Help me choose a musical!

[nadin]

I have been put on the commitee for our leaving musical and we have to choose a musical. Knowing that there are a great many thespians and even thesbians on the SDMB, suggestions would be welcome. Although we beginning planning it in January, we only get three weeks rehearsal time in the summer after the exams, so we need musicals with well known songs and plots. We also have a large chorus - it's something that the whole year like to get involved in.

I do have a personal bias, and will refuse to do anything I don't like and we are also limited by copyright - we can't do anything that is being done on the West End. It also has to be pretty easy to stage - therefore West Side Story is out, even though we would like to do it. Grease, Guys and Dolls and Oklahoma have all been done recently so they're off the list.

I would quite like to do some Sondeheim, but convincing the others would be a problem. My ideal choice would to do The Rocky Horror Show but the school is quite conservative and I think we'd give the Head a heart attack.
Our first meeting will be in January so I want to have ready a list of viable musicals that I like (selfish I know but I don't want to listen to Tomorrow for weeks) with a plot synopsis, character list and songs. I have no intention of directing myself - I want to be an assistant director and do casting but I'll have to wait and see.

All suggestions will be greatly appreciated and I'll let you know what happens.


nadin :)

[dropzone]

Always been fond of "The Music Man," myself, but the Iowa jokes might be lost on Leicester. Then again, some good, ol' Yank bashing might be just the thing. ;)

Sondheim? Sheesh....

Hey, how about "Hair?" No costumes, to speak of. No, I didn't mean it THAT way--nudity was always optional. I meant the clothes are street clothes. But the PROSPECT of nudity might haul in the rubes!

[Eve]

How about one of those great Wodehouse/Kern/Gershwin musicals from the 1910s and '20s?

Simple sets, fairly small casts with chorus, clever dialogue, they're not done very often—and incredible songs, many of which have become standards!

See if you can find "Oh, Kay!," "Sally," "Lady Be Good," "Funny Face," "Oh, Boy!," "Good News," "No, No, Nanette," or any of those other sprightly musicals.

I mean, who wants to see "Cabaret" or "West Side Story" for the 26th time?

[Bricker]

Sondheim's "Into The Woods" is relatively easy to stage, although not so easy to sing. But it's a great show, starting with plots familiar to the audience and ending with new territory.

I've always liked "Man of La Mancha" and "Fiddler on the Roof" -- these are ambitious given your schedule, but everyone would know the words.

- Rick

[Johnny L.A.]

the school is quite conservative and I think we'd give the Head a heart attack.
Oh well. I was going to suggest The Forbidden Zone. Great version of Miinie the Moocher portrayed in the film by Danny Elfman. And a nice "production number" of Pico and Sepulveda.

[dropzone]

Originally posted by Eve
How about one of those great Wodehouse/Kern/Gershwin musicals from the 1910s and '20s?

I mean, who wants to see "Cabaret" or "West Side Story" for the 26th time?
Have to agree with the lady on both counts.

[hypergirl]

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

[Deiket]

Let's see.... "Oh, Kay!" is pretty good. We put that on three years ago and it was fun. This year, we put on "The Pajama Game" and that was very good. It's a very good show, but a little risque, as our director put it...

My favorites are "Kiss Me, Kate", but that really doesn't have a huge chorus, and "The Scarlet Pimpernel", which doesn't have too many main parts (but's it not well known, a GREAT show with wonderful music and if the right person is playing Percy, it's hilarious!)

