Ensembles You'd Hate To Be In

[HumATune]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 12:31pm

Putting aside the “I’m glad just to be cast in a show” mantra, which ensembles would you hate to be a part of?

For me, I’d say The Light in the Piazza. They don’t do anything expect walk around in period costumes and sing backup. I think I’d rather be in the Brooklyn "ensemble"...or not.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 12:35pm

The practically nonexistent ensemble of Lestat.

[alliez92092]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 12:40pm

I hated being in the ensemble of Beauty and the Beast, but that was just because our director didn't put the ensemble in anything.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 2:02pm

The Woman in White

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 2:09pm

I always felt bad for swings in Into the Woods because usually they only get to go on as Sleeping Beauty or Snow White, since those two are usually understudies for the bigger roles.

Akiva

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 2:11pm

A Chorus Line.

"You, in the green, you're cut." Then sit backstage or go home.

Although, I guess that's not so bad.

[Parks]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 2:17pm

I don't think Avenue Q's ensemble has such a bad time. Aren't all of them understudies? Many of them are understudies for more than just 1 part, so they probably go on a fair amount of time.


*SPOILER*

and they do go on every night--in the audience during The Money Song.


*END SPOILER*

I'd hate to be in Wicked's ensemble. Imagine having friends and family constantly asking you for tickets/discounts if possible. I actually thought about this yesterday.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 2:18pm

i have to agree with THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA one

[All_For_Laura]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 2:25pm

I would definitely agree with LITP. Definitely boring for an ensemble member.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 2:34pm

I was in "The Secret Garden", and on the days I wasn't Dickon (it was, after all, community theatre), I was just so bored because of the lack of much to do.

On the flip side, I absolutely loved being in the ensembles of "Bye Bye Birdie" and "The Music Man." There's just so much to do for those shows, it's fantastic.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 2:38pm

Little Women.

...ha! I kill me!!!!!

[singtopher]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 2:39pm

I would hate being in the Ensemble of "The Sound Of Music" At least as a male, all you do is waltz at the party, and turn into a Nazi in the final scene.

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 2:43pm

Oklahoma!
Annie
The King and I

[StarStruckGB]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 2:49pm

42nd Street.

If you can't tap dance & you're in the ensemble, you come on like 4 times.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 2:51pm

I actually think LITP would be sorta fun.

the ensemble could make up backstories and situations and all sorts of cool stuff

[TLKfan]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 2:58pm

Light and ACL.

[gumbo2]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 3:02pm

Fiddler On The Roof.

[lukeboy25]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 3:04pm

From the look of it at the Macy's parade you'd have to drug me before you could get me to go on in The Grinch......those Whos were way too happy.

[wackjack132]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 3:08pm

Well I would have to say Into the Woods...because I don't think there is much Ensemble lol.


And for those saying ACL. While you're not onstage, you're still singing most of the songs. They sing the group parts of Montages and both Ones. It's a pretty good set up.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 3:13pm

When I first saw this thread I knew someone would say The Grinch. I was in it at the Old Globe for two years, and let me tell you it is fun!

I would have to say Sweeney Todd, it just doesn't seem like it would be much fun, esspecially in the Doyle production.

I know this isn't in the thread but I think it would be BLAST to be in the Guys and Dolls ensemble

[StephenSondheimWHOO]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 3:13pm

I always felt sorry for Snow white and sleeping beauty in ITW

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 3:13pm

I think a lot of this has to do with how the director chooses to use the ensemble in a show. For instance I find it shocking that people listed the esembles of Secret Garden and Fiddler on the Roof as being boring...while almost all the productions I have seen or heard utilized the ensemble so that they were onstage almost the whole time. In Secret Garden the ensemble are the chorus of ghosts of the past that sort of narrate the story and watch over the characters. In the production of Fiddler I did, the ensemble was in view almost the whole time as the villagers and gave a sense of community.

I think in general it has to do with how ensemble-driven the director of a show is.

Akiva

ps.. Neddy....it is a BLAST. My first professional gig was playing Rusty Charlie. I got to sing a killer opening number and then have the time of my life for the rest of the show. Not a bad way to spend a summer. Updated On: 11/26/06 at 03:13 PM

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 3:16pm

Akiva, I definitely agree, if only because when I was in Fiddler, I was onstage a ton of times. For The Secret Garden, though, we sang "House on a Hill" (was that the song?), the two parts of "Storm", and one other little thing. That was about it. Definitely a director's decision.

[gumbo2]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 3:26pm

Yeah that's true, because when I was in Fiddler the ensemble just sort of stood there and sang their song and then left, didn't have much to do unless you were sort of a pseudo-ensemble member with a name.


And another vote for Guys and Dolls being awesome for ensemble. And 42nd Street is probably the best ensemble show you can ever be in (providing you tap, I guess)

[Katurian2]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 3:29pm

"42nd Street.

If you can't tap dance & you're in the ensemble, you come on like 4 times."


Note: If you're in 42nd Street- you should know how to tap dance. That's like---the entire show!