It was all about the ladies in the glorious cast recordings of 2016. From Cynthia Erivo's foot-stomping tallest tree to Stephanie J. Block opting up in Falsettos to the humor and romance of Laura Benanti and Jane Krakowski in She Loves Me, each of our favorite cast recordings had female performances at the heart.
You need to own this album for Leslie Kritzer alone. #BabyBlueIsMYColor Also, any album with Steven Pasquale is worth adding to your collection.
4. She Loves Me
It would actually be unfair to the glorious gentlemen of She Loves Me to narrow this down to just Laura and Jane. From top to bottom, this album is joyous and incredibly well sung and orchestrated. I imagine it will now be viewed as the definitive She Loves Me.
3. Falsettos
Speaking of definitive cast recordings, the double-disc Falsettos is the album fans have been waiting decades for. I have been listening to this recording a little bit every day since it was released.
2. Bright Star
The incredible Bright Star cast recording got me through the summer. It was like being washed over by sunshine at the press of a button. How does it get any better than the soaring voices of Carmen Cusack, Paul Alexander Nolan, Emily Padgett, and Hannah Elless?!?
Let's not even play like anything gave me life like Cynthia Erivo, Jennifer Hudson, Danielle Brooks, Joaquina Kalukango, Patrice Covington, and the Church Ladies of The Color Purple. #LookWhatGodHasDone
