Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Starter Musical

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BlueEye217
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Joined: 10/20/08
Location: United States
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Posts: 20

Topic: Starter Musical
Posted: 5/19/09 at 4:10pm

Does anyone have any suggestions for a small musical?

Our CT has a small space and hasn't done one in awhile. We did do Godspell and Cabaret.

Looking for something along the lines of Working, Fantasticks (easy sets, costumes, etc.)

Thanks!

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pdavis69
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Joined: 3/26/06
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Posts: 437

Posted: 5/19/09 at 4:25pm

Wwe just ran Pump Boys and Dinettes. This is a five person show with an extremely adaptable set. We had a very elabotate set but could have done without it.

Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

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tristanrobin
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Posted: 5/19/09 at 7:07pm

You did "Cabaret?" I don't consider that a starter musical AT ALL!

I love "Working" ... and I like "The Fantasticks," too.

You should also read/hear "The Grass Harp," "Company," "Charlotte Sweet" (not famous - but FABULOUS), " The Best Little Whorehouse," or "Three Guys Naked From the Waist Down."

"Pump Boys and Dinettes" is also a terrific show. I've always wanted to do it - but just can't come up with the fiddlers!

I worked for many years in a turn-of-the-century second story opera house that had NO wings to speak of and an 17'x17' raked stage. We produced some very "big" musicals on that stage! It just takes some creativity and pre-production planning.

And here in CT, we have the famous Goodspeed Opera House ( http://www.goodspeed.org ) which has almost the exact same stage dimensions - and they've produced every musical ever! LOL

no space? LOL
Check out: http://www.goodspeed.org/uploadedfiles/shows/2009/42nd_street/opening.wmv
and
http://www.goodspeed.org/uploadedfiles/shows/2009/42nd_street/we%27re_in_the_money.wmv
and
http://www.goodspeed.org/uploadedfiles/shows/2009/42nd_street/lullaby.wmv

just tell your choreographer to think vertical movement, not horizontal traveling movement LOL

http://tristanrobin.blogspot.com

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pdavis69
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Posted: 5/19/09 at 8:38pm

The muisc for Pump Boys can be addapted. WE had a piano, drums, electric guitar and electric bass. Nothing was missed.

Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

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Monster_Mali
Walk-On
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Joined: 6/02/09
Location: United States
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Posts: 0

Posted: 6/02/09 at 9:05pm

Ducktails and Bobbysox is a great 50s era musical with simple yet fun songs thatdon't sound cheesy, one simple diner set and a flexible cast thats pretty evenly distributed Male/Female. Also the costuming is a breeze. The first Musical i did and still a favorite of mine.

(i played Plotsky

)

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Jim_L
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Joined: 6/09/06
Location: United States
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Posts: 34

Posted: 6/03/09 at 9:49am

One small tavern set that can be reduced to a table & 4 chairs & 3 doorways, no set changes & simple costumes, 10M/5F, all songs just need a single acoustic guitar (that's what they were written on), it's already had a production that went over very well. Royalty free (for now). Lots of details, pics, video, script & songs on the website.

-Jim

http://home.comcast.net/~castle.walls/tavern/index.html

http://home.comcast.net/~castle.walls/tavern/

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David McCall
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Joined: 1/28/09
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Posts: 299

Posted: 6/04/09 at 4:37pm

Fantastics is one of my all time favorite shows. I even saw it in the Village during the late 60s. For a set it needs a raised platform (8'x12'?) with 2 poles that can be used to hang a sun and moon, as well as rag. The trickiest thing is that you need a large trunk that the old actor and the indian can enter through. A trap would be best, but most people just slip in through a hole in the back.

It can be done with drums and a piano, but I feel that it just doesn't sound very good without a harp. I have seen it with a keyboard player playing the harp parts, but I'm not sure how many people know how to do a harp on a keyboard. It wasn't "just the same", but it worked.

You may or may not need to consider political-correctness though. It tends to be pretty sexist. There is even a song about rape as a good thing. There may be other things too. I can't remember.

