And the number-one way to ruin a Sondheim show?

[VonTussleGirl]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 6:57pm

The company I work with is doing Into the Woods early next year, and the cast lists were recently sent out. And one of the characters listed is...

Shrek.

This has GOT to be illegal. And if it's not, it should be. I mean, first I hear they're taking out the Cindy's Prince/Baker's Wife affair, and now they're adding in all these superfluous characters and scenes that'll just drag the plot of the show down.

Is there ANYTHING I can do without being blacklisted from ever working with these people again? Becaus seriously, a little part of me died when I saw that they've added that part.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 7:03pm

Yes, it's illegal. I guarantee you their not doing that with either the writers or DreamWorks' permission. You should report them.

It's the equivalent of drawing a mustache on an artist's portrait. It's "musical graffiti."

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 7:04pm

Way to ruin my second favorite show!!!

[fiatlux]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 7:04pm

Someone needs to get in touch with MTI, at the very least I think....

[greenegirl87]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 7:04pm

It's worse than graffiti. It's more like musical vandalism or better yet, complete downfall !!!

[jasonf]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 7:07pm

You're in a tough spot there -- yes, it's illegal, but how to deal with the issue without blacklisting yourself? You COULD call MTI anonymously...but the guilt of that would kill me. I'm assuming this is at school - could you talk to the principal maybe and tell him or her that it's illegal to do this and the director needs to be TOLD that it can't be done?

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 7:11pm

The Shrek addition is sacriligious, but I think cutting out the Prince/Baker's Wife affair is an even bigger crime. How the hell is the second act supposed to work?

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 7:12pm

There should be no guilt here at all. The director knows it's illegal, unless he/she's a complete idiot. (I guess that's always possible too.) But they shouldn't NEED to be told. It's written on all of the materials they received to produce the show. Lawyers make sure of that.

Yes, you should do it anonymously. There is no need to "sacrifice" yourself in the process. Actually, if I were you I'd feel more guilty if I DIDN'T report them.

Updated On: 12/4/05 at 07:12 PM

[VonTussleGirl]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 7:14pm

Actually, it's not a school show - it's community theatre, which makes this harder. The Prince/Wife business is probably being cut because we have five-year-olds in the cast, but in that case, that's when you just do the JUNIOR version, no?

This is difficult. They've added a whole host of new characters, I'll type up a list.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 7:14pm

Why would you feel guilty? Contact MTI anonymously -- they deal with this issue every day. MTI won't shut down the show, they'll simply contact the principal and inform him that the offending character additions are in violation of contract and must be removed immediately. The principal will contact the director and that will be that -- no more Shrek and the other characters and you won't get blacklisted or whatever.

What's to feel guilty about?

Updated On: 12/4/05 at 07:14 PM

[fiatlux]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 7:15pm

It's absolutely better to inform someone now either internally or externally, rather than expend a great deal of time and effort on it, only to have it taken off. And I would imagine, that in the long run, the only guilt that would be really involved would be performing in something that you know to be illegal rather than "snitching" on your colleagues.
Updated On: 12/4/05 at 07:15 PM

[VonTussleGirl]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 7:18pm

New characters:

Hen
Golden Harp
The Woodsprites (chorus ensemble & dancers, will lead the actors through the woods)
Thumbelina
Hansel
Gretel
Little Bo Peep
Goldilocks
Beauty
Fairy Godmother
Jack
Jill
Pied Piper
Shrek
Cinderella's Birds
Flowers
Ladybugs
Fireflies
Dragonflies

And the thing with all the new fairytale characters, these are some of our best kids, so I'm pretty sure the director is going to write new scenes in order to actually give them some material to work with.

[NYSinger1]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 7:22pm

Besides violating two companies copyright's, it is just a poor creative mistake the director is making. I am more worried that the owners of the theater might not be aware of the casting and changes. The owners are the ones ultimately responsible. I am sure you're not the only one who is thinking your thoughts?

You could carefuly and thoughtfully talk to the owners of the theater. Just state the facts, and let them make their own decisions.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 7:30pm

Why don't they just write their own musical?

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 7:30pm

If the director is worried for the 5 year-olds, why didn't they just purchase rights to the Junior version? The second act is inherently dark (does the director have anything against 5 year-olds seeing Rapunzel, Jack's mother and the narrator brutally slaughtered?). What's (s)he going to do about Cinderella leaving the Prince?

[thez914]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 7:38pm

That show's script is chaos to begin with. I think it demands to be altered, although none of the changes in this production seem valid. I say too bad we're required to endure the flaws.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 7:40pm

Wait - WHAT?

[VonTussleGirl]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 7:43pm

I'm going to second that WHAT?

*I* think the book is brilliant...

[GClef2]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 7:49pm

This is the sickest thing I have ever heard of. However, it is quite comical. Would Donkey be included? Would shrek save all the fairytale-landers and let them live on his swamp?LOL

But this is really just sick. Even if it was legal, I cant see how it would EVER work within the intricate book. Totally weird.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 8:09pm

lol GClef2. I want to see a musicalized Dokey! I really think you should report this. It won't be a big deal-just a phone call and a warning.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 8:15pm

Donkey HAS been musicalized. Check Andrew Lippa's webpage!

I think the pretty clear situation is to just contact MTI anonymously. Unless you've been going around voicing your outrage, then everyone'll know it was you either way. But don't feel guilty about it. Rejoice in your evil. Rejoice in having saved art! You're a superhero!

Although I'm not gonna lie, this sounds like it would be a REALLY fascinating show...

[arishmoof]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 8:27pm

wow...

thats,,, umm.... hmmm...

another vote for contacting MTI anonymously.
definitely.

i mean you can have as many non-speaking little dancers dance around the stage as you want- wood sprites, etc, that would be cute if its kids that are in the show. In High school (way back when, oy) we had a first grader be the cow and a nursery schooler as our hen. they didnt say anything, but it was soooo adorable. but adding extra speaking roles, not cool. might as well write a new musical.

and as a former bakers wife, i must say without that hot lovin, the show is just not what it should be!! hehe. seriously though Moments is one of the greatest songs in that show. i mean, joanna gleason won a tony for that performance. if the director is going in that "censoring all the dark stuff" direction, might as well get the rights to the junior version. its cheaper anyway. and its just the first act. "happy ever after" the end.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 9:35pm

Wow i had a good giggle...shreck hehehehe

[misto625]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 9:41pm

I'll contact MTI for you if you want. This is horrible because people might think that is the way the show was actually written.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 10:05pm

hopefully this time mti will give a crap. i sent them an e-mail when my school added similar characters (not as bad as shrek) but a good number of fairies and additional characters, not only did i not get a response but no changes were made