H2S, Gender blind casting
H2S, Gender blind casting
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#1re: H2S, Gender blind casting
Posted: 2/24/06 at 9:35pmYour professor had better get permission from the licensing agent to make these changes. Otherwise, they can shut you down on opening night.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#3re: H2S, Gender blind casting
Posted: 2/24/06 at 9:43pm
What an absolutely insane idea. I certainly hope he's pulling your leg.
Probably the most useful thing that I learned in High School was that the teachers were just as messed up as the kids and in pretty much the same proportion. If your teacher wants to do "Victor/Victoria" then he should do it. Flipping the gender in "How to Suceed" is certain to lead to failure.
Might I suggest you look up the song "Kodachrome" by Paul Simon and his wise words: "When I look back on all the crap I learned in High School, it's a wonder I can think at all."
Updated On: 2/24/06 at 09:43 PM
maybethistime
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/3/04
#4re: H2S, Gender blind casting
Posted: 2/24/06 at 9:44pmWhen my highschool first did this show in '86 they changed Finch into a female character and changed Rosemary to Rosemorton, her male secretary. I wasn't alive to see it, but I'd imagine it changed the dynamics of the show greatly and I'm guessing they had to alter the book some for it make sense and lyrics like "Gotta Stop That Man" and all of "Brotherhood of Man" must've been reworked. I don't know how it would work, but they apparently pulled it off.
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#5re: H2S, Gender blind casting
Posted: 2/24/06 at 9:51pmIf in the end, it's revealed Finch is a woman, then it makes Rosemary look foolish.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#6re: H2S, Gender blind casting
Posted: 2/24/06 at 9:55pm
RoseMorton? Please be kidding! Please!
This is as wrong as playing Sweeney Todd as a vegetarian, but I can't help but wonder-- instead of the male executives singing "Stop that man" as they touch up their faces with electric razors, do they have Finch retreat to the ladies room where the other women shave their legs as they sing "Gotta Stop that Gal?"
Let's do "South Pacific" with Nelson Forbush falling in love with Emily De Becque! Or "Little Shop" with Andy singing how "Suddenly Celine" is making everything OK while Andy 2 eats people.
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#7re: H2S, Gender blind casting
Posted: 2/24/06 at 9:58pmWhy not A Little Night Music with an all-male cast?
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#8re: H2S, Gender blind casting
Posted: 2/24/06 at 10:06pmThe folks at Musaic Theatre International will absolutely not allow this.
#10re: H2S, Gender blind casting
Posted: 2/24/06 at 11:32pmhaha- I certainly hope so. This is a classic show! It is just too strange. There are better ways to make improvements on it.
timote316
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/04
#11re: H2S, Gender blind casting
Posted: 2/24/06 at 11:37pm
Joe-- Sweeney may very well be a vegetarian, he spits out his bite at the beginning...
I'm all for gender blind casting when it makes sense (or really doesn't make a difference), but it really doesn't make sense for H2$.
#12re: H2S, Gender blind casting
Posted: 2/25/06 at 12:41amthat gender switch thing just sounds stupid. ruins the whole show. if he wants to have a show that has a female as the main lead, choose a different show.
~Dirty Rotten Scoundrels~
~Curtains~
~A Tale of Two Cities ~
Jazzysuite82
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/6/05
#14re: H2S, Gender blind casting
Posted: 2/25/06 at 12:48amI actually think it could work. Of course you would ahve to change a lot around. There'd have to be a whole new show essentially. Unless you switched EVERYTHING. Had all the woman playing men and all the men playing women. I think it'd prob make the sexist point even greater. Keep in mind when this show opened it wasn't sexist at all. It's how we see it now. I know plenty of people who were very uncomfortable with seeing it as is because of its sexist slant. I would love to see all women sing a secretary is not a toy as men, or Men sing paris original. I think the show would ultimately be about sexism and gender roles in society. THAT'd be a reason to actually see How to Succeed. Otherwise I think the show's sooooo dated and VERY long. Would it work? I'm not sure but I'd def be interested in seeing it at that point.
LilMissBway14
Chorus Member Joined: 2/27/05
#15re: H2S, Gender blind casting
Posted: 2/25/06 at 9:43amI don't really see this working but if the reason your director is thinking along these lines is because there are more girls than guys in your drama dept, then there are lots of little speaking roles that can be combined and given to secretaries instead of random businessmen that only show up a few times. I'm in the show now for a second time and trust me, this works fine.
#16re: H2S, Gender blind casting
Posted: 2/25/06 at 9:51amI'm in it now, and Jenkens, Mr. Bratt, and Tackaberry are girls...but our Smitty can't sing, so basically everyone sings Smitty's songs as well...Our production looks like uuber crap minus the Finch and Rosemary who are a bit amazing.
TheaterAddict7652
Broadway Star Joined: 2/7/06
#17re: H2S, Gender blind casting
Posted: 2/25/06 at 10:05amThat is riduculous...if he switched Finch's gender in H2S, then it would ruin some of the points that H2S was making about the buisness world at the time.
#18re: H2S, Gender blind casting
Posted: 2/25/06 at 10:37amWhat is your director smoking? Immature, I know, but seriously! Why not do an original version called "FinchtorFinctoria."
#19re: H2S, Gender blind casting
Posted: 2/25/06 at 7:06pmAm I the only one who thinks this could work in some kind of crazy way?
*MuSiCaLs_FaN*
Understudy Joined: 7/27/05
#20re: H2S, Gender blind casting
Posted: 2/25/06 at 8:00pmOne important thing, bsides having to pretty much re-write the whole show to make it work, is the ERA! That would have to be changed too as there were no 'male secretary's) in that era!!!
Jazzysuite82
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/6/05
#21re: H2S, Gender blind casting
Posted: 2/25/06 at 10:56pmHere we go in with the freakin time period realism again...Is there anything in the script that says this is 1962? I'm just curious
#22re: H2S, Gender blind casting
Posted: 2/25/06 at 11:46pmUm...have you READ THE PLAY?
#23re: H2S, Gender blind casting
Posted: 2/26/06 at 12:38amthe play is a satire about business in america in the 60s - men were the executives and women were either secretaries or wives - those defined, rigid roles are the point of the show. there is no logical way to switch the genders of any of the characters in the show.
Effie
Understudy Joined: 9/6/04
#24re: H2S, Gender blind casting
Posted: 2/26/06 at 1:08am
Jeez, it's just a high school musical. Isn't the point for the kids to get up on stage and have a good time and learn about teamwork and all that other good stuff, not do a definitive production of whatever show it is they're doing? Who cares how they cast it. Even if the gender switch turns out to be ridiculous, the parents will still be thrilled to see little Susie and Johnny up on stage.
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