Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

#1

Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

Posted: 12/10/07 at 4:26pm

I'm going to the licensing companies' websites but am still going to post a request for suggestions here on BWW, of course.
I know other threads exist and I have read some of them, but I would like a fresh thread begun with my restrictions:

I'm an undergrad directing major and am searching for a musical to be my thesis next year. It'll be a fall show as I graduate in December.

Cast size 2-10. That's the only limitation I want to give as I want to consider everything.

Good choices:

THE SPITFIRE GRILL
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
THE LAST FIVE YEARS
YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN
AVENUE Q (will it be available by then?)

Bad choices:

PUTTING IT TOGETHER
TICK...TICK...BOOM!

Thank you!

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"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

#2

re: Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

Posted: 12/10/07 at 4:35pm

Bright Lights Big City... it has a cast size of 12, which is a little bit over what you said but it has recently been made available for licensing, and I could see a great student director going to town with it. http://rnh.com/theatricals/show.php?show_id=107#

Also, A Class Act. Cast size, 8. One of the best small musicals I know, and it will be performed more and more in years to come, in my opinion. http://rnh.com/theatricals/show.php?show_id=86

Hello Again might also be a fantastic challenge. Cast of 10. http://www.dramatists.com/cgi-bin/db/single.asp?key=1880

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[title of show] on Broadway. it's time. believe.

#3

re: Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

Posted: 12/10/07 at 4:40pm

Assassins can be done with 11, which is one over what you wanted, but maybe you can swing it. If you have a lot of men, it's a good option.

#4

re: Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

Posted: 12/10/07 at 4:52pm

Showtune. It's basically a Jerry Herman revue that can be interpreted in anyway possible. It's very cool and different. I believe it calls for a 9 person cast. Please check it out, its neat!

#5

re: Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

Posted: 12/10/07 at 4:57pm

Songs for a New World, which was done with four people.

#6

re: Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

Posted: 12/10/07 at 5:00pm

man of la mancha

#7

re: Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

Posted: 12/10/07 at 5:02pm

Truimph of Love has a cast of seven

Lucky Stiff needs about 12 people

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"A coherent existance after so many years of muddle" - Desiree' Armfelt, A Little Night Music "Life keeps happening everyday, Say Yes" - 70, Girls, 70 "Life is what you do while you're waiting to die" - Zorba

#8

re: Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

Posted: 12/10/07 at 5:03pm

Nunsense (5 females)
Little Women the Musical (6 females and 4 males)
Zanna Don't! (5 males and 3 females)
The Fantastiks (7 males and 1 female)
Cabaret (around 13 actors, but you can always cut back on the Kit Kat dancers)
See What I Wanna See (11 actors I think...)
The Rocky Horror Show (originally done with 9 people: 6 males and 3 females)
Once On This Island (5 males and 6 females)

I hope this helps.

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"Somethin's comin', I don't know what it is but it is gonna be great!"

#9

re: Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

Posted: 12/10/07 at 5:04pm

Elegies (cast of 5)
Falsettos (7)
I Love You Because (6)
The Last 5 Years (2)
A New Brain (9)
Songs for a New World (4)
Zanna, Don't! (8 )

And also, a bunch of revues have a cast size that can be interpreted however you like.

Updated On: 12/10/07 at 05:04 PM

#10

re: Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

Posted: 12/10/07 at 5:06pm

Not sure if I missed it, but how did you come up with the BAD and GOOD lists?

#11

re: Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

Posted: 12/10/07 at 5:08pm

Godspell

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"Somethin's comin', I don't know what it is but it is gonna be great!"

#12

re: Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

Posted: 12/10/07 at 5:08pm

Godspell

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"Somethin's comin', I don't know what it is but it is gonna be great!"

#13

re: Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

Posted: 12/10/07 at 5:09pm

In Trousers

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[title of show] on Broadway. it's time. believe.

#14

re: Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

Posted: 12/10/07 at 5:10pm

Good/Bad is just preferences/my taste and as I get suggestions, if I am familiar with the title, I'll add them into it.

---

"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

#15

re: Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

Posted: 12/10/07 at 5:12pm

I agree with TRIUMPH OF LOVE. If I could direct a short musical, I'd pick this one. Most of the libretto is on the CD. I love how the Leonide is constantly making things up, which I think is always fun for an audience (like NOISES OFF).

#16

re: Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

Posted: 12/10/07 at 5:13pm

I've seen "Bat Boy" done with like 11 people or so...

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"Your lyrics lack subtlety! You can't just have your characters announce how they feel! That makes me feel angry!"

#17

re: Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

Posted: 12/10/07 at 5:13pm

Actually, LUCKY STIFF is exactly ten people.

I am currently Musical Director of a production of TRIUMPH OF LOVE. Seven actors, one set. Period costumes (but not too hard). I know it flopped on Broadway, but our audiences are LOVING it. It's a show that really belongs in a more intimate space.

Other small shows we've done successfully:

BY JEEVES (cast of 10)
A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD (5)
A DAY IN HOLLYWOOD, A NIGHT IN THE UKRAINE (cast of 8 )
THE RINK (9)
FALSETTOS (7)
ROMANCE ROMANCE (4)
OLYMPUS ON MY MIND (9)
70 GIRLS 70 (revised version - cast of 10)
FLORA THE RED MENACE (revised version - cast of 9)
TWO BY TWO (cast of 8 )

Updated On: 12/10/07 at 05:13 PM

#18

re: Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

Posted: 12/10/07 at 5:14pm

john & jen

#19

re: Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

Posted: 12/10/07 at 5:17pm

Bat Boy and John & Jen

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"Somethin's comin', I don't know what it is but it is gonna be great!"

#20

re: Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

Posted: 12/10/07 at 5:26pm

I know this is like my fifth comment, but I thought of some more:

Ain't Misbehavin'
Celebration
Forever Plaid
I Do! I Do!
Marry Me A Little
Side By Side By Sondheim
You're Gonna Love Tomorrow
Up The Pieces
Starting Here, Starting Now
Edges
and...
Five Guys Named Moe

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"Somethin's comin', I don't know what it is but it is gonna be great!"

#21

re: Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

Posted: 12/10/07 at 5:28pm

Wow, I have a lot of scripts to read and CDs to listen to...

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!! Keep them coming!

---

"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

#22

re: Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

Posted: 12/10/07 at 5:34pm

These are my suggestions:

Romance/Romance
SNOOPY
Charlie's Oasis Museum and Bar
Cabaret
The Great American Trailer Park Musical

#23

re: Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

Posted: 12/10/07 at 5:35pm

They're Playing Our Song (
Tick Tick Boom (4 or 5.)
Brooklyn (

#24

re: Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

Posted: 12/10/07 at 5:56pm

Dames at Sea (cast of 6)
I Can't Keep Running in Place (all female cast)
I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking it On the Road
Starting Here, Starting Now
Beehive (all female cast)
Baby (cast of 6)
Closer than Ever
Nunsense
The Fantasticks
Side by Side By Sondheim

#25

re: Musicals With Small Casts (or shows that can be done with a small cast)

Posted: 12/10/07 at 5:59pm

If you conceive it correctly, you can do most any musical (not all) with a small cast.

I recently saw a WONDERFUL production of Oklahoma! with a cast of about 12. It was a very intimate production and it was absolutely beautiful.