The Secret of Happiness

What if I told you there was a place where you could legally access filmed live musicals for free?

The answer will either make your eyes roll, or fill your heart with joy.

It’s your local library.

Libraries are treasure troves of information and resources. I have been an active member of 20 libraries in 4 different cities across 3 countries during my time on this planet. Libraries have allowed me to feed my potentially expensive habit of voracious reading and consumption of all things musical.

Being a member of the New York Public Library is one of my greatest joys. Much of this very site has been researched, and written, from within the walls of the Performing Arts Library at Lincoln Center, and the many branches of the NYPL dotted across Manhattan. With my shiny red library card, I have access to countless books, recordings, databases, and expertise, all for free.

In a world and time where seeing a live musical is often prohibitively expensive, I encourage you to visit your local library and see what they have on offer. There are currently 71 musicals in the database available on DVD. Check in at your local library to see if they have a copy, and if they don’t, see if you can request one. In my experience, libraries are accommodating to new requests, and chances are you are not the only person looking for the content.

This post was written in celebration of the 60th anniversary of National Library Week in the United States.

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