Good smaller/intimate shows! Please Help!

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 1:07am

Hey guys!

Ive decided that I want to get more involved in a small performing arts group at my university. They perform their shows in a 50 seat(ya dont get more intimate than that!) black box theatre in one of the colleges on campus, and have recently been putting on crap productions. These past few years, they have only put on shows written by the artistic director of the group, and you cant necessarily call them very good....

SO! Since I am a student in the technical theatre/ design program in the actual talented theatre department at our school, I have decided to spread my wings, and help put on a good musical in this intimate space. We have extremely talented actors and techs in our department, and they are all on board to help put on a show, just for the fun of it! so.....

ANY SHOW IDEAS???

specifications:

-performed in small, black box space(with great possibilities, but I dont think we can build the necessary sets for SHOWBOAT, nor can do a production like Millie, Joseph, Les Mis, and other big flashy shows like that!)
-needs to have a medium to small cast/ensemble... no more than 15-20.

My thoughts so far...

Cabaret, Bat Boy, Working, Little Shop of Horrors....

Any suggestions/ideas appreciated!

Updated On: 8/26/07 at 01:07 AM

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 1:32am

See What I Wanna See

if you have a great director-

Threepenny Opera

[Amneris]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 1:36am

urinetown

[dramarama2]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 1:41am

I Do! I Do!

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 1:42am

Urinetown

[jayindapub]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 1:51am

Pippin would be a great one. My college performed it in our black box a few years ago and it was awesome, fit perfectly in an intimate setting.

Also add:

-Songs For A New World
-Cabaret

[galindagirl2]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 2:22am

Fantasticks- Classic, romantic, good songs
Forever Plaid- This one is only four actors, way easy set-wise, and SO much fun to do

Try the mti (musical theater international) website. You can search shows by cast size.

Hope that helps!!
God Bless,
Galindagirl2

[Dover]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 3:38am

A lot of the obvious ones have already been said. For something a little more ambitious how about a show that's usually larger-scale but could still work if re-imagined for a smaller space? If the director and designers are up for it, it could be very exciting. My best guess would be to start off looking at shows that don't require a huge chorus to tell the story.
Just a couple that popped into my head in the first 30 seconds:
Sweeney Todd (I have seen done several times in a black box, long before the last revival)
Tommy (did in college in a 75-seater, worked nicely)
Jane Eyre

I'm sure you can think of tons more.

[paradox_error]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 5:47am

What about Falsettos? Cast of 7, but all of them are excellent roles....

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 10:42am

i didnt even stop to THINK about urinetown!!! Its one of my favorite shows!!! not sure if I would want to do it tho- i just was the technical director/scenic and lighting designer for a kick ASS production of it in may, and i dont want to get a bad taste in my mouth so soon! (if the show isnt as good as the last production.)


jayindapub- pippin was one of the first things that came to mind, but lately i havnt really had any desire to see/work on it, because EVERY production ive seen of it has sucked horribly!

I just saw the tour with Andre Ward(now in xanandu) and he was fantastic(leading player) but overall it was a poorly excecuted show.
Updated On: 8/26/07 at 10:42 AM

[jayindapub]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 12:12pm

Lightguy, Pippin is one of those shows where if it is put into the wrong hands can be completely disastrous, but when done right it is spectacular.

How about You're A Good Man Charlie Brown? Fun music, simple story!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 12:42pm

The John Doyle stagings of


COMPANY and


SWEENEY TODD...both shows without the actors playing their own instruments.


EVITA

or even:

SIDE SHOW

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 2:50am

Falsettos, She Loves ME, Something's Afoot, All Night Strut, Tomfoolery, Closer than Ever, Little Shop,Fantasticks,Side by Side by SOndheim,COmpany,Pump Boys and Dinettes,Snoopy!!!,You're a Good Man Charlie Brown,Sarting Here...Staring Now.

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 3:47am

A Chorus Line, if you can fit 17+ dancers across the stage.

[CHGriffiths]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 3:55am

I think Sweeney Todd would work best, you can have the set as minimilistic as you like and when my drama society thought about putting it on they worked out, if they couldnt find enough people they could only have a cast of tweleve, but if you want a few more you can put in an ensemble and have about 20 peformers.