Here's a piece of advice, though. Do not do "The Sound of Music" if you can help it. The productions that have been recently put on of that show have been very fluffy and light, and that's what the show is now thought of, but it's themes are actually really dark and deep. There are some things you could do to the show (for example, having the lighting get prgressively darker as the Nazi presence becomes more prominent) but you probably want to go more for a little known, fun show...

~~~~~< Deiket

[Fenris]

Originally posted by nadin

I do have a personal bias, and will refuse to do anything I don't like and we are also limited by copyright - we can't do anything that is being done on the West End. It also has to be pretty easy to stage - therefore West Side Story is out, even though we would like to do it. Grease, Guys and Dolls and Oklahoma have all been done recently so they're off the list.

I would quite like to do some Sondeheim, but convincing the others would be a problem. My ideal choice would to do The Rocky Horror Show but the school is quite conservative and I think we'd give the Head a heart attack.

All suggestions will be greatly appreciated and I'll let you know what happens.


Where's Charlie?

How To Succeed in Business without Really Trying

Damn Yankees

Call Me Madam

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (<-Sondheim!)

Blondel: an obscure musical by Tim Rice and some other guy that came and went in about 15 minutes and has catchy tunes, a large, varied cast and a very funny plot (It opens with four monks singing. Imagine a tune similar to the Beach Boys tune "Barbara-Ann" ("ba-ba-ba, Ba-Ba-Barbara Ann") done as a barbershop quartet by the monks who sing "Buh-buh-buh, Buh-Benidictus")

Little Shop of Horrors

Kiss Me, Kate

Fenris

[delphica]

I've always had a soft spot for Pippin, and it works well with a large chorus because you can have an infinite number of people (well, just about infinite) being The Players (the chorus). It's pretty easy to stage, too. Because it's supposed to be a play about a performance (sort of), you can get away with miming almost all of the props, and the scenery pieces can be very generic. No fancy costumes, either.

[stuyguy]

Oh boy, this is a fun thread!

A couple of random thoughts:

1. Watch it, dropzone, Sonheim is God around these parts.

2. Eve's got some solid suggestions in her post (and I'd add Anything Goes to her list). But her best point is: "I mean, who wants to see "Cabaret" or "West Side Story" for the 26th time?" Right on, sister!

3. I like Fenris' list, too -- especially Call Me Madam, an Irving Berlin gem that has a sure-to-please score that hasn't been beaten to death by the amateur theater circuit.

4. I just have to throw in a plug for Sondheim's (but, of course) A little Night Music. Not a big cast, and not really a kiddie-pleaser, but oh, what a rock-solid show!

Now for two borderline-obscure suggestions:

5. Is There Life After High School? This was a short-lived revue-style Broadway show from the 1980's. It's not very strong in the book department, but has a killer score. The cast recording exists on Original Cast Records. Get a copy and check it out.

6. Working. Based on the Studs Turkel bestselling book, this diamond of a show (also revue-style) languishes in obscurity because the LP cast recording is murder to find, and it's not available on CD due to legal entanglements. The smart/funny/touching score highlights the lifestyles and attitudes of American workers from one end of the spectrum to the other. A really, really remarkable show. (If you can't locate a recording, PBS did a teleplay version which may be available on video. Or ask me and I'll make you a cassette.)

[stargazer]

There's an obscure musical called "Lunch" that I saw a few years ago. Not much chorus, but easy set, too. I don't know who wrote it, though.

Oooh! "The Fantasticks!" That's a good one, and you can add a small chorus. Universal, too. And a very simple set. I did it at my University a few years ago, and it was lots of fun.

Good luck!

[penael]

Not being a thespian, but a lover of musicals:

I wanted to be the first, but alas I second, Little Shop of Horrors. Bye Bye Birdie, that sounds fun. Maybe a not-so classic: Paint Your Wagon.

Maybe?

[monster]

My personal favorite is "Brigadoon", but the songs are not very well known. I believe most of it takes place outdoors, so that should be easy. And, a large chorus would sound great in "Go Home with Bonnie Jean".

[Zebra]

I'll second Bye Bye Birdie. You can put everyone in the chorus plus the songs are fun. I don't know how hard it is to stage though. Other than that how about South Pacific?

[nadin]

I like the suggestions but I'm going ot have to be pretty persuasive to get the others to do it. The temptation is to go for something well know but IMHO they've all been done to death. Problem is getting about 200 people in the right place at the right time singing in tune. And it is a hell of a lot easier if they know the song first.
