol) I also do think that Vanessa absolutely stress bakes.

[Sergei] holds up his hand for a high five. Elena ignores him. He high-fives himself.

I need him to feel the same feeling of love as when Chris Bean apologises to everyone in BBC!ACCGW because he is just. What a silly guy.

[Bernard] sighs and lifts the lid off the cloche. A violent burst of gas sprays him in the face and he falls unconscious.

Bernard is just that anxiety idk creature in human form. I was medium suspicious of him, actually. Because it could be an act. No, no. He's just a walking bundle of anxiety who likes baking.

Sergei takes out a banana and eats it.

He's so endearing to me.

Elena Shut up, boob.

I don't think I need to explain myself.

Sergei Go team friendship!

Elena ignores Sergei and Sergei high-fives Bernard's head instead.

He. Is. So. Endearing. To. Me.