One of the common rules of musical theater is that characters burst into song whenever they need to convey a truth too powerful for spoken language.

“We did as we were told, and when we sat on the front steps Liza spontaneously burst into song with ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow.’

I remember thinking that was strange, as I’d never been around a kid who just burst into song like that, even though she was pretty darn good,” Cher wrote.

Crucially she says they wanted the show to be relatable and feel real, or as real as a show can be when the characters spontaneously burst into song.

Clustered in a dank, darkened corridor offstage, members of the chorus drew themselves up, preparing to burst into song.