I do love the music and the simplicity of the show.

David M

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Scott B
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Joined: 12/08/04
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Posts: 239

Posted: 6/14/09 at 2:29pm

Anytime someone mentions a small show I'll always come back with Forever Plaid. It's almost a cult following with songs and harmony that target our audience demographic.

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musikman1
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Lead

Joined: 4/06/08
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 35

Posted: 8/04/09 at 9:02pm

Somebody wrote: Drums and Piano don't sound very good..

The full orchestration is Harp, Piano and Drums. Most substitute a keyboard for the harp player..

Rick
http://www.bway2.com/tracks

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teridtiger
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Joined: 10/24/05
Location: United States
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Posts: 69

Posted: 8/06/09 at 1:01pm

Our space is 24' wide and 12' deep. Zero wing space.

We also did "Godspell" and "Cabaret" - both of which worked tremendously well. We are tackling "Into the Woods" this season. It's all about using the space creatively!

"The Fantasticks" is also a good one for a small space. Others to consider are: "Little Shop of Horrors", and any in the "Nunsense" or "The Taffetas" series. "Honkytonk Angels" and "Beehive" are fun jukebox musicals.

Built-in marketing comes with musicals about well-known people like Patsy Cline ("Always... Patsy Cline") and Buddy Holly ("Buddy the Musical"). Of course, you need outstanding performers to pull off these roles.

A really neat one that is little-known, but has the built-in famous person marketing appeal is "Groucho: A Life in Revue". We packed the houses with this one. Gabe Kaplan did a successful tour with this show. You do need one amazing actor for Groucho (who can age from 15 y/o up to his death), two actors who can play Harpo and Chico, one utility man (to play a myriad of characters) and one or two women (to play all the women in Groucho's life). The script does allow for casting flexibility. It's available through Samuel French: http://www.samuelfrench.com/store/product_info.php/products_id/3454

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

Author	Message
BlueEye217 Player Joined: 10/20/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 20	Topic: Starter Musical Posted: 5/19/09 at 4:10pm
	Does anyone have any suggestions for a small musical? Our CT has a small space and hasn't done one in awhile. We did do Godspell and Cabaret. Looking for something along the lines of Working, Fantasticks (easy sets, costumes, etc.) Thanks!

	IP Logged

pdavis69 Celebrity Joined: 3/26/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 437	Posted: 5/19/09 at 4:25pm
	Wwe just ran Pump Boys and Dinettes. This is a five person show with an extremely adaptable set. We had a very elabotate set but could have done without it.
	Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse
	IP Logged

tristanrobin Celebrity Joined: 4/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 704	Posted: 5/19/09 at 7:07pm
	You did "Cabaret?" I don't consider that a starter musical AT ALL! I love "Working" ... and I like "The Fantasticks," too. You should also read/hear "The Grass Harp," "Company," "Charlotte Sweet" (not famous - but FABULOUS), " The Best Little Whorehouse," or "Three Guys Naked From the Waist Down." "Pump Boys and Dinettes" is also a terrific show. I've always wanted to do it - but just can't come up with the fiddlers! I worked for many years in a turn-of-the-century second story opera house that had NO wings to speak of and an 17'x17' raked stage. We produced some very "big" musicals on that stage! It just takes some creativity and pre-production planning. And here in CT, we have the famous Goodspeed Opera House ( http://www.goodspeed.org ) which has almost the exact same stage dimensions - and they've produced every musical ever! LOL no space? LOL Check out: http://www.goodspeed.org/uploadedfiles/shows/2009/42nd_street/opening.wmv and http://www.goodspeed.org/uploadedfiles/shows/2009/42nd_street/we%27re_in_the_money.wmv and http://www.goodspeed.org/uploadedfiles/shows/2009/42nd_street/lullaby.wmv just tell your choreographer to think vertical movement, not horizontal traveling movement
	http://tristanrobin.blogspot.com
	IP Logged

pdavis69 Celebrity Joined: 3/26/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 437	Posted: 5/19/09 at 8:38pm
	The muisc for Pump Boys can be addapted. WE had a piano, drums, electric guitar and electric bass. Nothing was missed.
	Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse
	IP Logged

