See What I Wanna See (from "See What I Wanna See"): Piano/Vocal/Chords

LaChiusa's music resists easy categorization, blending classical craft with contemporary sensibility in ways that reward serious study. This collection gives singers and pianists direct access to one of the most intellectually rigorous bodies of contemporary theatrical music, with pieces that work equally well in concert recitals, audition prep, and staged contexts. The breadth of shows represented means you'll find material spanning multiple dramatic styles and vocal types.

LaChiusa's music inhabits a space between art song sophistication and theatrical immediacy, often unsettling in its harmonic complexity while remaining deeply human in its emotional expression. These songs range from introspective and vulnerable to propulsive and theatrically present, but they share a quality of literary richness and musical substance that distinguishes them from conventional theatre music.

This collection serves singers preparing auditions for contemporary musical theatre roles, pianists developing their collaborative and solo repertoire, and voice teachers seeking material that challenges students beyond traditional standards. It's equally valuable for advanced high school singers, college musical theatre programs, and adult vocalists exploring contemporary art song.

• Pay close attention to LaChiusa's harmonic language in the piano part; these harmonies often carry as much emotional weight as the vocal line and require clear articulation to land their full effect.
• Treat these songs as chamber music rather than simple accompaniment situations. The relationship between voice and piano is conversational and interdependent, not hierarchical.
• Use the song titles and show contexts as interpretive anchors. LaChiusa's music serves specific dramatic moments, and understanding that context will inform phrasing, dynamics, and emotional coloring.

Individual songs work beautifully in recital settings, especially when paired with art song or other contemporary material that values harmonic risk and emotional authenticity. For musical theatre programs, this collection offers audition material and performance pieces that showcase vocal maturity and interpretive depth. Voice studios can use these songs to develop students' ability to navigate complex harmonies and psychologically layered character work.

• Reading and performing complex harmonic progressions and jazz-influenced chord structures
• Interpreting theatrical context to inform vocal choices and phrasing
• Collaborating with pianists on music where the accompaniment carries equal dramatic responsibility
• Sustaining emotional authenticity in sophisticated contemporary material
• Navigating contemporary rhythmic flexibility and rubato within structured harmonic frameworks