On Aug. 9, multitalented performer and YouTube personality Todrick Hall brought his musical tour, Straight Outta Oz to Chicago's historic Thalia Hall. Musical-goers ranged from all ages and demographics. The house was packed with hundreds of people as Hall and his crew took the stage.
The musical is based off of the famous movie The Wizard of Oz. It tells the story of Hall growing up in a small town in Texas and his rise to Hollywood stardom. However, that isn't all that Hall's musical covers; various topics such as police brutality, sexual orientation and coming out to parents are also covered in Straight Outta Oz.
One portion of the musical was dedicated to victims of gun violence, with visuals of Trayvon Martin, Christina Grimmie, victims of the Orlando Pulse shooting and more showing on the projector. It was a powerful scene that left me a bit teary-eyed.
The remainder of the show was more fun-filled. Hall was accompanied by several dancers and gave an amazing show, filled with energy and flair. Several times throughout the show Hall and his fellow performers interacted with eager fans, going out into the audience, dancing and singing with them.
The cast of Straight Outta Oz received a standing ovation as the members took the stage for the departing bow. Despite Hall telling the audience of his and his crew's exhaustion, the cast decided to give fans an encore performance, and fans knew every word of the songs.
I would definitely recommend everyone to go see Straight Outta Oz. The cast's modernized wardrobe and active stage presence are definitely worth the money. Also, for those who want to see the production and behind-the-scenes portion of Straight Outta Oz, there will be a movie directed by Katherine Wright and produced by Awesomeness Films.
