Best staging of a musical number?

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Best staging of a musical number?

Posted: 1/6/08 at 12:48am

I'm not talking about what musical number had the best dance moves, nor the most pleasing aesthetic value but what was incredibly, strategically blocked and staged. Which were so particularly simple but particularly brilliant you've seen?

re: Best staging of a musical number?

Posted: 1/6/08 at 7:55pm

ugga wug:cathy rigby version of peter pan

re: Best staging of a musical number?

Posted: 1/6/08 at 8:24pm

Simple? Gosh, I don't know. Bob Avian's staging of Losing My Mind in the original Follies. Recently, I thought Another Winter from Grey Gardens was really well done, as well as that whole entire last scene.

re: Best staging of a musical number?

Posted: 1/6/08 at 9:32pm

A few off the top of my head:

Agnes deMille -- Dream Ballet (Oklahoma)
Jerome Robbins -- Prologue (West Side Story)
Jerome Robbins -- America (West Side Story)
Jerome Robbins -- The Rumble (West Side Story)
Jerome Robbins -- Tradition (Fiddler)
Jerome Robbins -- To Life (Fiddler)
George Faison -- The Tornado (The Wiz)
Michael Bennett -- Turkey Lurkey Time (Promises Promises)
Michael Bennett -- Who's That Woman (Follies)
Michael Bennett -- I Hope I Get It (A Chorus Line)
Michael Bennett -- At The Ballet (A Chorus Line)
Michael Bennett -- Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen (A Chorus Line)
Michael Bennett -- The entire opening Apollo Talent Show sequence (Dreamgirls)
Michael Bennett -- It's All Over /AIATY (Dreamgirls)
Bob Fosse -- The Rich Man's Frug (Sweet Charity)
Bob Fosse -- There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This (Sweet Charity)
Bob Fosse -- Cell Block Tango (Chicago)
Bob Fosse -- All That Jazz (Chicago)
Bob Fosse -- Magic To Do (Pippin)
Kenneth Macmillan -- Carousel Waltz (Carousel revival)

"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

re: Best staging of a musical number?

Posted: 1/6/08 at 9:35pm

I'd say Springtime for Hitler.

re: Best staging of a musical number?

Posted: 1/6/08 at 10:14pm

Michael Bennett's staging of "Who's That Woman?" from FOLLIES was the first one that came to my mind.
Also, Bennett's own "Tick Tock" from COMPANY.
Tommy Tune's staging of "Be Italian" from NINE, as well as Anita Morris' "A Call from the Vatican" (Tune said he let her choreograph her moves in that number).

"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"

re: Best staging of a musical number?

Posted: 1/6/08 at 10:14pm

Margo's list is pretty much dead on. I might add a little more Fosse, but it's still a darned good list. I thought you meant no dance aces25. You said simple and not "the best dance moves."

re: Best staging of a musical number?

Posted: 1/6/08 at 10:26pm

Maybe not "best," but a favorite of mine is the Prologue from Ragtime.

Updated On: 1/6/08 at 10:26 PM

re: Best staging of a musical number?

Posted: 1/6/08 at 10:29pm

"What a Waste" - MISS SAIGON (Bob Avian)
"Charleston" - BILLION DOLLAR BABY (Jerome Robbins)
"I'll Have You All" - TABOO (Mark Dendy & Jeff Calhoun)
"Gimme Love" - KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN (Rob Marshall & Vincent Patterson)
"Big Spender" - SWEET CHARITY (Bob Fosse)
"Shriner's Ballet" - BYE BYE BIRDIE (Gower Champion)
"I Got Rhythm" - CRAZY FOR YOU (Susan Stroman)
"Burnin' Love" - ALL SHOOK UP (Ken Roberson & Sergio Trujillo)
"Welcome to the 60's" - HAIRSPRAY (Jerry Mitchell)

#10

re: Best staging of a musical number?

Posted: 1/7/08 at 12:49am

Gower Champion's incredible staging of the opening of Carnival. After all these years, I've not seen better.

#11

re: Best staging of a musical number?

Posted: 1/7/08 at 1:34am

I loooove the staging of the title number from Ragtime. Especially when they performed on the Tonys and had all that room to move around.

#12

re: Best staging of a musical number?

Posted: 1/7/08 at 1:49am

My first thought was 'One' from A Chorus Line. Followed immediately by 'The Music and the Mirror' (oh my god, those mirrors -- breathtaking), 'I Hope I Get It' and 'Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love'.

