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It’s no secret that Taylor Swift is a master storyteller and songwriter. Her latest album, Folklore, is smashing records, and hit songs like “Betty” are a reminder that Swift can write fictional narratives just as well as she can write uber-personal, tell-all songs like “Dear John” or “I Knew You Were Trouble.” She’s also open about her own past in the theater, and even starred in and co-wrote a song for the recent Cats movie.
All of this begs the question — why Taylor hasn’t written her own musical yet? If you’re like me, you’ve probably struggled to come up with one good reason why the greatest singer-songwriter of this generation hasn’t yet made it to the Great White Way. Perhaps this is just me manifesting, but I’ve compiled a breakdown of all the reasons why Taylor Swift would write an excellent Broadway musical.
A True Performing Artist
Taylor isn’t just a great recording artist; she’s also a fabulous performer. Unlike other musicians, who dislike singing live, Swift’s concerts are as much of an expression of her artistry as her records.
It’s clear that Taylor Swift identifies as a performer. It’s in the way she expresses herself in interviews, the way she lights up the stage, and even in the way that she carries and takes care of herself to sustain a performer’s lifestyle. In Miss Americana, her documentary, she talks about needing to fuel herself for long, high-energy tour shows. She is mindful of what it takes to succeed in performing a show multiple times every week.
Immersive Fan Experiences
Taylor Swift concerts have become bigger and more eventful than those of any other artist in the music industry. Working all the way up from a slot as an opening act in the days of her first album, Swift has acquired a reputation — pun intended — for creating the ultimate experience for her fans. With elaborate projections, smoke effects, multiple costume changes, and energetic dancing, her concerts allow fans to experience her music in a way that is multi-faceted and interactive.
Although it didn’t get to happen due to the coronavirus pandemic, Swift’s most recent tour was affectionately named “Lover Fest” and was set to hit the United States in Foxborough, Massachusetts this summer. She explained on an Instagram post that she wanted to create an experience for her fans that was “authentic” and true to the music. The concept of Lover Fest was to create a large-scale event that mimicked a music festival.
Theater provides a lot of the same conventions, but it also is a malleable art form that embraces innovation and connection to the audience. It provides an opportunity to share a moment with the audience through storytelling, just like Swift does in her concerts.
Storytelling Capacities
Taylor Swift doesn’t just craft catchy songs in her work, but she crafts songs that tell a narrative. In an interview with Taste of Country, Swift recalls that seeing local theater was how she first fell in love with music through watching theater performances with “storylines and characters, and [how] you’re always seeing a scene change into another scene” (( Hensel, Amanda. “Taylor Swift’s Speak Now Tour Inspired by Broadway Musicals.” Taste of Country, Taste of Country, 2 June 2011. ))
Her music is often said to be very theatrical, with a big climax at the bridge, which could be due to this early connection to Broadway-style music. And while Swifties often gush over her incredible bridges, her excellence as a storyteller is also evident in her brilliant pop hooks, musical themes, and her strong use of symbolism.
Although she has a reputation for writing personal narratives and stories from her own life, songs like “Speak Now” and “Cardigan” prove that Swift can craft a story that is openly fictional. She can tell an entire story that is relatable, honest, and full of nuance in just a four-minute song. Anyone who has ever heard “Love Story” can attest to how quickly the listener can become invested in her story arcs. Swift’s ability to bring the listener through a full narrative in a song is a rare skill that would come in handy for musical theater writing and composing.
Beyond The Music
Lastly, Taylor always envisions a life for her songs beyond the music. There’s always a visual aesthetic for each album, such as the warm pastel of Lover or the monochrome filters of Folklore. These aesthetics are often consistent throughout her wardrobe, all the promotional content, and any performance effects.
Taylor will sometimes fully express this vision through extravagant music videos and bonus content, such as with the magnificent “ME!” or “Bad Blood,” which both also solicited high-profile co-stars. Swift often stresses her love of working on these videos and has won more than a few VMAs over the years. The attention to detail and imaginative concepts for these videos is proof that Swift’s aptitude for storytelling extends beyond composing songs and that she can envision a life for her work outside of their own context. Swift develops a whole world for each album and song to live in… and I, for one, would like to see that world come to life in a theatrical medium as well.
Jukebox Musicals Are Trending
With movie musicals and Broadway shows like Mamma Mia!, Jagged Little Pill, and Moulin Rouge! thriving in the business, there’s a clearly emerging trend at the moment. Jukebox musicals — or musicals that utilize existing popular songs and pop music canon — are dominating the world of theater.
Jukebox musicals are a great way to secure a new audience for a commercial Broadway show. By pulling on the original musician’s existing audience, jukebox musicals have the capacity to captivate the attention of potential theatergoers who don’t normally get excited about traditional musical theater. With a fan base like Taylor Swift’s, a jukebox musical with her existing songs would be a surefire hit on the commercial theater market.
Experiencing a fictional story around Swift’s existing songs would be an emotional roller coaster. Who doesn’t want to see an entire plotline developed around “Long Live” and “Treacherous”?
Powerful Messages
In Miss Americana, Taylor Swift’s foray into political activism is discussed in detail. Swift’s passion as a queer ally and a feminist is a huge motivator in her work and led to the hit songs “You Need to Calm Down” and “Only the Young.”
This activism aligns with Broadway’s values. In the past, Tony-nominated shows like The Prom and even Hadestown have navigated social issues and proven that shows with political relevancy can still be commercially and critically successful. A musical could be a great outlet for Taylor Swift to celebrate these causes.
Powerful Female Leads
Broadway needs more independent female characters. Taylor Swift was an early role model in the music industry, preaching the importance for young girls to stand up for themselves and to work hard at what they are passionate about. Swift has continued to share and be open about her own fight for equal respect as her male counterparts, which is recently depicted in her song “The Man.” Even after her battle for ownership over her own music, sexual harassment case, and long-term struggles with body image, Swift has become a powerful icon of female empowerment.
If she can channel this into a musical, it would be sure to be a hit. Plus, the gender gap is still alive and well in the behind-the-scenes of the theater industry, with the large majority of creatives, producers, and administrators being men. If Taylor Swift entered the scene, it would be a powerful reminder to the industry that the gender gap can and should be closed.
“Welcome To New York”
With multiple apartments in New York City, Taylor Swift is already so close to Broadway. Collaboration with other theatremakers and industry professionals would be so accessible to her. Her love of the city is also celebrated in lots of her songs, especially “Welcome To New York” and “Cornelia Street,” so spending time on a show in New York would give her lots of time to immerse herself in the city and enjoy the culture.
If she ever decides to embrace the spirit of New York and write a musical, I’ll be front row on opening night. Although, I’ll admit, I’m having a difficult time imagining myself practicing proper theater etiquette when the bridge of “All Too Well” starts to play.
