A Little Night Music Directing Help

[jagfkb]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 8:48am

Hey guys, for a summer program for theater, we are suposed to take a classic musical and direct it with an entirely new concept, and the performers must play the instruments (It could be the entire cast, or as little cast). In addition, part of the story has to be rearranged. Also, it has to be a cast of nomore than 20, for we're going to actually perform these shows. This week, we're just getting ideas, and since my idea of doing Man of La Mancha was taken by somebody else, I finally decided on A Little Night Music. My concept? First, have the back wall of the stage appear to be a full theater audience (with hanging balconies and such). Then, have a single piano in the center of the stage, where all the main music is played. Also, place The Glamourous Life at the beginning of the show and move Now/ Soon/ Later immediately afterwards (Not to mention place some of Fredrika's solos from the movie version of Glamourous Life inbetween some lines and such). Finally, as I said before, all the actors will play an instrument, especially the quartet. Here's my idea, have the quartet play most of the central music, and while each member of the cast sings their central song, they will play an extra instrument. For example, Charlotte will play the harp during A Little Death, Desiree will play the piano during Send in the Clowns, and so on. Is this a good idea? Please comment, otherwise I could do Gypsy.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 9:00am

You said these shows were going to be performed? How, may I ask, are you securing the rights to all these shows? And once you do, it's goes against your rights and royalties agreement to CHANGE the order of anything.

If you are talking THEORY ONLY....I don't feel you've given us enough of a CONCEPT...just ideas that aren't supported by reasoning. eg. WHAT is the purpose of the fake audience; support your reasons for the changes in order, etc.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 9:51am

If you want to "Doyle up" a good show like Night Music, have the lieder singers play the instruments while they sing their commentaries so that the rest of the cast can play the damn show without ruining it.

Leave the rest of the instruments in the pit.

I want to add that whoever gave this 'assignment' sounds like a no-talent horse's ass. They are asking you to rewrite a show that was written already and for what reason?

I am in a definite minority in that I felt the instruments got in the way during Sweeney and Company and that Doyle's direction of the latter was all subtext and no text. From these two productions I feel he is a stark naked emperor.

Use a flawed show with a 'fix-it' concept. Take Camelot with its badly drawn book and tell it through the eyes of Mordred. He could sing Nimue and observe the whole first act. He could also sing lead on Guenivere and The Jousts too. And leave the instruments in the pit.

[sondhead]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 10:25am

This is a horrible project. This program must be terrible and run by an idiot.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 10:26am

WOSQ-
While I liked Sweeney, I 100% agree with you on Company.

This actors as musician thing rarely works well. Besides, Fredrick plays cello IN the show, couldn't that count? And, good luck finding people that can actually play the instruments.

[Operagod01]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 4:24pm

hum......? they really want you to do this? Did they say WHY this is important? It Is interesting from a "stretch your imagination" point of view. But when we direct a show, we must always start with the words and music. A Good director (even if it's a concept type) Would fidn their concept as they work through that. I have never known a good director to start with the concept and then just put a show in it.....

Night Music is an Incredible show. I pray that Doyle never touches it here in the states. Well, let me say that a different way; If he does (and actors love his deep probing into character work.. I do too), but it's time to let the actors/singers just do what they were trained to do... acot and sing....

[sondheimfan2]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 6:22pm

Do Gypsy instead and have Tulsa play the tuba while performing "All I Need is the Girl."

[gypsy4]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 7:03pm

If you do gypsy only have the really small roles play in the orchestra maybe 9 peice
but this is a horrible concept.here is a suggested orchestration
keyboard mostly playing the strings
drums
sax/clarinet
bass
trumpet
trumbone
guitar
flute
piano

and may I ask where are you securing the rights or are you doing this illegaly.


Updated On: 6/24/08 at 07:03 PM

[sondheimfan2]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 8:57pm

My second piece of advice - drop the class.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 1:43am

"I am in a definite minority in that I felt the instruments got in the way during Sweeney and Company and that Doyle's direction of the latter was all subtext and no text. From these two productions I feel he is a stark naked emperor. "

Sounds like an out-of-work instrumentalist, to me.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 10:30am

Doyle should be put on trial for the damage he has done to the American musical theater.

[D2]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 10:34am

Henrik plays the cello, not Frederik.

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 11:44am

"Doyle should be put on trial for the damage he has done to the American musical theater."

You mean getting some of the most passionate performances out of actors that Americans have seen in quite some time? You're right, that is just evil.

Doyle is an extremely talented director, who really knows how to put together a show using the actors he has.

Yes, I think that he needs to do more without the actor-musician technique, but that said, both Sweeney and Company were 2 of the most powerful shows I have ever seen.

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 11:45am

oh, right, time to comment on the topic. I think the idea for the class is interesting.

Updated On: 6/25/08 at 11:45 AM

[sondheimfan2]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 11:48am

um...Company worked for me, but Sweeney sucked.

[jv92]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 11:56am

"Doyle should be put on trial for the damage he has done to the American musical theater."

PalJoey, you obviously didn't like his Sweeney Todd or Company (I agree with you on Company. It was pretentious and idiotic nonsense. Sweeney really worked.) but what about A Catered Affair? You didn't like that either? That was some of the most gorgeous work done last season.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 12:39pm

This is a horrible project. This program must be terrible and run by an idiot.

Why? Any specific reason or are you just sniping for fun?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 1:07pm

What I don't get is that if a revival of A Little Night Music were to open on Broadway with the songs all rearranged, half the board would be squealing about its reinvention. While I realize that there are contractual issues when you license a show, I just don't get why all these purists are so quick to jump on a production of a show out in the sticks that tweaks a few things, yet I can't remember a revival of a musical in recent memory that even vaguely resembled the original, A Chorus Line excepted.

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 1:36pm

I have no problem with rearranging a show if you have permission to do so, I am assuming this class does not.
I also do not have a problem with reinterpreting pieces, no matter where they are done (community, regional, Broadway, doesn't matter) as long as they do not change what is in the licensed script (once again, if they have permission for the changes it is fine).

[gypsy4]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 3:28pm

I hope this class gets fined Buy the producers and Music Theatre International.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 3:36pm

"This is a horrible project. This program must be terrible and run by an idiot.

Why? Any specific reason or are you just sniping for fun?"

Because it sounds like the program director is illegally allowing others to completely redirect a musical and changing major things around without permission from the proper companies. The OP never specified if they have the rights/permission, so I'm curious.

[gypsy4]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 3:43pm

it's sounds like there teaching kids to produce a show the wrong way i hope they learn a lesson because you can't still someone elses work and mess it up.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 3:45pm

"you can't still someone elses work and mess it up."

?

Punctuation and capitalization are also nice.

Updated On: 6/25/08 at 03:45 PM

[sondheimfan2]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 6:40pm

"it's sounds like there teaching kids"

they're