I would like to hear from you.  Pros, cons, production challenges, vocal challenges, scene design ideas, etc...

 

Thanks, Dana

this invariably become a logistic nightmare & they loose that seamless scene changes that the production requires. [Where more than 30 seconds - is far too long!]. Where a much more stylised & simpler multi setting, would have achieved the desired results.

Also with the over all level of lighting wash, they opt to dim it, rather than filter out the colour not required. Which might look great from the front row, but not from the back of the Gods! thus not allowing the shadows to be utilised, as one would with settings in the candle light era.

Furter as this was the time of the great unwashed. The Ladies of the night, especially in their costumes, make up & appearance. Looked like they just stepped out of a fashion plate.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

The set they built at HHS was nothing short of amazing.  For ALL practical purposes the ONLY thing they didn't have were the hydraulically operated barricade pieces BUT they DID use people INSIDE the set pieces and you'd have sworn that these all came on and together automatically as they did in the original.    AND oddly enough, they had the revolving stage.  When I saw it in New York they had the long front automatic sidewalk from side to side PLUS the revolve.  BUT all touring versions I've ever seen (4 - 5 more times) only had the revolve.  They even have great fly space and did the amazingly complex SUICIDE scene with Javert where he jumps from the bridge and it flys up and with the revolve and GREAT lighting, it looked as good to me as the original version.  AMAZING at least.  But I have to tell you this WAS an amazing show.  The kid who played Jean Valjean was the same who played the Beast last year that I did the makeup effects for.  At 17-18 years old, he was most impressive.  His Bring Him Home solo was INCREDIBLY good.  I knew the kid could sing, but he was awesome in this.  You can check out YouTube and someone has posted a bunch of clips from the show on there.  http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=huntsville+high+school+les+miz&search_type - http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=huntsville+high+school+les+miz&search_type=     or  just SEARCH HUNTSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL LES MIZ and you'll get a listing and  can watch some of them.  They were apparently filmed on a phone camera so they're washed out but you can see and hear.  PLUS they have a link to show how they built the revolving stage.  And again, bear in mind that this school's budget is huge.  Last year they spent well into about $56,000 dollars - $11,000 for the backdrops alone.  But it was well received as was this one, and the money was recouped EASILY.

 

It's a GREAT show.  Some of the music WAS impeccibly altered by the music director when keys needed to be changed to accommodate some singers but it was ARTFULLY handled and had anyone who didn't know the show as much as I do, heard it, they'd not know.  I have this show practically memorized both lyrically and musically and I could tell a few times when the music director shifted gears to change keys to accommodate a change so that these young voices could handle the songs.  BUT for the most part it was totally intact.  I RECOMMEND that if you take this on, there is much you can do without a huge budget but LONG RANGE PLANNING should be the order of the day if you do.  Vocally it's demanding.  Set wise, it's demanding.  Costumes are very adaptable and can be made to look perfect for the show with some specific things being needed - some uniforms, Javert's costume (coat, top hat, etc.).  THIS version Valjean didn't sport the beards.  And you know it was a perfect decision by the director NOT to try to use one.  Now if you have an adult who can grow one that can be whitened as you go, fine.  But this kid was 17 and they did the entire show without it.  And it was NOT one bit distracting.  We expect to see that but it didn't take away from a superb performance by this young man.

 

EXCELLENT show to do - but BE PREPARED IF YOU DO. NOT easy musically, not a piece of cake in terms of $$, time, sets, costumes and so forth.  But lucrative on the returns you can earn from it's popularity.  GOOD LUCK if you do decide to do it.  BIG JOB of that there is no doubt.

 

TonyDi

 

 

As for singing, they had many very talented actors so the singing was great. And there are such catchy tunes for chorus members that in no time they will all learn the songs inside and out.

 

As for $$$... the school had a fairly decent budget. Between $20,000 and $27,000 were spent on the show, but I'm sure it can be done to a smaller budget.

 

If you are interested, please let me know.  The show itself is one of the most challenging I have ever directed, but well worth the effort.

 

If someone wanted to use our stuff, the job would be 75% less.  We have rifles, the runaway cart, gate for Rue Plumet, barricade, cart for Do You Hear the People sing, costumes, etc.  The only thing a company would need to complete the sets would be a few tables and chairs.

