I am a gypsy... The acid queen...
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Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Play Suggestions
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URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2112
Printed Date: 11/22/24 at 4:41pm
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Topic: I am a gypsy... The acid queen...
Posted By: JShieldsIowa
Subject: I am a gypsy... The acid queen...
Date Posted: 11/09/06 at 2:22am
| So I'm working on my submissions for next year's shows at a couple different community theatres. I'm totally OBSESSED with The Who's Tommy. I've read the libretto about 4 times this week, listened to the CD so much that I'm sure it's going to wear out soon, I've watched the movie, seen live productions, watched everything on YouTube that is on there about Tommy and the Who, made a quantitative analysis of entrances and exits, made a thorough props list, etc - so I feel I understand the show pretty well. I have extremely talented and dependable people that have "tentatively" agreed to fill all aspects of the production crew (depending of course on when the show would be presented if it is chosen for next season's lineup). Has anyone done this show or know of any pitfalls of the show that I might be missing? |
Replies:
Posted By: POB14
Date Posted: 11/09/06 at 9:14am
|
I played the judge a few years ago. Actually, I only played it one weekend; I was sort of the "understudy" to the real judge they got to play the judge. Is this something you could do? Get a local jurist or lawyer to play the judge? It's a two-line nonsinging walk-on. Good publicity possibilities. Make REAL sure you have a dedicated, first-class tech crew, especially sound people who really know how to run a miked show. Our tech rehearsal ran . . . well, I wasn't actually required to stay for all of it - I know it ran past 2 AM (it was a 1 PM start, we ran it twice, with a pizza break in the middle.) (Note also that the good judge was not required to show up for that debacle at all!). Also make sure you have strong ROCK musicians and ROCK singers. Some of the music is "broadwayized" a bit, but people are going to expect to hear that famous riff at the beginning of "Pinball Wizard", and they'd better get it. The Who's sound is almost defined by Moon's drumming and Entwhistle's bass, so get those guys lined up first. And a "real" singer who doesn't know how to sing rock style will have no voice long before opening night. And do the mirror smash better than we did. ("Do you hear or fear or/Will I smash the mirror?" Tommy walks up to mirror, holds up fist. Interminably long blackout, with obviously canned mirror smash noise. Lights up, eventually. Mirror gone, with token pieces on the floor.) It is a spec-freakin'-tacular show when done right. Have fun! ------------- POB Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard |
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 11/10/06 at 7:09am
|
I played the Pinball Wizard about 200 years ago.
POB is spot on target: tech, tech, tech!!! - and ROCK singers and MUSICIANS. It's a terrific show - I had a blast doing it. But, because our director ignored the above, it was NOT a very good production. To give you an idea, our Acid Queen was a gorgeous, knock-out OPERA singer. She sounded ridiculous LOL. |
Posted By: falstaff29
Date Posted: 11/10/06 at 11:58am
Reminds me of one atrociously-long tech for a show I was in: started at 10 am on a Saturday, ended at 2:30 the next morning, and only then because a fellow cast member hit her head on a pole and passed out. Of course, the fact that in the middle of the afternoon, the tech crew needed some time to fix stuff, so most of the cast walked across the street to some outdoor bluesfest and got smashed could have been a factor in why it took so long.... |
Posted By: JShieldsIowa
Date Posted: 11/10/06 at 12:52pm
|
Er... Thanks Falstaff and tristanrobbin... You, uh... Make me feel better. Actually, I have a wonderful tech crew and have a vocal director who is classically trained in opera and vocal music but also sang in a rock band in the 70s and 80s. So I think she can meld our singers into what we need. I have a couple tech people that can design some great lights and incorporate the video projection stuff I want. I actually heard through the "community theatre" grapevine that one of the theatre's doesn't think their audiences will like it because of the content. WHAT?!? It's the same theatre that did Bat Boy and Rocky Horror Show. Same reason they don't want to do Kiss of the Spiderwoman. <sigh> I'm just burnt out on cliche' musicals, even though I really like to do them. |
Posted By: POB14
Date Posted: 11/12/06 at 9:31am
What, do they have a moral objection to pinball? ------------- POB Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard |
Posted By: JShieldsIowa
Date Posted: 11/13/06 at 11:59am
|
I think they don't like the British, actually. LOL! I mean, honestly, Tommy is a good family show! The kiddies have to learn about molestation, drug use, murder and all those good things SOMEWHERE! Why not at the theatre! LOL! I just find it ironic they think Tommy might be a bit "much" right after they did Rocky Horror with a transgendered "sex scene" in it and half the cast running around in VERY skimpy underwear! And don't get me started about their production of Cabaret! They were both really well done and even the blue-hairs loved them! |
Posted By: themarkshow
Date Posted: 11/13/06 at 11:38pm
Posted By: TheActingTechie
Date Posted: 12/14/06 at 6:18pm
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I saw a production in which the set was designed like an actual pinball machine. It was wonderfully inventive design, and worked brilliantly bith the libretto.
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