Another problem will be the "I have to kiss him. EEWWWW. I'm not doing that" approach the girls here have. I would but the problem is I'm tone deaf and not many people would pay to see me screech flatly.
Fraid we won't be doing Joseph - it's something the ickle kids do here and I'm not a big fan. I hate The Sound of Music with a passion so this is why I'm planning ahead (go on flame me - I know I'll go to hell for it.)
We do have a a guy who would be brilliant as Percy for the Scarlet Pimpernel, he has wonderful comic timing, a great voice and can dance but I'm not sure this would be well known enough with our schedule. Limitations are that not many of the girls who can sing will and the exact opposite for the guys.
Most of the time is spent arguing over who's going to direct - well it won't be me directly but I'll probably be doing most of it and which musical, hence the thread.
I'm going to have so much fun researching this - I saw my first musical when I was three and I go all the time to the West End now I'm bigger - last thing I saw was Chicago and was humming the songs for weeks after. That's something I'd like to see - girls at my school screaming "HE RAN INTO MY KNIFE SEVEN TIMES!" for the sake of drama.

Keep them coming. Front runners at the moment are Kiss Me Kate, Little Shop of Horrors, A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum and anything Gershwin. They'll all go on my list though - I'll just be pushing harder for these.

thank you all

nadin

[Eve]

Oh, Lord . . . Not the 269th production of "South Pacific," "Bye Bye, Birdie" or "Cabaret" . . . I mean, yes, they're all good musicals; but EVERYBODY does 'em.

Why not be the first group since 1906 to revive Anna Held's scandalous hit "The Parisian Model?" Terrific storyline, gorgeous costumes, and snappy numbers like "A Gown for Each Hour of the Day," "The Mattiche" (a snappy ragtime number), "Artists and Models," and the ever-popular "I Just Can't Make My Eyes Behave."

Say, you'd pack 'em in the aisles, kidd-o!

[nadin]

Models, pretty costumes and ragtime. Sounds perfect for the school. We have an excellent jazz band as well. Have to look up the songs though.

I hate South Pacific as well. And Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. So please nothing like that.

nadin

[Eve]

If it helps, "The Parisian Model" had a book by Harry B. Smith and songs by Gus Edwards and Max Hoffmann, among others.

The "plot" concerned a fashion model who inherits a fortune from her aunt, provided she doesn't reveal its source. Her artist boyfriend thinks she has a Sugar Daddy, so she decides to let him think so. It's naughty by 1906 standards, but pretty adorable today, and the costumes and songs are perfect Belle Epoch! One number that scandalized even New York had the chorus girls in bathing costumes with sleighbells attached to their legs and feet—they lay down on their backs and "kicked" the music.

[Yankee Blue]

Why is it always musicals? There's some damn funny/dramatic material out there that does not have a 'soundtrack' attached to it.
Ah, well, my school was the same. We slogged through 'The Boyfriend', 'Okalahoma' , [groan] 'South Pacific', and 'Annie Get Your Gun'.
My campaign to stage 'Arsenic and Old Lace' was shot down by the choral clique. the buggers.

[Ceejaytee]

She Loves Me!--recently revived on Broadway, fabulous book, wonderful score, terrific parts (chorus isn't huge, but the shopping scenes can handle extras). The story ends on Christmas Eve--it's funny and romantic, and (okay, I admit it) I saw the revival 6 times. It's very witty. The original cast recording with Barbara Cook and Jack Cassidy is also worth a listen. For a complete synopsis of the plot and song list, see http://www.musicalheaven.com/s/she_loves_me.shtml

The story was swiped (badly, I'm afraid) for the recent movie, "You've Got Mail" starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. It was done so much better as "The Shop Around the Corner" starring Jimmy Stewart and Maureen Sullavan. It's heavenly and highly underrated.

[caircair]

I have a wild and wacky idea -- why not write your own? Do it as a revue, showcasing either a specific composer, era or perhaps just call it "Best of Broadway". This way the good and/or familiar songs can be used, and the plot/dialog can either be done to suit, or done away with altogether.

Some may say this is a cop-out, but I've seen this kind of thing done VERY well. Alternate solos and duets, trios, etc. with chorus numbers and you'll not only save on the set, but the costumes as well.

[Jester]

Well, I'll put in a third vote for Little Shop of Horrors. My school did it last year, and it was hilarious. Simple set, except for the plant, which can be made or ordered from a prop shop, and as large a chorus as you want, depending on how many hobos and prostitues you want on stage at once, singing together.