Also 'Christmas Bells' from RENT.

"You mean what was the best picture of the year or what did they pick as the best picture of the year?" - California Suite

#13

re: Best staging of a musical number?

Posted: 1/7/08 at 1:51am

Michael Bennett's staging of "Who's That Woman?" from FOLLIES was the first one that came to my mind.

- ME TOO!!!

#14

re: Best staging of a musical number?

Posted: 1/7/08 at 3:47am

I'm surprised no one said Seasons of Love from Rent.

There is something oddly powerful about they way they just walk out and stand in line. Plus that song I think is one of the greatest compositions in musical theatre.

#15

re: Best staging of a musical number?

Posted: 1/7/08 at 7:51am

I'd like to add Tommy Tune's "We'll Take A Glass Together" from GRAND HOTEL.

#16

re: Best staging of a musical number?

Posted: 1/7/08 at 8:40am

ONE DAY MORE! from LES MISERABLES

The finale of MISS SAIGON

THE MIRROR/THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA/MUSIC OF THE NIGHT sequence from Webber's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

"TO LOVE ANOTHER PERSON IS TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD"- LES MISERABLES--- "THERE'S A SPECIAL KIND OF PEOPLE KNOWN AS SHOW PEOPLE... WE'RE BORN EVERY NIGHT AT HALF HOUR CALL!"--- CURTAINS

#17

re: Best staging of a musical number?

Posted: 1/7/08 at 9:46am

"Solidarity" in Billy Elliot (London)

Hands down the most brilliantly staged sequence I've ever seen.

Don't know if the staging will make it to Broadway intact, but I hope so!!!

#18

re: Best staging of a musical number?

Posted: 1/7/08 at 10:27am

Bwaybound - I saw RENT in early May of 1996 - a couple of days after ht eTony nominations had been announced. When the cast came out at the top of Act 2 to sing Seasons of Love, the audience gave them STANDING OVATION.

As far as favorite staging goes - for simplicity, I'm going with the RAGTIME opening. For dance and dazzle, I vote for I Got Rhythm from CRAZY FOR YOU.

#19

re: Best staging of a musical number?

Posted: 1/7/08 at 10:29am

I agree with all who mentioned the opening of Ragtime. I also think the staging of the two 'Sundays' in Sunday in the Park with George were beautifully done, particularly at the end of the second act when they're singing and the bow to George, stunning.

I killed the boss, you don't think they're gonna fire me over a thing like that!!!!

#20

re: Best staging of a musical number?

Posted: 1/7/08 at 10:31am

I'm at the point where one show runs into the next now, between performing, directing, or just sitting in the audience on any given night.

Yet the two scenes that always comes back to me as great are the opening numbers in LION KING and 42ND STREET. I love how they both really set the tone for their shows!

"To love another person is to see the face of God!"

#21

re: Best staging of a musical number?

Posted: 1/7/08 at 10:38am

Margo's list is great...but would definitely add "Sunday" from SITPWG.

"Carson has combined his passion for helping children with his love for one of Cincinnati's favorite past times - cornhole - to create a unique and exciting event perfect for a corporate outing, entertaining clients or family fun."

"In Oz, the verb is douchifizzation." PRS

#22

re: Best staging of a musical number?

Posted: 1/7/08 at 10:52am

I'll add "I Love A Piano" from White Christmas. Randy Skinner's choreography is simply breathtaking.

"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men" - Willy Wonka

#23

re: Best staging of a musical number?

Posted: 1/7/08 at 10:57am

Staging wise, I have always loved the movement and timing of the opening in Into The Woods. It just works so well.

Jack: For your information, most people who meet me do not know that I am gay. Will: Jack, blind and deaf people know you're gay. Dead people know you're gay. Jack: Grace, when you first met me, did you know I was gay? Grace: My dog knew.

#24

re: Best staging of a musical number?

Posted: 1/7/08 at 11:01am

"Accident Waiting to Happen" from the Drowsy Chaperone remains one of the most fantastic things I have ever seen on stage. So simple, but it made me so very happy.

#25

re: Best staging of a musical number?

Posted: 1/7/08 at 11:13am

Bitch of living- Spring Awakening
Touch Me- Spring Awakening
Totally F*CKed- Spring Awakening
I Hope I Get It- Chorus Line
One Day More- Les Mis

"Those You've Known And Lost Still Walk Behind You"-Spring Awakening

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