She Looked at Me (from "See What I Wanna See"): Piano/Vocal/Chords

This collection gives pianists and singers direct access to LaChiusa's distinctive voice across two decades of work, from experimental pieces like See What I Wanna See to beloved classics like The Wild Party. The range here means you can program a recital entirely from these pages and still showcase remarkable stylistic variety, or pull individual songs that fit specific concert themes or vocal needs.

These songs occupy a space between operatic sophistication and theatrical immediacy, with harmonies that surprise and lyrics that cut to emotional truth. The music often feels introspective and character-driven, with accompaniments that range from austere and minimal to lush and complex, always serving the theatrical moment.

This collection serves pianists and singers working with contemporary musical theatre repertoire, whether in recital, audition, or educational settings. It's essential for anyone studying 21st-century composition or looking to expand beyond standard Broadway material into more adventurous theatrical songwriting.

• Pay close attention to LaChiusa's harmonic language; these songs often sit in unexpected places on the keyboard, so anchor yourself to the chord symbols and let them inform your voicings rather than defaulting to comfortable patterns.
• The theatrical context matters. Even when performing these pieces in a recital setting, consider what character or emotional moment each song inhabits, and let that shape your interpretation of tempo flexibility and dynamic choice.
• Because many of these songs come from experimental or non-traditional shows, don't assume standard Broadway accompaniment textures. Read the written-out piano part carefully; LaChiusa often writes specific accompaniment ideas that define the song's personality.

Build a recital around LaChiusa's work by pairing songs from different shows to explore thematic connections: program pieces about desire and romance together, or create a set focused on character vulnerability. Individual songs also work well in audition packages where you want to show range beyond traditional standards.

• Reading and interpreting contemporary harmonic language with chromaticism and modal mixture
• Balancing theatrical storytelling with musical detail in accompaniment
• Sight-reading complex rhythms and syncopation across piano and vocal lines
• Understanding the relationship between theatrical context and musical interpretation