Patti LuPone learning tuba for Sweeney Todd

[rawleygirl]

Patti LuPone learning tuba for Sweeney Todd#0

Posted: 8/27/05 at 12:37am

or maybe she just has gas.

[MatthewAddison]

re: Patti LuPone learning tuba for Sweeney Todd#1

Posted: 8/27/05 at 12:49am

And I bet her farts sound like beautiful melodies...and smell like only the finest of fine perfumes.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

re: Patti LuPone learning tuba for Sweeney Todd#3

Posted: 8/27/05 at 2:51am

Seriously, is this true? Are they teaching her tuba just for the show?

[chinkie azn jai]

re: Patti LuPone learning tuba for Sweeney Todd#4

Posted: 8/27/05 at 2:56am

Why do i have a hard time picturing Patti LuPone playing the tuba?

"Chicago is it's own incredible theater town right there smack down in the middle of the heartland. What a great city! I can see why Oprah likes to live there!" - Dee Hoty :-D

[BwayBaby18]

re: Patti LuPone learning tuba for Sweeney Todd#5

Posted: 8/27/05 at 3:01am

Tuba is like the easiest thing to play because you really only use four notes

[BrdwyThtr]

re: Patti LuPone learning tuba for Sweeney Todd#6

Posted: 8/27/05 at 7:47am

She's learning the trumpet, not the tuba.

[Glebb]

re: Patti LuPone learning tuba for Sweeney Todd#7

Posted: 8/27/05 at 9:30am

I'm sure that I have missed reading about this in one thousand places on the board but why do Mrs. Lovett and other such characters play instruments?
How does this work with the story?
AND - the cast of Music Man and Cabaret played instruments in recent revivals, why for Sweeney?

" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."

Updated On: 8/27/05 at 09:30 AM

[Yankeefan007]

re: Patti LuPone learning tuba for Sweeney Todd#8

Posted: 8/27/05 at 9:51am

theres no orchestra, so the ensemble cast of 10 plays them.

[Michael Bennett]

re: Patti LuPone learning tuba for Sweeney Todd#9

Posted: 8/27/05 at 9:54am

There are SO many threads on this subject, that go into incredible detail about how the instruments are used and why.

And I believe that like her London counterpart, LuPone will indeed be playing a trumpet. A tuba is not exactly an instrument that is easy to pick up and put down quickly in the flow of the action of the story.

[Glebb]

re: Patti LuPone learning tuba for Sweeney Todd#10

Posted: 8/27/05 at 9:59am

Thanks.

" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."

[JustAGuy]

re: Patti LuPone learning tuba for Sweeney Todd#11

Posted: 8/27/05 at 10:30am

Here's the breakdown of who's playing what.

And Yes...folks, she's playing the TUBA.

The cast/instrument breakdown is as follow:
Beadle - piano/trumpet
Beggar Woman - clarinet
Anthony - cello
Johanna - cello/tin whistle
Jonas Fogg - double bass
Tobias - violin/clarinet/piano
Pirelli - piano/accordian/flute
Judge Turpin - trumpet/percussion/glockenspiel
Mrs. Lovett- percussion/glockenspiel/tuba
Sweeney Todd - guitar/percussion

"Just a Guy. Your feelings are touching. I am gladdened by the thought that you will one day wind up 6 feet under as we all do." - MrRoxy ------ "I do not suggest you walk out the door onto a New York street with your vulnerable child part exposed and not protected..." - Jason Bennett

[Glebb]

re: Patti LuPone learning tuba for Sweeney Todd#12

Posted: 8/27/05 at 10:34am

Thanks JustAGuy.
It was generous of you to give the info and I appreciate it. :)


I'm sure that as with other similar London transfers this production must be amazing. Still can't imagine Patti playing those instruments much. :)

" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."

[JustAGuy]

re: Patti LuPone learning tuba for Sweeney Todd#13

Posted: 8/27/05 at 10:42am

It's information that can be found in the article about the casting of SWEENY TODD on the homepage of BWW. So you should thank the powers-that-be for posting that article. Not me!

"Just a Guy. Your feelings are touching. I am gladdened by the thought that you will one day wind up 6 feet under as we all do." - MrRoxy ------ "I do not suggest you walk out the door onto a New York street with your vulnerable child part exposed and not protected..." - Jason Bennett

[Glebb]

re: Patti LuPone learning tuba for Sweeney Todd#14

Posted: 8/27/05 at 10:46am

Well thanks for being kind.
The powers know I am thankful already.

" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."

[ilovedrsandNLB]

re: Patti LuPone learning tuba for Sweeney Todd#15

Posted: 8/27/05 at 11:01am

HEY WOAH with saying tuba is the easiest thing ever! lol i play tuba. and sure, its easy...but hey, don't diss us! lol

xoxo
Ali

OK...L-A-H-O-M-A

[kjklo]

re: Patti LuPone learning tuba for Sweeney Todd#16

Posted: 8/27/05 at 2:10pm

There was an article which said that LuPone played the tuba in her high school marching band, so apparently she has some previous experience with the instrument.

[lovinlovett]

re: Patti LuPone learning tuba for Sweeney Todd#17

Posted: 8/27/05 at 2:58pm

Okay, can anyone explain to me how this will work? No orchestra??? How are the characters supposed to speak/sing their parts and play an instrument at the same time?

[wickedrentq]

re: Patti LuPone learning tuba for Sweeney Todd#18

Posted: 8/27/05 at 3:09pm

I think the reason some of the instrumentation is different is due to the abilities of the cast. If Patti did play Tuba in high school, then it makes sense for her to play that instead of trying to play the trumpet, same w/ everyone. Sweeney should be a difficult score to play and I sincerely hope it is not made easier or the quality of the playing isn't lessened by this decision.

"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli

[Candleshoe2]

re: Patti LuPone learning tuba for Sweeney Todd#19

Posted: 8/27/05 at 4:09pm

A little off topic.. but is the kind of concept they're going for?

http://erhardrom.home.att.net/pages/Sweeney.html