JRB plus other basics?

Hate to sound ignorant but... This very much is. I only got SERIOUSLY into musical theatre last year and our drama class learned very little in this area.
Question I hear a lot about JRB but I'm not quite sure of what shows are his.

In addition... some basic Musical theatre facts and things I will need to know starting out in my musical theatre, well LIFE, would absolutely make my month.

Just trying to learn so I can know exactly what I'm talking about if engaged in conversation about such.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!
yeah

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Updated On: 7/17/07 at 11:58 PM

You must know at least one song from all the important Sondheim musicals, it's imperative. IT SAYS SO IN THE BIBLE!

Sorry, I just converted...

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When listening to many of these composers you will learn whos who just by the music maybe even if you dont recognize the song itself. I play piano on top of doing musical theatre, and im telling you, i cringe if someone puts Jason Robert Brown in front of me. I need to seriously seriously study it. lol. because he writes incredibly brilliant and complex music. i can really only play A New World, Someone To Fall Back On, and Stars and the Moon and lord knows that one TEARS me apart, im still slightly under tempo when i play it. But heres the thing, 90% of his music holds the same exact rhythms. So in theory, if you can play one Jason Robert Brown song, you should be able to play them all....in theory. lol. Prime examples are A New World from SFANW, Someone Else's Clothes, Moving Too Fast, Nothing In Common. If you listen to the piano in all three of those they contain EXTREMELY similar patterns.

Soundheim music is VERY distinct and very abstract. You can tell soundheim from a mile a way, and the only way to get to know it is exposure.

You need to expose yourself to all this music. So go to your local library and just check out a ton of cast recording CD's by all composers your interested in. If i remember correctly you live in Las Vegas, as do i. I know the Summerlin library has Songs For A New World and Last 5 Years. Not sure about Parade...but they also have TONS of other cast recordings. Again, just expose yourself to it. I promise, if you think you're obsessed with musical theatre now...get about 20 cast recordings on your iPod and you'll never stop. lol.

HA! Somebody had a lapse of concerntration whilst writing her message, lol.

tho i still figure that bennet was involved in some pretty awsome stuff, so was worth being at the top of the list of who to look at.

another random person to add to list (for research):
Hal Prince - producer/director who invented the concept musical



have a gudden xx

Updated On: 7/31/07 at 04:46 PM

What really kick started my obsession for musicals was buying the Into the Woods DVD. I'm still amazed to this day about that damn musical. So my suggestion to you is buying as many Musical DVD's that you can. Sunday in the Park with George is amazing too, as is Pippin among others. Seeing a musical is much easier to get into rather than just listening to it.

and BUY The Last Five Years from Jason Robert Brown (JRB). As a youth into musical theatre, you just HAVE to know all those songs.

Also, the key to being a Musical Theatre buff is mocking EVERYONE that likes wicked, but still know all the words by heart.

Parade is amazinggg.