Hello, Dolly! score question

[Chevstriss]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 1:04pm

anyone familiar with the current rental score going out these days? the copy I have, I would assume is meant for Dolly's vocal line to be sung down the octave, if this is the same key as Channings, or have they changed these keys? I think the audience wants to hear a nice low alto Dolly, but some of these look like even Channing couldn't comfortably take down the octave, it hover around the D below middle C.

I KNOW she wasn't high belting in the staff this score is written in.

[yankee_fan907]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 4:28pm

We did the show at my school last year, and we used a soprano Dolly, where it is written in the score. I believe the keys are the same, and I do believe she sang it mostly down an octave from where it is. Perhaps they raised the key; I don't exactly know. But when you think about it, she basically spoke a lot of it anyway, so it wouldn't have mattered.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 5:55pm

Every production of DOLLY! that I've been involved with has had the same problem. One Dolly claimed that it was written for "a basso profundo" and not for a woman!

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 6:03pm

Seriously, and people who complain that Eponine's part in Les Miserables is too low. Dolly's is absurd. It's the first time a girl's part on a cast recording has been too LOW for me to hit the notes!

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 6:16pm

Which is why it's so easy for company's to use a man, which has happened at LEAST once.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 7:52pm

Sigh! We keep hoping that another company will cast a certain male as Dolly before he's too old to get down the staircase!

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 7:55pm

Who's the certain male?

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 7:57pm

Now, is that a real question?

Dolly, I think you'd make a delightful Ms. Levi. Can you fit into the dresses?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 8:15pm

You bet I can fit into those costumes--and the wigs.

"Oh Ephraim, lemme gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!"

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 8:20pm

At least your dream of playing Dolly is more feasible than my dream of playing Sir Percy Blakeney.

Besides, when guys dress in drag, it's just a matter of adding some padding. When girls dress in drag, it's all about squishing things down.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 8:26pm

Besides, when guys dress in drag, it's just a matter of adding some padding. When girls dress in drag, it's all about squishing things down.

Guys have to squish things down too.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 8:36pm

^ Not quite on the same level as boobs. Our parts are usually fairly in check to begin with.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 9:16pm

I have no intention oa playing Dolly "in drag". Instead, I'll play her "in character." Thnak you very much!

[nealb1]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 9:30pm

Oh, please, Dollypop....it's your life's goal to play Dolly Levi in drag.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 9:35pm

To me, playing a part "in drag" implies a certain campiness. I want to avaoid that and give a solid performance that is based on my observations and research down through the years.

[MisterRussell]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 9:47pm

Drag is drag, ya pompous ass.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 9:53pm

Dollypop is dismayed by Mister Russell's comment.

[alterego]

Posted: 3/1/09 at 7:35am

I seem to remember being told (about 20) years ago that there are two scores available when a company does DOLLY. A soprano score (Martin) and a alto score (Channing). You nominate which you want.

[TT2]

Posted: 3/1/09 at 7:57am

alterego has the right idea. There are two version and you can rent them but you have to pay for the Channing key first and then if you want the alternative version you have to pay additional $. It was about 7-10% in rights to get the additional orchistrations I believe.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 3/1/09 at 12:48pm

That's Tams-Witmark for you. I HATE doing business with that company!

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 3/1/09 at 12:53pm

^ They are my least favorite as well. We had to do a budget project for my Intro to Theatre class' section on "Producing" and a group of us wanted to try and set up "Gypsy" and they wouldn't even speak to us about the process unless we filled an application out. R&H and MTI and Sam French were all very willing to help us where they could.

[strelimyn]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 11:26am

Yeah, there are two scores available to be rented. At my old high school, my director was very passionate about the show and really wanted a Channing-esque Dolly but almost bought the soprano score because it was difficult finding a girl to sing so low. Good thing she did. I absolutely love when the role is played by a deep and brassy alto.