Musical Theatre

[Coidzor]

So, I'm going to be looking to join the musical search committee of the student theatre group here at the school I'm at, and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions to bring to mind, as I know a couple that I like offhand and a couple that are already going to be on the table.

I know Rent is right out before anyone suggests that, due to the fact that no one is allowed.

Currently two of the ones that have been suggested by upper ups have been Assassins! the musical and Evil Dead! the musical(the rights of which just became available).

Part of the problem right now is we're currently having to plan for two different possible eventualities, the one being we get the main stage for whenever we'd be putting on the show or if we'll be a secondary blackbox stage. So one a large production, the other more modest.

Which was big enough to do a production of Godspell in, if that means anything to anyone.

[Manicotti]

This one, no question. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urinetown)

[Raistlin1040]

Oh! Oh! Do Phantom!

[The Dark Fiddler]

I dunno how easy you can get the rights to perform it, but try Avenue Q.

Why wouldn't this group want to sing songs such as If You Were Gay (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuR5YMyfeNI), Everyone's a Little Bit Racist (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbud8rLejLM), and You Can Be as Loud as the Hell You Want (When You're Making Love) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLPFeyMyids). Not to mention the famous "The Internet is for Porn", which I think might be against the rules to link. (Various levels of Safe For Workness.)

Plus, some lucky guy (or gal) gets to play as Gary Coleman!

[snoopy13a]

If rent is out than other controversial musicals are likely to be out as well. That probably means no Urinetown or Avenue Q.

Some ideas are:
Oklahoma
Wizard of Oz
A West Side Story
Oliver
Grease
You're a Good Man Charlie Brown
The King and I

[The Dark Fiddler]

If rent is out than other controversial musicals are likely to be out as well. That probably means no Urinetown or Avenue Q.

First thought: Rent is controversial?

...I'm not very cultured <.<

Second though: Did he say it was out for being controversial? Maybe they just want to not do Rent.

[snoopy13a]

First thought: Rent is controversial?

...I'm not very cultured <.<

Second though: Did he say it was out for being controversial? Maybe they just want to not do Rent.

I interpreted it as being out due to its themes causing it to be negged by the school. It could be out because the copyright holders aren't licensing it.

[Moofin Bard]

Chicago
Wicked
Phantom of the Opera
Oklahoma
Seussical the Musical
Oliver
Wizard of Oz
Cabaret

[u-gotNOgame]

Well, my first suggestion would be Candide (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candide_(operetta)). It's wonderfully witty and beautifully written. Then again I've been known to be a bit of a Berstein fanboy.
A lot of other good musicals have already been suggested... Missing, however, Music Man, Bugsy Malone, The Producers, or if your really want a challenge see if you can get Wicked.

-UGNG

[Moglorosh]

Into the Woods (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Into_the_woods) is my personal favorite.

[DomaDoma]

Sweeney Todd or Les Miserables for the big one, no question. Little Shop of Horrors works surprisingly well on an eensy stage - the effect by the time they get to the full-sized plant is appropriately all-obliterating.

[Kneenibble]

To make a suggestion in line with the two examples you gave, Coidzillus, I offer Zombie Prom. They did it at the Fringe Festival this year in my city. It got ravingly good reviews.

[kpenguin]

I've always had a soft spot for Man of La Mancha, I dunno why.

[Cyrion]

I've always had a soft spot for Man of La Mancha, I dunno why.


My favorite musical ever!!

I'll also second the suggestions for Into the Woods, Sweeny Todd and Little Shop of Horrors. And the Music Man and the Producers while we're at it.

Add the Scarlet Pimpernel to the list of suggestions, or how about Tommy?

[Ozymandias]

Anything Sondheim; he's a maestro. Sweeney Todd is good but if the administration wants Assassins! that is fantastic as well.

[Brewdude]

The Fantastiks! for the small stage ...With the original words for "it depends on what you pay". Hey, if we could do it in my high school,....

Other seconds:
Les Miserables
Avenue Q
Into the Woods

[DomaDoma]

The Fantastiks! for the small stage ...With the original words for "it depends on what you pay". Hey, if we could do it in my high school,....


Oh hell yes! Why didn't I think of that!

(And if anyone can explain that trippy, trippy song with the masks where Matt is symbolically having the stuffing beat out of him around the world, please do.)