Another one, though it doesn't have a large chorus, is Godspee. VERY simple plot, and pretty much all of the staging is improvisation, so it can be really fun with the right people. Good music, as well.

[Jester]

"Godspee?" What was I thinking? :o

Please ignore that horrible, yet oddly funny, typo, and instead change my suggestion to "Godspell." Thank you, goodnight.

[Scylla]

My all time favorite is "Chess." It doesn't get done to often, and beleive it or not, most people know the songs. If you do "Chess," myself and a whole bunch of people will come see it.

[Fenris]

Originally posted by Scylla
My all time favorite is "Chess." It doesn't get done to often, and beleive it or not, most people know the songs. If you do "Chess," myself and a whole bunch of people will come see it.

The problem with Chess is that apparently, (although a meeting between Rice and the Abba guys may have changed things), the people in charge of Chess productions make you use the crappy American version: dumbed down lyrics, lady-or-the-tiger non-ending and "Freddy Ruger" as the American.

Feh.

Try Blondel instead, if you can't do the British version (if you can, I wanna see it too!)

Fenris

[DRY]

I'll put in my vote for Kiss Me, Kate, as well.

Second choice: Damn Yankees (though how that would go over in Britain, I'm not sure)

[nadin]

Ceejaytee, thanks for the link - it means I have to a lot less work than I expected. I think I might be able to push through some of the lees known suggestions - partly because the rest of the commitee is fairly open minded and slightly eccentric, so if I get the support of some people then everything should be fine.
It's not unlikely that we might write our own - although I think ths might be a last resort, one of the girls last year wrote, directed and starred in her own 30 minute play which won most of the prizes in a competiton.
It should be pretty easy to get the British version of Chess as I went to see a year or so back but if it's still on at the West End or touring, we can't put it on. I'll be sure to send out tickets if we do though.

Got to go to class so I'll bring another update this afternoon.

nadin

[Fenris]

I just thought of another possiblity for you:

Two Gentlemen of Verona

Here's (http://www-personal.umich.edu/~jcoles/verona.html) a link to a review/synopsis.

#1) It's by Galt MacDermot, the guy who did Hair, which you said you liked.
#2) Most people are reasonably familiar with the story.
#3) The songs are catchy.
#4) It may give the Head a heart-attack, since it's kind of...um...earthy...at points, but since it's Shakespeare, he won't be able to say much. ;)
#4) If anyone objects because it's "too obscure", you can look at them coldly, and with a superior tone in your voice inform them that "It wasn't 'too obscure' to win the Tony for Best Musical in 1972 against Stephen Sondheim's Follies and Grease." Then you can tell them that if they're not even informed about the history of the theatre, well... (Can you tell I'm in a confrontational mood today? :D)

Fenris

[Johnny L.A.]

Remember the Gilligan's Island episode where the castaways staged a musical Shakespeare production? (It was an effort to impress a Hollywood producer to get him to rescue them. Ever notice what complete bastards visitors to the island were? They never helped them!)

Anyway, when I think of Polnius's advice to Laertes (I think -- I'm not a thespian) I can't help thinking about the Skipper's musical rendition of it.

How about the musical Planet of the Apes (from The Simpsons)? "I hate ev'ry ape I see / From chimpan-ay to chimpanzee / They'll never make a monkey out of me!"

[Nancyfish]

"Little Shop of Horrors" is great and not too hard to set up if you have a great girl trio to do the doo-wop narrative.

"Into the Woods" is incredibly amusing for the audience, easily done, and is full of bunches of familiar fairy tales only slightly fractured for humurous effect.

Both are good picks, but my favorite show to do on a shoestring is "Once Upon a Mattress". There are hilariously funny moments, the chorus can be as large as you want, costumes are fairly easy to make up, the dancing can be simple and still hilarious (especially the Spanish Panic), and although the songs are not well known, messing with them only makes them funnier. The soundtrack from the Broadway production with Sarah Jessica Parker is available at Amazon.com and the last time I did this show I had the kids sold on it after listening to the show once. It's a great show to do if you haven't done one before.

[Eve]

OK—got out my books and did some research last night (the invoice is in the mail, dear). Here are some muscials of the 1910s–'20s with words and music by various combinations of P.G. Wodehouse, Jerome Kern, Guy Bolton and George Gershwin. They all have clever plots and dialogue, GREAT(recognizable) songs, and are fairly small and easy to stage (they were called "Princess musicals," as they were written to fit into the cozy Princess Theater). One big advantage: they are rarely revived, so the audience won't have seen them 28 times before!

Very Good Eddie
