Past shows with interesting/cool use of the ensemble?

[CoryTV2]

Posted: 1/31/11 at 4:19pm

I'm directing a show where I want the ensemble to be very interactive-- manipulating the set, maybe even a kind of living scenery. I'm looking for past shows to view at the LCT library-- does anybody have any suggestions?

Already reviewing Sweeney + instruments...

Or frankly just really good/effective use of an ensemble-- the opening of the 2000 Ragtime comes to mind--

[JOak]

Posted: 1/31/11 at 4:22pm

The original production of Nine made clever use of the ensemble throughout the show starting with the overture sung by the women with Guido conducting them like instruments.

[wicked4l]

Posted: 1/31/11 at 4:32pm

In the Heights immediately comes to mind. The ensemble was onstage for most of the show, even if they were just folding laundry or cleaning their homes in the background. It gave the show a nice flow, IMO.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 1/31/11 at 4:39pm

The original production of Annie made its ensemble seem much larger in the NYC song/scene by using a conveyor belt and lots of quick changes.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 1/31/11 at 4:42pm

We did The Emperor Jones at the Irish Rep last season and the ensemble was the living forrest. It is at LCT Library

[KirbyCat]

Posted: 1/31/11 at 7:03pm

I realize that the original production did not do this, but in a recent production of The Drowsy Chaperone I was involved with, the ensemble manipulated Man in Chair's apartment to transform it into the sets in the musical. This made the part of the mansion's servants much larger.

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 1/31/11 at 7:09pm

Follies immediately comes to mind

[jasonf]

Posted: 1/31/11 at 7:20pm

Going further back, Allegro used the ensemble as a Greek chorus. I never saw it, though, so I don't know if it actually DID anything, but it sure sounds interesting on the recording!

[chewy5000]

Posted: 1/31/11 at 8:03pm

How about the Liebeslieders in 'A Little Night Music'

[HummingAlong]

Posted: 1/31/11 at 9:08pm

This is slightly more abstract, but if you have some talented dancers who can conceptualize things well, check out the Pilobolus dancers. They do some amazing things and their techniques and concepts could be used on stage to great effect.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 1/31/11 at 9:12pm

You could look to Brecht's technique of using actors to portray the scenery in plays. That strikes me as the most dramatic example of using the ensemble for alternative purposes. idk a specific example of that in the LCT library though.

[Candleshoe2]

Posted: 1/31/11 at 9:17pm

If done correctly, the ensemble can be used very effectively in the musicals of THE SECRET GARDEN and JANE EYRE.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/31/11 at 9:30pm

Jekyll & Hyde is worth a look for the end of "Someone Like You". Most of the ensemble staging in that production was atrocious, but the way the ensemble was incorporated into the end of that one song was sort of beautiful and one of the few things I liked about the Broadway production. You can see it on the DVD though. You don't need to view it at the LCT library.

[philly03]

Posted: 1/31/11 at 10:01pm

^^What CATSNYrevival said. One of my favourite stage moments, one of the best ideas of an otherwise half good half bad directed show.

Quick synopsis of what is happening Lucy (the female lead, whose a prostitute and lonely) falls in love with Dr. Jekyll (thus "Someone Like You") the set then transforms to the street where at the end as she sings "If someone like you loved me" shes in the middle of the stage as everyone walks by around her making no notice, making her an "every man"

An example of bad ensemble is also A TALE of TWO CITIES where the cast pushed the huge set pieces (very noisy) and would sit around on the stage somewhere. There was no reason for it besides for them to push the set to make the different places.

I agree.. Jane Eyre has it's moments with effective ensemble, especially with some of the haunting numbers.

[CoryTV2]

Posted: 1/31/11 at 10:16pm

Interesting stuff in this thread. I've seen some of the production mentioned, J&H more than once-- I also really liked the end of 'Someone Like You.' Conceptually, anyway-- The only problem is that plexiglass box never really played for me, so the people 'strolling' were a bit out of context for me. Ironically, I was googling some videos earlier tonight and saw a college production with an unintentionally amusing take on the umbrellas in "Murder, Murder."

What this thread has allowed me to do is really express what I'm looking for, which I realize is 2 separate things.

First of all, I won't have strong dancers, (nor schedule for extensive dance rehearsal) and for my concept of my show, I won't be using a lot of traditional choreography anyway-- however...

1) The first thing I'm looking for is good "crowd choreography" I mentioned the beginning of Ragtime earlier, but another scene that comes to mind is the rabble-rousing scene from Parade "Where Will You Stand When the Flood Comes?" As I recall, Parade had lots of great "crowd choreography," so I will be checking that out.

2) The second thing I'm looking for is organic cast-as-stagehands/scenery. I can't think of a specific production, necessarily. I suspect that someone, somewhere has done a production of Godspell that does this really well, although I have never seen it. (I'm not doing Godspell, but it seems like that kind of show that would use this)

Again, thanks for the suggestions, and for helping me separate concisely the two things I'm looking for! I'm just entertained by this thread in any case, because the ensemble rarely gets such attention!

Edit to say: A little night music seems like a good choice-- Original vs. recent revival? Thoughts? Updated On: 1/31/11 at 10:16 PM