Show Within a Show

[Timmer]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 12:37am

I have identified several musicals that have a show within a show, of some kind. What are some of the best ones you can think of and what numbers are in the show within the show?
Updated On: 7/25/08 at 12:37 AM

[TheatreFreak05]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 12:40am

I love the show within a show in Kiss Me Kate!

"I Hate Men" is a great song :)

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 12:44am

The revival of Annie Get Your Gun made the entire show a show within a show, by staging the action as part of Buffalo Bill's Wild West show.

It was a dumb idea...

[mjcallahan]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 12:53am

The most obvious one I can think of is Drood. Most of the music is sung within the context of the show-within-the-show, and the rest are standard numbers that the music hall performers do each night regardless of what show-within-a-show they are actually doing. Sorry if that was confusing... but the show is BRILLIANT!

[TheatreFreak05]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 12:56am

And of course, how could we forget Springtime for Hitler in The Producers :)

[ashbash1990]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 12:57am

Cabaret...

[A Fleur De Toi]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 12:57am

man of la mancha?

[mauriposa]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 12:59am

Curtains and Gypsy both have elements. The Drowsy Chaperone is definitely a show within a show.

[little_sally]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 1:07am

You could consider YF...with "Puttin' on the Ritz" and such.

[Harpz2006]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 1:19am

"High School Musical" ... "What I've Been Looking For" and "Breaking Free" are in the show within the show, "Romeo and Juliet," and of course are also quite symbolic for Troy and Gabriela... haha, sorry, I'm working at "High School Musical" camp right now.
Updated On: 7/11/08 at 01:19 AM

[Tag]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 2:00am

Crazy For You
Hamlet
Noises Off

[changinandhow]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 3:05am

42nd Street and Nine... which is technically a movie within a show I guess but it IS a musical. And the Grand Canal scenes are amazing.

[jeff_thedancer]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 8:25am

the mini opera part in Cats

[Zeitoujo]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 8:31am

Sunday In the Park With George possibly?

[fnyboi88]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 9:23am

The King and I
Phantom of the Opera
Brooklyn
Guys and Dolls

Updated On: 7/11/08 at 09:23 AM

[Jon]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 10:59am

BABES IN ARMS (the show they put on in a barn!)

The melodrama in SHOWBOAT

The Small House of Uncle Thomas ballet in THE KING AND I

The nightclub numbers in PAL JOEY and FLOWER DRUM SONG

The "Honey Bun" scene in SOUTH PACIFIC

[WOSQ]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 11:05am

Whether it is true or not, I am not certain because I don't know all their work, but it is said that Comden and Green have 'fake show songs' in every one of their musicals.

The Midas Touch
the whole of A Doll's Life
Will Rogers Follies
Double, Double from Hallelujah, Baby

Help me out here?

[Timmer]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 11:15am

Thanks.

I don't remember which songs in "Crazy for You" are in the shw within the show, evne though I saw it. (Been a while.) Does anyone remember?

Same question about "Phantom", "Sunday in the Park With George", "42nd Street", and "Nine".

What about the "concert" parts of "Jersey Boys"?

A Fleur De Toi, you're right. Essentially all of "Man of La Mancha" is a show within a show.

Thanks everyone for the help.

[wicked_beast4]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 11:45am

Would Victor/Victoria count? I've been having an obsession with that show recently.

[pli1018]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 11:49am

[title of show] is within [title of show].

In the The 39 Steps there's the Mr. Memory shows that you see twice. I don't know if that counts. Updated On: 7/11/08 at 11:49 AM

[jennyish]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 11:54am

Sunday in the Park With George is not a show within a show . . . at all.

[Timmer]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 11:55am

My definition is loose enough to include the cabaret performance from "Cabaret", the music festival in "The Sound of Music", the (implied) show within a show in "A Chorus Line" ("One" is from the show they're all auditioning for), the burlesque in "Gypsy", the "concert" in "Dreamgirls", and even the TV show in "Grease". (Also, Roxie and Velma's number from "Chicago".)

[jordangirl]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 11:56am

Sp I guess by that definition, the chromalume is the "show within a show" for Sunday...???

I'm with jennyish. It is in no way, shape or form a show within a show.

[jennyish]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 11:57am

The chromalume is Sculpture within a show!

[i*heart*fame]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 11:57am

Damn Yankees has elements with Who's Got The Pain. Or at least its a performance within a show.