Company score

[qazdannywsx]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 4:45am

I'm going to be part of the creative team for our upcoming production of Company in Jerusalem. It's the first Sondheim score we're attempting, and I'm worried about its difficulty for the not necessarily professional singers.. I know the score too well to notice if it's difficult.. I'm sure that Not Getting Married is hard, and that Bobby's songs are hard too.. But how hard? How hard are the songs for the rest of the couples? How confusing are the harmonies..? Just wanted to know in advance so that we can know what to look for in auditions...

[Jon]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 9:03am

The opening number is a killer for the entire cast. It's not the notes, it's the counting. There is no such thing as too much rehearsal for this! Once the cast has the opening down cold, the rest will seem easy.

[darquegk]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 9:22am

One other thing- if you are using the original, handwritten scores, your Bobby and the rest of the cast has one hell of a long held note during the "we LOVE" section. I believe it's a G held for 45 measures, if I remember correctly.

[newintown]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 9:31am

"Hard" is a relative term. Company is harder to learn than Hello, Dolly!, but if your actors are focused and aware, they'll get it. Doing the show with actors who aren't comfortable with music may not be a good idea.

[darquegk]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 11:10am

Sondheim isn't written for singers. It's written for actors who can be musical. If your cast are good singers, great. If they aren't musical, you'll have a tough time.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 2:01pm

Each "Bobby baby, Bobby bubi..." is slightly different that the others. Everyone, I mean each and every person who has done the show, comments on this.

There were 3-4 pit singers, all female in the original, to support the onstage actor-singers in the ensemble numbers like the top of Act Two and the title song with that 45 bar hold. It would be a good idea to include these vocalists who I believed were dubbed "The Vocal Minority".

Bobby needs an actor who sings and has a big range. He also needs staying power since one of the 11:00 songs is his.

[jv92]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 2:35pm

I've never been a production of COMPANY, but I think the score will be relatively easy compared to making the book work. It's not a bad book, either. It just needs really good actors. Good luck!