[Amros Aldarion]

Excellent newer, small cast shows include the two person 'The Last Five Years' and the variable cast size show 'Songs for a New World.' Your budget may determine what shows are available to you. If you don't have much, you could still do Assassins! well, and if it's sondheim you're after, I recommend Frogs and Bounce as lesser known (maybe less expensive) Sondheims. You could also do Company, which is a fairly accessible ensemble piece (not quite as dark as assassins).

My favorites include A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Man of La Mancha, and Carnival.

[Phae Nymna]

To make a suggestion in line with the two examples you gave, Coidzillus, I offer Zombie Prom. They did it at the Fringe Festival this year in my city. It got ravingly good reviews.
Zombie Prom was tainted for me by a cast at my high school which butchered some lines and just generally left out the cheesiness. Vewwy sad.

Personal favs include Seussical, Funny Thing Happened, Rocky Horror, Little Shop of Horrors, Aida, Chicago, and South Pacific.

South Pacific is not for the faint of heart, as any given production (so I am told) may contain danger, disaster, and really slow dialogue. But, it really is a cool show. Tech will have a lot of fun on this one, between the beach and estate scenes.

Chicago has fantastic music and some really good tap opportunities. The Both Reached For The Gun is like, one of my favorite songs. Ever.

Rocky Horror Show goes without expla- NATION!

[DomaDoma]

Are you planning for your musical to have dancing (Cole Porter), or to have choreography (Stephen Sondheim)? That'll help to narrow it down.

Also, if you can do Reefer Madness: The Musical, that sounds like an excellent big-stage production.

[JonestheSpy]

I'll add my vote for two already mentioned - Man of La Mancha and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way To the Forum, tow of the most brilliant musicals ever.

So, how big a cast are you expecting - that's really the most imortant factor. A couple of years ago I worked on amazing show called Thrill Me, a two-man musical Leopald and Loeb, the Nietzche-obsessed "thrillkillers" from the 20's.

[Deth Muncher]

Well...I did Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat this past year, and that worked well. And Bye Bye Birdie the year before that, which was hilarious.

Also, +1 to LSoH on a small stage: my highschool had this uppity School of the Arts attached to it, and they did it once. Their stage was all of...oh...I'd venture something like 10x15, if that. MAYBE bigger. But yeah, they pulled it off really well.

[bosssmiley]

Cabaret! For naked plutolatry (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkRIbUT6u7Q) and Nazi musical barnstormer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNMVMNmrqJE) cognitive dissonance lulz. :smallbiggrin:

[Moofin Bard]

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I agree.

Also for the black box which my school has, may I suggest Altar Boyz? It's sort of a concert genre with hilarious flashbacks and gay jokes and such.

[orcmonk89]

I have the Avenue Q soundtrack playing right now, so that's obviously one I'd recommend.

Little Shop of Horrors is a good one too. Awesome show, though make sure you get a rental plant. My school society tried to make me build all four puppets because they were too cheap. I almost had it, then they cancelled the show cause the girl playing Mushnik (don't ask) dropped out, and they kept pushing the date back. The problem is the number of people who get parts, as they're not really a decent-sized chorus, so people could get stuck with some small parts.

I also recommend Just So. It can really be as big or small scale as you want, and nearly everyone in the chorus can get a role as a smaller character (such as the kangaroo, tiger or one of the elephants). I quite like that show...

That's something else to remember: budget! It can be a killer on the big shows.

[sean o the dead]

i did seussical the musical and oliver, and they were both a blast to do. however, they might be meant for a youngish cast/audience, considering i did them when i was fairly young.

fiddler on the roof is also awesome.

[thompur]

If you have a dearth of women - 1776, Guys and Dolls, Shenandoah.
Otherwise: Anything Goes, She Loves Me(great score and it hasn't been done to death), The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Crowd!(ditto), Celebration(By Jones & Schmidt, the same composers as the Fantasticks) Starmites (SF themed), Brigadoon

There are lots of others, but these are favorites.

[smellie_hippie]

Rocky Horror Picture Show? :smallamused:

[Rutskarn]

So, how is it not Evil Dead: The Musical? By a landslide?

Seriously. It's a musical with a splash zone. What's not to love?

[alchemyprime]

If I may:

I always wanted to see a stage version of Dr. Horrible. Or "Mayhem of the Music Meister!" That'd be pretty fun.

Also, another vote for Little Shop. I wanna see someone outdo me as Mushnik. (I did it in High School)

[Brewdude]

Nother vote for "a funny thing happened on the way to the forum". Some of my favorite songs are from that.