Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Historical (American) Musical

Author

Message

Dakin
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 5/18/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Topic: Historical (American) Musical
Posted: 5/18/07 at 9:52am

Our group was planning to perform "1776" and "The Complete History of America (abridged)" as part of the Town's Jamestown 400 celebrations this summer. We are having problems find enough interested men to fill the roles for 1776 and are searching for an alternative that will fit in with the theme of American History. A musical would be preferable.

Any suggestions would be most welcome!

IP Logged

B-M-D
Celebrity

Joined: 11/03/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 346

Posted: 5/18/07 at 12:18pm

Quilters. All female cast. I believe it revolves around the settlement of the American west or midwest. I think you can find it at Samuel French at www.samuelfrench.com. Be advised that a cast recording does not exist for it.

"Dying is easy, comedy is hard."

IP Logged

Dakin
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 5/18/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 5/18/07 at 3:15pm

Thanks for the suggestion. It would be a good idea since we seem to have an easier time casting women than men. Unfortunately on looking around online a lot of people seem to find it boring and our director concurs Cry

All the best!

IP Logged

Topper
Celebrity

Joined: 1/27/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 543

Posted: 5/19/07 at 1:14am

"Tintypes" is a great musical with a small cast, dealing with the American experience.

You can learn more here: http://www.nodanw.com/shows_t/tintypes.htm

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

IP Logged

Dakin
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 5/18/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 5/19/07 at 10:12am

Heh ... I know I'm beginning to sound difficult but we did Tintypes a few seasons ago :) but many thanks for the suggestion it is much appreciated. I'm not a performer in our group but I've been involved long enough to know the artistic types don't like to revisit old ground ... especially so recently.

All the best!

IP Logged

tristanrobin
Celebrity

Joined: 4/25/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 704

Posted: 5/20/07 at 7:10am

"Ragtime" - big musical with lots of female and male roles (interracial requirements)

"George M!" - though not specifically patriotic story, there are LOTS of patriotic songs - and terrific if you have tap dancers!

"Will Rogers Follies" - again, not a specifically patriotic show, but all about a super-patriotic characer

(oh - LOL - by the way, I've been involved in three productions of "Quilters" - boring? Not even close! LOL

IP Logged

neilfortin
Celebrity

Joined: 11/20/06
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 210

Posted: 5/21/07 at 3:36pm

Definitely take a look at Ragtime, one of the best shows out there with rousing music and a great costume display/set that can EASILY be simplified. One point of interest it needs an interracial cast, and a set of very STRONG voices!!

Community Theater makes us smile

IP Logged

red diva
Celebrity

Joined: 5/15/06
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 199

Posted: 5/22/07 at 9:26am

I agree with tristanrobin totally. If done well, Quilters is a lovely, lovely show. It can be almost balletic (without the dancing). It is dark in places, but not depressing, which is how life is both today and in the pioneer days that it depicts.

But only do it if you can cast women who are equally strong.

"I've worked long and hard to earn the right to be called Diva!"

IP Logged

Shatcher
Celebrity

Joined: 2/21/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 251

Posted: 5/22/07 at 1:28pm

I belive there is a pretty new play out there about Lewis & Clark, saw it last summer in Omaha, NE L&C country

IP Logged

Topper
Celebrity

Joined: 1/27/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 543

Posted: 5/23/07 at 3:58pm

There's a little-known musical about settlers in an early-American territory:

Um, I think it's called "Oklahoma!" or something.

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

IP Logged

Play Suggestions
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Play Suggestions

Topic: Historical (American) Musical( Topic Closed)
	Page of 2 Next >>

Author	Message
Dakin Walk-On Joined: 5/18/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Historical (American) Musical Posted: 5/18/07 at 9:52am
	Our group was planning to perform "1776" and "The Complete History of America (abridged)" as part of the Town's Jamestown 400 celebrations this summer. We are having problems find enough interested men to fill the roles for 1776 and are searching for an alternative that will fit in with the theme of American History. A musical would be preferable. Any suggestions would be most welcome!

	IP Logged

B-M-D Celebrity Joined: 11/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 346	Posted: 5/18/07 at 12:18pm
	Quilters. All female cast. I believe it revolves around the settlement of the American west or midwest. I think you can find it at Samuel French at www.samuelfrench.com. Be advised that a cast recording does not exist for it.
	BD "Dying is easy, comedy is hard."
	IP Logged

Dakin Walk-On Joined: 5/18/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 5/18/07 at 3:15pm
	Thanks for the suggestion. It would be a good idea since we seem to have an easier time casting women than men. Unfortunately on looking around online a lot of people seem to find it boring and our director concurs All the best!
	IP Logged

Topper Celebrity Joined: 1/27/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 543	Posted: 5/19/07 at 1:14am
	"Tintypes" is a great musical with a small cast, dealing with the American experience. You can learn more here: http://www.nodanw.com/shows_t/tintypes.htm
	"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
	IP Logged

Dakin Walk-On Joined: 5/18/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 5/19/07 at 10:12am
	Heh ... I know I'm beginning to sound difficult but we did Tintypes a few seasons ago :) but many thanks for the suggestion it is much appreciated. I'm not a performer in our group but I've been involved long enough to know the artistic types don't like to revisit old ground ... especially so recently. All the best!
	IP Logged

tristanrobin Celebrity Joined: 4/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 704	Posted: 5/20/07 at 7:10am
	"Ragtime" - big musical with lots of female and male roles (interracial requirements) "George M!" - though not specifically patriotic story, there are LOTS of patriotic songs - and terrific if you have tap dancers! "Will Rogers Follies" - again, not a specifically patriotic show, but all about a super-patriotic characer (oh - LOL - by the way, I've been involved in three productions of "Quilters" - boring? Not even close! LOL
	IP Logged

neilfortin Celebrity Joined: 11/20/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 210	Posted: 5/21/07 at 3:36pm
	Definitely take a look at Ragtime, one of the best shows out there with rousing music and a great costume display/set that can EASILY be simplified. One point of interest it needs an interracial cast, and a set of very STRONG voices!!
	Community Theater makes us smile
	IP Logged

red diva Celebrity Joined: 5/15/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 199	Posted: 5/22/07 at 9:26am
	I agree with tristanrobin totally. If done well, Quilters is a lovely, lovely show. It can be almost balletic (without the dancing). It is dark in places, but not depressing, which is how life is both today and in the pioneer days that it depicts. But only do it if you can cast women who are equally strong.
	"I've worked long and hard to earn the right to be called Diva!"
	IP Logged

Shatcher Celebrity Joined: 2/21/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 251	Posted: 5/22/07 at 1:28pm
	I belive there is a pretty new play out there about Lewis & Clark, saw it last summer in Omaha, NE L&C country
	IP Logged

Topper Celebrity Joined: 1/27/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 543	Posted: 5/23/07 at 3:58pm
	There's a little-known musical about settlers in an early-American territory: Um, I think it's called "Oklahoma!" or something.
	"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
	IP Logged