Fairfield, OH high school chosen to perform ALW's Phantom- Page 3

[Urban]

Posted: 10/10/10 at 8:07am

Where will they get half a dozen girls to do en pointe though?

It might be one thing to get a Christine that can wabble out a high note but can she stand on her tippy-toes as well?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/10/10 at 8:20am

and may I just add:

This thread started THREE years ago, with the supposed production happening well over TWO years ago.

WHY do people bump threads like this? (of course, I didn't notice the date until now, either.)

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 10/10/10 at 10:36am

This is stupid. Les Mis is one thing, you can get away with actors who sing for Les Mis, but Phantom is very difficult vocally and acting-wise. Even the Walnut Hill School in MA couldn't pull this off, and they're considered to be one of the best performing arts HS's in the country.

And can you imagine a student pit orchestra playing that score?? *shiver*

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 10/10/10 at 10:52am

Funny that this was bumped because I just found out that my old high school is performing Phantom for their fall musical.

I think it's a terrible idea, of course.

[Sally]

Posted: 10/10/10 at 1:36pm

The show has been licensed, and news stories are now appearing about schools who are going to try to pull off a quality production. I've already seen two or three. This is the most recent I've found.

"John A. Coleman Catholic High School in Hurley, New York is among the first schools to acquire the rights to produce Andrew Lloyd Webber's Broadway classic "The Phantom of the Opera," the longest running show in Broadway history. The independent Catholic-affiliated school, founded in 1967, has an enrollment of 185, yet the cast of "Phantom" will consist of over 40 young people from the Hudson River Valley. Coleman High School Musical Theater Director Lise Hopson states that "Phantom" is the biggest challenge of her 20 year career at the school.
"The kids found out the rights had just been released and they just deluged me with requests to do the show' Hopson said. "At first I wasn't sure I wanted to take on a show this mammoth, this elaborate and demanding, but they convinced me with their enthusiasm and their passion. . ."


FULL STORY

[temms]

Posted: 10/10/10 at 2:21pm

Once upon a time, high schools regularly did Gilbert and Sullivan. Mabel in "Pirates of Penzance" has to navigate cadenzas and high notes just as demanding as Christine. My senior year of high school, I was auditioning (successfully) for college voice programs singing pieces from Rigoletto and Pagliacci.

I agree Carlotta is a bit of a stretch for a high schooler (just as the R&H ballets are challenging for young dancers) but as it is a comic role, I suspect it will often be played over-the-top and not with Judy Kaye vocal precision. (I imagine the high E near the end of Prima Donna will generally be not sung and a lower note will be used on "age old rap-PORT") but I could have easily sung Piangi in high school and I don't doubt plenty of other kids out there can, as well.

It's not 8 a week for a long run. If it's a show the performers will be passionate about, I think schools with talented singers should go for it.

I'm frankly more stunned to see that there is officially a"Sweeney Todd School Edition.". If HSers can sing that, they can certainly pull off the pastiche opera of "Phantom."

[Sally]

Posted: 10/10/10 at 6:05pm

I've not seen a high school do any Gilbert and Sullivan since a production of Pinafore, maybe 20 years ago. I don't remember how good it was. I saw a good college production of Pirates four or five years ago.

I don't doubt that doing Phantom will be a big thrill for the students, but a few shows----Phantom is one of them---I'm particularly fond of and am not interested in seeing a high school version. As I left a high school Les Mis, I thought, "That was good, for a high school show, " but it wasn't good enough to make me feel like I had seen the "real" show.

Parents of the high school students involved and other supporters from the communities won't be so fussy.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 10/10/10 at 6:33pm

The difference is that G&S knew how to write for the human voice. ALW doesn't.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 10/10/10 at 10:44pm

"but a few shows----Phantom is one of them---I'm particularly fond of and am not interested in seeing a high school version"

Then don't go see it. The way some people on here are reacting it's as if they are going to be tied to a seat in the local gymatorium and forced to watch the show.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 10/10/10 at 11:20pm

"I've not seen a high school do any Gilbert and Sullivan since a production of Pinafore, maybe 20 years ago. I don't remember how good it was. I saw a good college production of Pirates four or five years ago."

Both my HS AND one near where I live did Pirates my senior year.
Mine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xzckD63tSw (I'm the Major-General)
The local school's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI6jF7fQzn0

[Sally]

Posted: 10/11/10 at 1:09pm

"but a few shows----Phantom is one of them---I'm particularly fond of and am not interested in seeing a high school version"

Then don't go see it. The way some people on here are reacting it's as if they are going to be tied to a seat in the local gymatorium and forced to watch the show.
------------------------------------------------------------

That's my plan. Was I unclear?

[singer73192]

Posted: 10/11/10 at 1:43pm

Ha! I have loved reading the thread! My school is doing Phantom this year. It should be.... interesting. Ironically we did "Pirates of Penzance" two years ago.

[singer73192]

Posted: 10/11/10 at 1:44pm

Ha! I have loved reading the thread! My school is doing Phantom this year. It should be.... interesting. Ironically we did "Pirates of Penzance" two years ago.