Stories That Inspire Me: The Movies, TV Shows, Plays, and Musicals That Remind Me Why I Do Theatre

One of the best parts of being in the arts is constantly finding new stories that remind me why I fell in love with storytelling in the first place.

I’ve always believed that theatre — and art in general — is about empathy. It’s about understanding people who are different from us and finding pieces of ourselves in their stories. Whether it’s on stage, on screen, or somewhere in between, the right story can make you want to create something just as powerful.

So, I wanted to share a few movies, TV shows, plays, and musicals that continue to inspire me as an artist. Some are beautiful, some are messy, and some are a little problematic — but all of them have shaped how I view theatre and storytelling.

The Woodsman

Let’s start with The Woodsman.

This hauntingly beautiful piece of puppetry tells the Tin Man’s story before The Wizard of Oz — before the Emerald City, before the Yellow Brick Road, before he lost his heart.

I remember watching it for the first time and being completely mesmerized. There’s very little dialogue, but the story speaks volumes through movement, breath, and sound. The puppetry is raw and intimate, and the way the performers bring life to wood and rope feels almost sacred.

The Woodsman taught me that storytelling doesn’t need spectacle to be powerful. Sometimes, the quietest performances speak the loudest truths.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Okay, hear me out.

Yes, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is… complicated. The premise has aged about as well as milk left in the sun (if you know, you know). But despite the questionable plot, I can’t help but love it for what it does represent: pure, unapologetic Golden Age musical theatre magic.

Howard Keel’s booming baritone, Jane Powell’s stunning soprano, the Technicolor sets, and those incredible barn dance sequences — it’s everything that first drew me to musicals. It’s full of energy, style, and heart, even if the story itself makes me occasionally yell, “That’s not how consent works!” at the screen

Also, fun fact: I quote this movie just about every day. (It’s basically part of my personality at this point.)

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers reminds me that you can love something while also acknowledging its flaws — and that even the most outdated material can inspire better, more thoughtful storytelling in the future.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Musical)

This one hits me right in the heart every time.

Based on both Victor Hugo’s novel and Disney’s animated film, The Hunchback of Notre Dame musical blends the grandeur of the cathedral with the intimacy of human emotion. The score is breathtaking — Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz at their absolute best — and the choral elements give the whole show a haunting, sacred quality.

The first time I heard the soundtrack, I cried. The composition was so beautiful and emotionally rich that it completely overwhelmed me. It’s one of those rare scores that makes you feel like you’re standing in the middle of a cathedral, surrounded by music that understands the human soul.

What really inspires me about this musical is how it deals with morality, faith, and humanity. It doesn’t shy away from darkness, but it still finds beauty in tragedy. It’s a reminder that theatre can be both entertaining and profound — that it can hold joy and pain in the same breath.

If you ever get a chance to see or listen to it, prepare to cry. A lot.

Once Upon a Time

Now, let’s talk about my favorite guilty pleasure turned genuine inspiration: Once Upon a Time.

This ABC show took fairy tales and completely flipped them on their heads. It asked, “What if Snow White, Captain Hook, and Rumpelstiltskin all lived in the same universe — and what if they were real people with messy emotions and trauma?”

Yes, it’s melodramatic. Yes, there are plot holes you could drive a pirate ship through. But Once Upon a Time captured something I adore about storytelling: the power of reinvention.

It reminds me that stories are meant to evolve. They can be retold, reimagined, and reshaped to fit new voices and new generations. Every time I watch it, I’m reminded that theatre has the same power — to take familiar tales and make them feel brand new.

The Jane Austen Book Club

This one is quieter, but it resonates with me on a deeper level, as both an artist and a human being.

The Jane Austen Book Club follows five women and one man who start a book club dedicated to reading all of Jane Austen’s novels. On paper, it sounds simple. But as they read, each character begins to see their own lives mirrored in Austen’s world — the love, the loneliness, the misunderstandings, the second chances.

I also love this film because Jane Austen is my favorite author — her wit, insight, and emotional intelligence never fail to inspire me. (Although my favorite book is actually Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women...)

This movie inspires me because it celebrates connection. It’s not about grand drama or high stakes — it’s about people learning from stories and from each other.

As someone who loves the communal aspect of theatre, that really

resonates with me. It reminds me why I write, direct, and perform: to connect people through shared emotion and reflection.

Real Women Have Curves

This short film starring America Ferrera is one of the most empowering and heartfelt stories I’ve ever seen.

Real Women Have Curves follows a young Mexican-American woman trying to balance her family’s expectations with her own dreams. It’s funny, real, and full of warmth — but it also tackles identity, culture, and body image in a way that feels deeply honest.

As a Puerto Rican-American, this story resonates with me on a personal level. It reflects many of the cultural tensions, joys, and challenges I’ve experienced, and it’s been a big part of what inspires me to produce Spanish-language works.

What moves me most about this story is its authenticity. It doesn’t romanticize struggle or oversimplify identity; it shows the beauty in being unapologetically yourself. Watching it reminded me of why representation matters in storytelling — and how powerful it is to see characters who look like you and share your experiences on screen.

It’s the kind of story that makes me want to create art that’s both truthful and hopeful, art that tells people, “You are enough exactly as you are.”

Hedda Gabler

And finally — Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen.

I’ll be honest, this one’s not exactly a “feel-good” play. Hedda is not a heroine you root for. She’s trapped, frustrated, and self-destructive, living in a world that offers her no real choices.

But that’s exactly why it inspires me.

I saw a performance of Hedda at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in 2024, and the final scene was mesmerizing. The direction, acting, and atmosphere were so controlled and powerful that I sat completely still, holding my breath, until the lights went down.

Ibsen wrote Hedda Gabler in the 1890s, and yet it still feels relevant today. It’s a masterclass in character complexity — how a person can be brilliant, cruel, and deeply human all at once.

Every time I read or see it performed, I’m reminded of theatre’s ability to tell uncomfortable truths — to show us the parts of humanity we’d rather ignore, but desperately need to understand.

Final Thoughts

These stories — from musicals full of tap-dancing lumberjacks to quiet book clubs, heartfelt short films, and tragic 19th-century heroines — have all shaped the artist I am today.

They remind me that theatre isn’t just about entertainment. It’s about empathy, courage, and connection. It’s about using stories, both light and dark, to explore what it means to be human.

And because there are so many more stories that have influenced me, I’ll definitely be writing more posts later on — diving deeper into my favorite plays, musicals, movies, and shows that keep me inspired.

So, those are a few of mine. Now I want to hear from you.

What movies, shows, or plays inspire you to create?

Share them in the comments below — I’d love to find some new stories to fall in love with.

Until next time, here’s a quote that says it best:

“The power of art can break the shackles that bind and divide human beings.” – Daisaku Ikeda