 

Also, did you use a turntable for your production?

 

Thanks, Dana

 

Les Miserables School Edition is really not that much different from the Broadway version.  A few of the songs are cut down, but High Schools that choose this show will still be looking at 2 1/2 to 3 hours of show and they will have teenage girls as prostitutes.

Thanks, Dana

 

 

 

I am always

Theatre Junkie

 

The lion's share of the production budget for "Les Mis" goes towards licensing, scripts and music.  So if it appears overly grandiose for a high school to do "Les Mis", it is not.  It's all smoke and mirrors...(and hazers!)  Any appearance that this particular show is a super-Broadway-hot-ticket-extravaganza is only because it's a very recent Broadway hit.  (And it's still running professionally...so community theaters are not allowed to run it yet...only schools).  If our production comes across as too mega-sized for the high school tradition, then I feel it's only because of the fine talents of our career bound actors...and of course my "plum sexy" lighting design!!! 

 

And a note about "production value" in general.  Yes, I am a full-time designer/tech director...so I shouldn't be saying this:  But I like to feel that our performers could do just as fine a performance in front of my black velour traveler and one followspot!  Yes, I would be out of a job, but they would still be tremendous. 

 

The scenic elements, I feel, are for the purpose of enhancing the "suspension of disbelief" on the part of our audience.   An audience, by the way, which has grown up seeing Spielberg-quality movies and flying up to Broadway over Christmas break to see "Lion King" or "Phantom".   No, no...nobody seriously tries to mimic that level of the art.  But some nieve theatre patrons enter the house on opening night with those kinds of pre-concieved prejudices ingrained in their imaginations.   One hundred years ago folks payed cash to sit in a tent at the state fair and cheer for a silent slide show!...so back then it was easier to impress theatre-goers with a couple muslin flats.

 

The other "image" or prejudice that parents bring into a high school theatre, I feel, is the production value of the huge community theatre plays these days.  Our school parents have kids who also do lots of community theatre on the side.  Maybe some patrons are "sensitized" to mega-theatre each year when the community theatre's business manager comes out on stage for a curtain speech and says:  "Welcome to our $80 thousand production of "High School Musical" or whatever the show is. 

 

In summary, hmmm, I don't know what to say.  Yes, high school plays surely look glossier than the ones I did in the 70's.  But I don't feel that this pollutes the basic experience and fun memories for the kids.  I did 55 plays when I was in high school...it was "my thing"...and 6 or 8 of my theatre buddies are still my best friends today!  One was recently my "best man" and one I recently hired to paint the set for "Narnia".    Likewise, the kids today at this school will often admit on graduation day that theatre was their favorite part of the day...(and for a few, the biggest draw for coming to school!)   And even if they leave us for NYU, Northwestern or Juilliard, they still want to return for "Alumni Night" with old friends at our Fall musical.  So that aspect has not changed.  That's a good thing.

 

Our drama department motto is:  "It's all about the process!"  And our school motto is:  "Friendship, Scholarship, Sportsmanship"...(notice "Friendship" is first?)  So I hope we can always cling to this idea and not become a "factory of glitz and stardom".

 

The only other quip I can think of is, once we raise the bar with one big production, it's hard to turn back after the precedent of high quality has been set.

 

Thanks for reading my ramblings.  -Dana

 

 

Actually, it was not you who prompted my new thread about mega-budget high school musicals.  It was the report TonyDi gave about the high school production of Les Mis in Huntsville.  And it is not the choice of show either.  I have looked at the blog you did for The King and I.  Just from the photos you are right and correct to be amazingly proud.  I would have guessed that it was a mega budget show.  Knowing how little was spent  makes it, to me, that much more impressive. 

My want to discuss this issue, however is just that.  Discussion share opinions and perspectives.  When I read the article I linked to the other thread, it brought to my attention something of which I was unaware.  I have very mixed feelings about this issue on a number of different levels.  I am not wanting to pass judgement on any program, only to discuss and share about current topics in theatre.  Profuse apologies if my inital post came across as something other than that.

 

I am, as always,

 

Theatre Junkie