deciding on a show, i need help

[laura is broadway]

Posted: 11/8/06 at 6:06pm

soo i'm in a theatre company at one of my local theatres.
this spring i am suppose to direct the spring musical.
originally, we were doing tick tick boom, but the board decided that they wanted it to be a bigger(being that tick tick boom is a three man show) more well known show.

we usually stick to very sophisticated plays, and only do one musical a year in the spring, so its a kind of big deal. it has to be very mature/sophisticated.

what we've narrowed our choices down to is:
cabaret
sweeney todd
chicago

w/ sweeney we will follow along the lines of the style of the revival- we wont have the actors play instruments, but it would be "darker" like the revival, and take place in an asylum.
also cabaret & chicago would follow the guidlines of the recent revivals.

our actors in the company consist of
10 women ages 15, 17, 24, 32, 28, 18, 18, 41, 54, 37.
10 men ages 14, 19, 18, 19, 21, 21, 40, 58, 24, 30
4 girls 8, 9, 5, 13
2 boys 7, 12

we dont have to use every actor, and we definitly will not.


personally i'm leaning towards sweeney.
but i dont know!
what do you guys think?

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 11/8/06 at 6:08pm

SWEENEY! :)

[jess20882]

Posted: 11/8/06 at 6:50pm

I definitely think you should consider Cabaret. You would be able to better utilize more of your actors, and it is a much more multi-faceted show than Sweeney...in my opinion of course.
Good luck with whichever one you decide to do!

[AlmostFamous2]

Posted: 11/8/06 at 6:56pm

I like Sweeney...

But then I really love Chicago...

I can't help you.

I am so indecisive.

[laura is broadway]

Posted: 11/8/06 at 6:57pm

if we do decide on sweeney do you think casting either the 12 or 14 year old boy as tobias would be a good idea? or should i cast an adult
and
male or female pirelli?

Posted: 11/9/06 at 12:06am

I love Chicago but it's difficult to get the rights to it.

With the cast you described I'd say Sweeney :)

[bjivie2]

Posted: 11/9/06 at 12:07am

I think you should cast whatever works best for your company. I would do your production, not a production that some random BWW posters want to see.

"Directors are people who make choices."

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 11/9/06 at 12:12am

I would say Sweeney.

And I would cast a 12 year old as Tobias without hesitating (if they are good enough that is)

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 11/9/06 at 12:14am

Sweeney.

[Sondheim Geek]

Posted: 11/9/06 at 12:19am

I completely agree with bjivie2... if you were a good director, you'd know your company, and know which show would work best with their abilities and ages, and go with that show. You shouldn’t decide on what some person on a message board hundreds of miles away tells you to put on.

[moulinrougehk]

Posted: 11/9/06 at 12:22am

Sweeney is much more easier to handle as there's nearly no dancing element.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 11/9/06 at 12:24am

Judging on what you descrbed for your company, I would say Sweeney Todd. Chicagao is difficult to get the rights to and you need really talented dancers to pull it off. Cabaret is not a bad choice, but I think you can use more people in Sweeney (that is if you are having an ensemble, not a ten person cast). Also, you may not be able to use little girls in Sweeney, but you can use someone who is 12-14 for Tobias. You can't use any kids in Cabaret.

Good luck with the show!

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 11/9/06 at 11:43am

Well, personally based on your company, I wouldn't do any of those shows. Also, how well do your people dance is a factor. I would say "cool" to casting a young Tobias, as long as they are very musically inclined, since any Sondheim is not easy to sing. If you want a woman Pirelli, they better be a low alto, because the revival had a female, but the key was raised I think a Major 3rd?

I also think there is NOTHING wrong with asking people's opinions about what show to do. I would recommend A Little Night Music...:O) I know that wasn't a choice, but I couldn't resist.

[AugustBurns2]

Posted: 11/9/06 at 12:51pm

I would pick Cabaret.

You can even use some of the kids - if they don't mind being on stage for 5 seconds - showing Hitler youth rising.

[laura is broadway]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 5:01pm

I also think there is NOTHING wrong with asking people's opinions

thankyou!
yeah i just wanted you guys's opinions... obviously, i'm not lettung you decide for me.
i just wanted another view.

but ultimatly i have decided on sweeney. i had the company try a potential dance routine for chicago, and it was just too weak.

auditions are going on now, i think i'm gonna cast the 14 year old as tobias, b/c he has such an amazing voice, and does a fantastic potrayal of tobias.
and a male pirelli.


thankyou guys for your ideas! =]

[americanboy99]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 6:56pm

i know it is EXTREMELY hard to get the right to CHICAGO.

i would do SWEENEY, but don't be a copy-cat.

but, if one of those women is a fantastic belter and could play the hell out of Sally Bowles, do CABARET.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 6:57pm

OKAY. didn't see your recent post.

GOOD! i LOVE the idea of a young Tobias. I am hoping that I will be able to find out about auditions for the film, maybe I could be the next TOBY.

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 7:01pm

Caberet.

[TWSFan4Ever]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 7:24pm

Sweeney!