It's that time of year again!

[BroadwayBoy2005]

Posted: 8/19/03 at 5:07pm

Ah, once again it is time for my choir to choose their annual musical. The director has narrowed it down to 'Guys and Dolls' or 'Into the Woods'. Now, I've heard of both but never have seen them. So, if you could give me some insight about them and which one would be good for a choir of about 30, I'd really appreciate it. Thanx!

-bb2005

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/19/03 at 5:14pm

Choir of about 30?? Well, Guys and Dolls requires a cast of about 35 and you need a substial amount of guys...most of the principals are male and you need dancers for this one (Girls have the Hot Box numbers, there is the scene in Havana with salsa dancing, and the guys have The Crapshooter's dance. Into The Woods, you can do with a cast of 17, but you can stretch it to about 25 without doubling the roles and it doesn't really require dancing.

You can check out stageagent.com for a breakdown of the characters including vocal range, age range of the role, and a short description.

I did Guys and Dolls in H.S. (as Benny) and I did it again regionaly. I also did Into The Woods regionaly as Jack (I also auditioned for the revival on Broadway (damned Adam Wylie). Both shows are great, I however, prefer Into The Woods. What can I say? It is Sondheim.
StageAgent.com

[Gothampc]

Posted: 8/19/03 at 5:59pm

What Broadwayguy says is true. But remember that "Into the Woods" is Sondheim and Sondheim is difficult to sing. What is the level of your choir? If they are not top notch and hard workers, I would go with "Guys and Dolls" because it is easier to sing.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/19/03 at 6:07pm

to paraphrase laura Benanti, only a good actor cazn sing Sondheim ::

You need EXCEPTIONALLY srong singers for some of the roles in Woods, and good singers for others. There are however, a number of role in 'Woods' that can get by with passable singers (Baker, Narrator, Mysterious Man, to some extent the wolf)
You need very strong singers for Cinderalla, Rapunzel, the Witch, and the Baker's wife and the Princes, and to a slightly lesser extent Jack)

Breath control is A HUGE thing for 'Woods'. Some of those phrases are like tongue twisters and can be murder!

For Guys and Dolls, remeber that the strongest male singers MUST be Sky and Benny (Baritones), and Nicely-Nicely (a tenor). nathan was originally written played by a man who was tone-deaf!
You will need a strong Sarah and Adelaide can get by with less vocal ability, but she still must have a good voice. Updated On: 8/19/03 at 06:07 PM

[ChristineDaae]

Posted: 8/19/03 at 6:24pm

"Guys and Dolls" or "Into the woods" sounds cool!

I can't belive this summer went by so fast! But hey the Flea Market & Broadway on Broadway are getting closer!!

[sondheimfreak]

Posted: 8/19/03 at 7:35pm

Into the Woods all the way! The only Sondheim show better than it is Sweeney Todd.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/20/03 at 12:54am

Into the Woods is one of my all time favorites but I have to go with BIG CHOIR = Guys and Dolls

[MsNina]

Posted: 8/20/03 at 3:39am

05, do into the woods. bg2 pretty much said it all...ITW is a better show. what ever you do, here's a way in advance break a leg!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/20/03 at 3:53am

I just want to say something to those who say Into The Woods is too hard of a show. In high school, I had an amazing teacher/director/mentor in theatre. He didn't run it like a high school theatre department. He ran it like a self contained repertory company. ealso gave us each opportunities not only to explore and find our niche onstage, but also find our strengths backstge, giving us opportunies to take on many roles that many other programs in my area did not offer. He worked as a professional actor before he taught and his son is a working actor now. He was very firm in treating us like professional actors because he felt that is was the best way to prepar those of us who wanted to be actors . He was very strict in seeing that our performances as actors rose above what the sterotype of high school actors is, but he was also very firm in that in a school environment, the students should work on material that is challenging to their abilities, makes them grow, and teaches them what acting is.. even if MAYBE the performances are a tad bit less than what could have been accomplished with simpler material. Into The Woods would challenge the students more, teach them more about drama (it is far better constructed than 'Dolls'), and would encourage them to grow and learn more about themselves as a performer.

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 8/20/03 at 10:34pm

Into the Woods has a smaller cast, and you need exceptionally good singers. I would go with "Guys and Dolls". The Salsa dance doesn't need to be complicated, and the Hot Box numbers aren't very hard, depending on the choreography, but what I'm trying to say is- Guys and Dolls is, in general, a less complicated show, and easier with a cast of thirty. There are more ensemble numbers in that show, and gives the cast the opportunity to really be involved, as opposed to Into The Woods, where the less important roles aren't on stage very often.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/20/03 at 10:44pm

I say you do Act One of GUYS AND DOLLS, and Act Two of INTO THE WOODS.

Or, you could be adventurous and alternate one song from each throughout the night all in show order.

"Fugue for Tinhorns" followed by "Into the Woods"
"Greens" followed by "Bushel and a Peck"
...might prove to be a fun evening.

Yours for a better Broadway!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/20/03 at 10:44pm

I say you do Act One of GUYS AND DOLLS, and Act Two of INTO THE WOODS.

Or, you could be adventurous and alternate one song from each throughout the night all in show order.

"Fugue for Tinhorns" followed by "Into the Woods"
"Greens" followed by "Bushel and a Peck"
...might prove to be a fun evening.

Yours for a better Broadway!

[skingdom]

Posted: 8/20/03 at 11:51pm

Do Into the Woods. It is a powerful, emotional show. Challenge yourself as a director and a cast to be good actors as well. If its well done it will feel more satisfying that Guys and Dolls.