Monster_Mali Walk-On Joined: 6/02/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 6/02/09 at 9:05pm
	Ducktails and Bobbysox is a great 50s era musical with simple yet fun songs thatdon't sound cheesy, one simple diner set and a flexible cast thats pretty evenly distributed Male/Female. Also the costuming is a breeze. The first Musical i did and still a favorite of mine. (i played Plotsky )
	IP Logged

Jim_L Lead Joined: 6/09/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 34	Posted: 6/03/09 at 9:49am
	One small tavern set that can be reduced to a table & 4 chairs & 3 doorways, no set changes & simple costumes, 10M/5F, all songs just need a single acoustic guitar (that's what they were written on), it's already had a production that went over very well. Royalty free (for now). Lots of details, pics, video, script & songs on the website. -Jim http://home.comcast.net/~castle.walls/tavern/index.html
	http://home.comcast.net/~castle.walls/tavern/
	IP Logged

David McCall Celebrity Joined: 1/28/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 299	Posted: 6/04/09 at 4:37pm
	Fantastics is one of my all time favorite shows. I even saw it in the Village during the late 60s. For a set it needs a raised platform (8'x12'?) with 2 poles that can be used to hang a sun and moon, as well as rag. The trickiest thing is that you need a large trunk that the old actor and the indian can enter through. A trap would be best, but most people just slip in through a hole in the back. It can be done with drums and a piano, but I feel that it just doesn't sound very good without a harp. I have seen it with a keyboard player playing the harp parts, but I'm not sure how many people know how to do a harp on a keyboard. It wasn't "just the same", but it worked. You may or may not need to consider political-correctness though. It tends to be pretty sexist. There is even a song about rape as a good thing. There may be other things too. I can't remember. I do love the music and the simplicity of the show.
	David M
	IP Logged

Scott B Celebrity Joined: 12/08/04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 239	Posted: 6/14/09 at 2:29pm
	Anytime someone mentions a small show I'll always come back with Forever Plaid. It's almost a cult following with songs and harmony that target our audience demographic.
	IP Logged

musikman1 Lead Joined: 4/06/08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 35	Posted: 8/04/09 at 9:02pm
	Somebody wrote: Drums and Piano don't sound very good.. The full orchestration is Harp, Piano and Drums. Most substitute a keyboard for the harp player..
	Rick http://www.bway2.com/tracks
	IP Logged

teridtiger Star Joined: 10/24/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 69	Posted: 8/06/09 at 1:01pm
	Our space is 24' wide and 12' deep. Zero wing space. We also did "Godspell" and "Cabaret" - both of which worked tremendously well. We are tackling "Into the Woods" this season. It's all about using the space creatively! "The Fantasticks" is also a good one for a small space. Others to consider are: "Little Shop of Horrors", and any in the "Nunsense" or "The Taffetas" series. "Honkytonk Angels" and "Beehive" are fun jukebox musicals. Built-in marketing comes with musicals about well-known people like Patsy Cline ("Always... Patsy Cline") and Buddy Holly ("Buddy the Musical"). Of course, you need outstanding performers to pull off these roles. A really neat one that is little-known, but has the built-in famous person marketing appeal is "Groucho: A Life in Revue". We packed the houses with this one. Gabe Kaplan did a successful tour with this show. You do need one amazing actor for Groucho (who can age from 15 y/o up to his death), two actors who can play Harpo and Chico, one utility man (to play a myriad of characters) and one or two women (to play all the women in Groucho's life). The script does allow for casting flexibility. It's available through Samuel French: http://www.samuelfrench.com/store/product_info.php/products_id/3454
	IP Logged

Topic: Starter Musical( Topic Closed)