help naming a musical
help naming a musical
phantom_tenor
Leading Actor Joined: 1/11/05
#0help naming a musical
Posted: 5/23/05 at 8:22am
I'm halfway through writing a musical (book, music and lyrics) loosely based on Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing", but am totally stuck for naming it.
I've set it in 19th century Vienna. The music is, on the whole, very bubbly, lots of waltz and polka style songs, a little like Strauss, i suppose.
please help me come up with a name
also, does anyone know if there's been a musical version of Much Ado before, besides the berlioz opera?
mikewood
Broadway Star Joined: 4/7/05
#1re: help naming a musical
Posted: 5/23/05 at 9:53am
How about a phrase from the play itself or a play on words from the show:
"Joyful Weeping"
"Cupid's Challenge"
"Another man's foolishness"
"wise in everything but loving him"
BLAH BLAH BLAH
TxTwoStep
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/24/03
#2re: help naming a musical
Posted: 5/23/05 at 10:34ami've always been fascinated by the "court masque" structure of this play. How about "Masque Ado"? or maybe "Danse Masque"/"Valse Masque"? perhaps those are too esoteric.
Will: They don't give out awards for helping people be gay... unless you count the Tonys.
"I guarantee that we'll have tough
times. I guarantee that at some point
one or both of us will want to get out.
But I also guarantee that if I don't
ask you to be mine, I'll regret it for
the rest of my life..."
#3re: help naming a musical
Posted: 5/23/05 at 10:36ama simple "Waltz" would work
It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City is itself a detective story...
AGATHA CHRISTIE, Life magazine, May 14, 1956
#4re: help naming a musical
Posted: 5/23/05 at 11:32am
This sounds fascinating.
I've always loved Much Ado About Nothing.
But alas, I have no good titles.
Although I am Austrian, all I can come up with are mountains, Glockenspiels, and the Danube, none of which are probably helpful to you in the least...
Good luck!
I starred in a short film called Magnetic Personality. Check it out!
#5re: help naming a musical
Posted: 5/23/05 at 11:41amThis sounds really cool, I like Mikewood's suggestions.
~And let us try, before we die, to make some sense of life~
#6re: help naming a musical
Posted: 5/23/05 at 1:25pm
Yes, "Cupid's Challenge." I like it!
"Do you know ChrisLovesShows?" "Yes. Why, yes he does!"
#7re: help naming a musical
Posted: 5/23/05 at 1:28pmWhy don't you look at some of your lyrics and try to pick (loosely) from those.
Jazzysuite82
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/6/05
#8re: help naming a musical
Posted: 5/23/05 at 1:34pmPersonally I wouldn't title it until it's finished. That way you can look at the piece as a whole and see what that looks like and title it that way. But if you really need a title, look at the theme of the show. Titles are very important! They can also change so don't stress too much over it.
TxTwoStep
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/24/03
#9re: help naming a musical
Posted: 5/23/05 at 1:37pmtrue, will the show have a "title song"?
Will: They don't give out awards for helping people be gay... unless you count the Tonys.
"I guarantee that we'll have tough
times. I guarantee that at some point
one or both of us will want to get out.
But I also guarantee that if I don't
ask you to be mine, I'll regret it for
the rest of my life..."
FranziaRebel
Chorus Member Joined: 4/26/05
#10re: help naming a musical
Posted: 5/23/05 at 2:46pm
Much Ado has been done as an opera by a couple of composers. Usually it goes by the name Beatrice and Benedict. I think Mozart has a version and at least one other composer.
Many of Shakespeare's plays have sub titles. I don't know if Much Ado does or not.
romanov
Stand-by Joined: 5/6/05
#11re: help naming a musical
Posted: 5/23/05 at 3:02pmWhatever you do, don't call it "Nothing! The Musical!"
#12re: help naming a musical
Posted: 5/23/05 at 4:28pmhow about something simple like "much ado" or "bea and ben" hmm or "dogberry"
#13re: help naming a musical
Posted: 5/23/05 at 4:32pm
Much aDo Re Me...
^ is that retarded? or creative? i cant decide....
#15re: help naming a musical
Posted: 5/23/05 at 6:05pm
Look to your song titles first and see if there is one that expresses the spirit of the show. Think about the setting and why you chose it and the events of the show.
Where are the locations of you scenes? Where does the pivotal scene take place? Is it tied into any historical events? Musically, the title could simply jump out at you. Otherwise, try writing one short sentence that summarizes the theme of your version of the show and see if it's there.
Perosonally, I like "The Grand Folly".
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#16re: help naming a musical
Posted: 5/23/05 at 6:08pm
how about "KISS ME, BEATRICE" 
^ is that retarded? or creative? i cant decide....
#17re: help naming a musical
Posted: 5/23/05 at 6:08pmWhat about "Nothing"
BSoBW2: I punched Sondheim in the face after I saw Wicked and said, "Why couldn't you write like that!?"
#18re: help naming a musical
Posted: 5/23/05 at 6:12pmnothing the musical? if you're gonna go down that road at least pick one of the more appetizing words... ado the musical!
#19re: help naming a musical
Posted: 5/23/05 at 6:14pmAbout The Musical
BSoBW2: I punched Sondheim in the face after I saw Wicked and said, "Why couldn't you write like that!?"
#21re: help naming a musical
Posted: 5/23/05 at 6:18pm
I am going to go with Elphaba here.
You all have so pretty nice titles, but a simple "Waltz" would suffice.
Maybe "Waltz: A musical adaptation based on Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing"
phantom_tenor
Leading Actor Joined: 1/11/05
#24re: help naming a musical
Posted: 5/24/05 at 7:48am
Thanks so much guys. I love the idea of having waltz in the title. it had never occured to me. One of the songs is basically just about waltzing.
maybe "1...2...3"
or "A Vienese Waltz"
"How to Waltz"
or maybe even "Polka Dots"
or are these just craptastic?
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