Oh, Boy!
Lady, Be Good
Oh, Kay!
Girl Crazy
Leave It to Jane
Sally
Funny Face

Or, you could go with the slightly naughtier sophistication of Cole Porter:

Gay Divorce (made into that great Astaire/Rogers film, with one extra "e")
Anything Goes

Of course, I'm still boosting for The Parisian Model . . .

[keeper0]

I haven't seen anyone recommend "Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?"

Not my favorite musical, but it may be appropo given the conservative nature of the school. The music is catchy and simple.

As far as learning the music to whatever you choose, if you can find the soundtrack buy it. If your computer accidentally makes some copies of it onto CD-Rs, you might as well pass them around to others so they can listen and learn the words before rehearsals even start.

[Rilchiam]

Styguy: I tried e-mailing you, but couldn't get a connection. May I request a video of "Working" from you? How much would it cost me?

It amazes me that you mention two shows which feature my man, David Patrick Kelly. Have I found a kindred spirit? In any case, I'd like one of those videos! You, ah, don't happen to have one for ITLAHS, do you ;)?

[Sakura]

Originally posted by nadin
I hate The Sound of Music with a passion


nadin, you're Doper after my own heart. We're going to do that for our show this year. If you're in the chorus, you're either a Nazi or a nun.

Anyway, I put in a vote for "Kiss Me Kate". Only there aren't many chorus parts.
If you have a lot of girls in the cast, "The King and I" is pretty good. Minimum set and costume changes. And there's only one kiss. You do have to keep an eye out for at least 10 grade to middle school kids, but assign a kid to a wife and that takes care of that problem.
Good luck.

[Mauvaise]

I'd like to toss in a mention for The Fantastiks as well. It was the first musical I ever saw and I still think it's wonderful. The set (at least in the production I saw) was just a tree, with a person posed against it acting as the Wall.

As for a Sondheim musical ? I'd have to go with my favourite: Sunday in the Park with George.

[The_Peyote_Coyote]

I've always been fond of "Hello, Dolly' myself. Am surprised no one has recommended it. I've seen a couple of high schools put it on, and it appears to be well within the capabilities of amateurs.
I also think there is a musical version of "Li'l Abner" which is pretty funny. However, the songs might be a tad obscure.
Since your school appears to be in the UK, nadin, have you considered anything by Gilbert and Sullivan?

[Ad Noctum]

Kilroy was Here

[Chum]

My high school just put on this show in November. It's a very funny show, and it has an improvised feel (good if you only have three weeks to rehearse). The audience picks the end because Dickens died before he finished the book. They get to choose the murderer, the secret detective, and the lovers. Only problem with this show is that you need a wonderfully talented actor to play the part of the chairman because he is about half of the show. The songs are definitely not familiar, but they are very catchy once you've seen the show or been in it (I'm still singing them).

Last year, my high school put on The Little Shop of Horrors, also a great show. We increased the number of urchins from three to eight, which actually worked. There are a lot of bit parts and townspeople parts, and I think the songs would be familiar to many people.

Good luck.

[red_dragon60]

Rent!

[Fenris]

Originally posted by Mauvaise
I'd like to toss in a mention for The Fantastiks as well. It was the first musical I ever saw and I still think it's wonderful. The set (at least in the production I saw) was just a tree, with a person posed against it acting as the Wall.

I love the Fantasticks, but the problem with a school putting it on is that there're only six (or seven.<counts on fingers>..the narrator, Matt, Luisa, His Dad, Her Dad, and the mute and , the old actor guy, the guy who dies...eight!) parts,only one of which is written for a girl (and none of the parts aren't unisex...you can't make the narrator a girl, for instance or the "Round and Round" song becomes...not something that a conservative school would be comfortable with...the Rape Ballet would also have problems if one or more of the actors were women.)

And the charm of the show is it's intimacy...adding a big chorus ruins the charm (I've had the misfortune to see this done:
Matt: Love, you are Love
Chorus: YOU ARE LOVE
Matt: Better far than any metaphor could ever, ever be
Chorus: EVER BEEEEEEEEEEE!
Matt: Love, you are love
Luias: I am love!
Chorus: SHEEEE! SHEEEE IIIIISSS LOOOOOOOVE
Matt, whispers: My mystery
Luisa, whispers: His mystery
Chorus. NOT whispering: THE MYYYYYYYYYYYSTEEEEEEEY!
Matt; of love.
Chorus: OOOOOOOFFF LOOOOOOVVVVE! OOOOOOFF LOOOOOOVE!

It wasn't pretty)

Another suggestion: How 'bout a forgotten musical by Kander and Ebb ccalled Flora, The Red Menace: Lots of parts, catchy songs, big chorus, nothing objectionable in the content.

Fenris