Bells Are Ringing

[honeyhoney]

Posted: 11/29/04 at 2:20pm

A couple of weeks ago I posted a message and asked you guys and gals what show I should do next year with my teenage class of serious actors. I got great ideas from everyone but most of them I have tought of alreday. I want to showcase an amazing 17 year old girl that is in my class and I was thinking of doing BELLS ARE RINGING. I never saw it on stage, only the movie, witch was okay! I love the score and was hoping anybody here was in it or has directed it before and can suggest it. Are there other good parts in it? If you have any other ideas of plays, please let know. I would like to produce something not so standard as I am currently doing CHICAGO and last year did Fiddler. Updated On: 11/29/04 at 02:20 PM

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 11/29/04 at 2:35pm

honeyhoney, BELLS ARE RINGING is a very funny, very "light" piece with a wonderful musical score (somewhat truncated by the film version.)

As the whole show revolves around Ella, you need to have a very STRONG and VERSATILE comediene-singer for that role. If your Ella is a dud, the production will follow.

The show is chock-full of other good parts--Jeff, the romantic lead; Sandor, comic relief; Blake and Dr. Mitchell, also comic relief [but smaller roles]; Carl (speciality dancer who performs Cha-Cha at the start of Act II).

The only debit to show I can think of off-hand is that apart from Ella, there aren't many strong female role. The only exception is Sue--a character actress who shares one half of a comic duet with Sandor.

But you still have that MAGNIFICENT score-"The Party's Over," "Just in Time," "Long Before I Knew You," "Drop That Name", etc.

If you want to put on a light show to showcase the right comic performer, I can't think of a better choice than BELLS ARE RINGING.

Good Luck With Your Production!

Let Us Know How It Turns Out!!!

[honeyhoney]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 8:02am

Thank you Mary-Ethel for that amazing advice. "Bells," is at the top of my list, as I do indeed have the right actress for Ella. I will let you know what happens and thanks so much once again.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 9:53am

One thing about "Bells" is that it is terribly dated. Even the recent Broadway revival couldn't get around that. I'm not sure if there is a creative way to work around that, but do keep it in mind.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 10:04am

Good point, Gotham.

Some ways around that might be (besides presenting it as a period piece, of course) is to insert some sort of note in the program:

"Before we had Answering Machines and VoiceMail, live phone answering services like Susanwserphone were the only ways to get messages when you weren't at home... "

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 10:24am

I've actually wanted to do this musical as a dream sequence show. A stressed out businesswoman comes home from work and turns on her big screen tv. The audience hears strains of "I Love Lucy". At the commercial break, the "Bells Are Ringing" show begins and the woman is transported into the tv where she plays out the entire show as Ella. (I think it would even be funny if at one point, she reaches in her purse and pulls out a cell phone).

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 10:42am

I LIKE it, Gotham!

And you still would have that OUTSTANDING score to work with!!!


It's a shame that producers of the recent Faith Prince revival didn't come to you for input!

[honeyhoney]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 12:10pm

Great advice! I love the TV, time travelling thing! Do you guys have other suggestions for musicals? Please keep them coming!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 1:02pm

honey, give us an idea of what you have to work with. You want to showcase the 17 year old girl? Does she dance? What is her voice like?

[CurtainUp]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 4:49pm

I like it but it only really gives two or three girls a chance to shine, so you may get a LOT of complaints.

[honeyhoney]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 10:06pm

Thank you, thank you,for all you suggestions. My 17 year girl is a mezzo but can sing alto. Her dancing is good but not her forte, she is singing comic.(I was thinking THE GOODBYE GIRL) I was also thinking about seesaw, as I think "Bells," may have too few female parts and really dated as some of you suggest. What do you guys think of SEEWSAW, I love the fun score, What do you think. I really value you advice!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 11:03pm

Here are some thoughts, although some are quite popular:

Funny Girl
Crazy For You
Sugar
Once Upon A Mattress
The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Wildcat
They're Playing Our Song although only has cast of 8 (oops can't type an 8 and a paranthesis)

Updated On: 11/30/04 at 11:03 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 11:05pm

I think he meant to say TPOS only has a cast of 8. 6 "inner voices" and 2 leads.