Musical Theatre Set Precedents?

[EugLoven]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 2:50pm

This may be a very difficult topic of discussion for many members of this board, but I'm hoping such learned readers (as there are many respectable kinds on these boards) can help out.

While watching the MY FAIR LADY film this afternoon, my hair raised on the back of my neck to see the aristocratic scene at the races.

All the hoity-toity members of British society in their best white/black gowns and hats...

Unless I'm mistaken, this scenario is so beautifully staged that musical theatre can hardly stray from some sort of recreation or other... as seen in "Peron's Latest Flame" EVITA and the opening number of RAGTIME. Each with frozen-in-place singing aristocrats in high-fashion, moving a bit here and there while singing.

What other sort of "stage pictures" are there that are often recycled as homages? Or bits or orchestration?
Updated On: 11/4/07 at 02:50 PM

[B3TA07]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 2:57pm

Pretty much all of Les Mis

[americanboy99]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 3:08pm

I would say the very beginning of HAIRSPRAY with Tracy in her bed...

Although in a revival sometime down the line, this will most likely be done differently, "Will You" from GREY GARDENS, as Little Edie is walking down the stairs as Edith sings/ speaks. Beautiful.

The sun rising in THE LION KING. (Pretty much all of THE LION KING.)

The hat scene/ opening of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA. A breathtaking moment.

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 3:12pm

Dolly Levi's entrance into the Harmonia Gardens. I've never seen a production where there hasn't been a staircase for her to descend.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 3:16pm

The opening chords of Gypsy's overture has had many parodies...it's in the current production of The Ritz, it underscores "I'm the German Ethel Merman, dontchakno!" section of "Springtime for Hitler" in The Producers...

The "for me" section of Rose's Turn has also spurred many parodies...pretty much in all of Marc Shaiman's work.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 3:17pm

Definitely, JustAGuy.

Let's see. What else.

The opening of A CHORUS LINE and ONE.

"Lullaby of Broadway" in 42ND STREET. Classic, unchangeable.

[JulianHookbucks]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 6:40pm

most of Gypsy... I haven't seen many regional productions that haven't copied the original coreography...

Beauty and the Beast... most of the numbers... and the costumes... even though it's illegal to copy anything from the Broadway production, contractually... people do it...

I'm sure Spring Awakening will be copied when it gets released for other theatres...

the finale of Ragtime... with the silhouettes of the company dancing across the stage in the background with the speaking characters in light in the center of the stage...

Dolly's Entrance into Harmonia Gardens...

a LOT of West Side Story... when the original choreography is copied... espec. the finale of that show.

CATS... ...enough said.

Phantom...

Saigon...

any giant imported British show from the 80's...

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 6:48pm

In Kiss Me, Kate, when Fred listens in as Lilli sings So in Love.
The "Luck be a Lady" ballet in Guys and Dolls.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 7:01pm

The Richard Chamberlain version of MY FAIR LADY only heightened the brilliance of the original staging of the "Ascot Gavotte". In the Chamberlain production the upperclass Britons were lowered from the flies and dangled in space during the number.

Sad. Terribly sad.

[philly03]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 8:13pm

Les Miserables in certain songs (Look Down, Fantine's Arrest), and some other parts in it.

I'm suprised no one has said it yet, and I hope I'm not wrong?...

JEKYLL & HYDE, they clearly show it in the song "Facade," among other songs as well, primarily the chorus songs.

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 11:35pm

Not really choreography, but Sweeney Todd's costuming, especially for Lovett. Any MANY actresses copy Lansbury's movements, voice and characterization. To a lesser extent this sometimes happens with Sweeney too.

[NYC_or_Bust]

Posted: 11/5/07 at 2:13am

"Tradition!" from Fiddler is pretty much unchangeable..

Momma Rose's "Rose's Turn" dress always seems to be in some sort of shade of pink or purple...for whatever reason.

EVERY production I've seen of Hello Dolly during the "Put On Your Sunday Clothes" number, at the end, when it's full cast, the ladies always seem to lower and turn out their parosols facing the audience and spin them in-hand.

[ThePinballWizard]

Posted: 11/5/07 at 2:53am

You know..there's a theater company out here in the Bay Area doing a production of Cats....with a new twist...

It's set in a school...with the school kids (pretending to be cats) sending Ms. Grizabella off to retirement (Heavyside Layer).

Wonder if they'll use the set precedent for that show. I'm even wondering how in the world they'll justify the entire show...seeing they're playing human playing cats and all.

Should be interesting to say the least.

[chinto1984]

Posted: 11/6/07 at 6:04pm

If anyone has the Broadway:American Musical series from PBS, watch the special feature interviews. It's interesting how things are staged now compared to then.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 11/6/07 at 9:17pm

"Oklahoma!" (the number) is often staged the same way.

And, most choreographers try their hardest to restore deMille's choreography in the "Oklahoma!" and "Carousel" dream ballets.

The opening of "42nd St." too. If it's done in a proscenium theatre with a curtain that rasies, you can bet that the first 16ish counts of the opening will be only feet.

EDIT: OOO! And, the "Gypsy" strip. I think that's almost always the same (due mostly to the music and dialogue).

Updated On: 11/6/07 at 09:17 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 4:43pm

the finale of Ragtime... with the silhouettes of the company dancing across the stage in the background with the speaking characters in light in the center of the stage...

Which looked curiously similar to a section of Steppin' to the Bad Side from the original staging of Dreamgirls.

I've never understood why every production of 42nd Street I've seen insists on using the lighted squares for the Sunny Side number. Is it licensed that way? I mean, you could do practically anything with that number, but it's always the same lighted squares.

And I would love to get away from the Greased Lightning arms in the film that have somehow managed to find their way into 90% of the Grease stage production around the world.

And, most choreographers try their hardest to restore deMille's choreography in the "Oklahoma!" and "Carousel" dream ballets.

*silent claps*