Show Within a Show

[Timmer]

Show Within a Show#1

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]

re: Show Within a Show#2

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]

re: Show Within a Show#2

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]

re: Show Within a Show#3

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]

re: Show Within a Show#4

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

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

[ashbash1990]

re: Show Within a Show#5

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

Cabaret...

What a night! I was in more laps than a napkin!

[A Fleur De Toi]

re: Show Within a Show#6

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

man of la mancha?

In Soviet Russia, Wicked hates you too!

[mauriposa]

re: Show Within a Show#7

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]

re: Show Within a Show#8

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

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

A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.

[Harpz2006]

re: Show Within a Show#9

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]

re: Show Within a Show#10

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

Crazy For You
Hamlet
Noises Off

[changinandhow]

re: Show Within a Show#11

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]

re: Show Within a Show#12

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

the mini opera part in Cats

IAP ALUMNI -Music and Theatre Major Class of 07.

[Zeitoujo]

re: Show Within a Show#13

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

Sunday In the Park With George possibly?

"Those You've Known And Lost Still Walk Behind You"-Spring Awakening

[fnyboi88]

re: Show Within a Show#14

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

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

Broadway Shows I've Seen: Hairspray, Chicago, Little Shop of Horrors (2003), The Wedding Singer, Spamalot, Riverdance, Rent, Beauty and the Beast, Spring Awakening, Wicked, Legally Blonde, Phantom of the Opera, Sweet Charity (revival), Drowsy Chaperone, The Lion King, Dreamgirls(2010 Tour).

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

[Jon]

re: Show Within a Show#15

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]

re: Show Within a Show#16

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?

"If my life weren't funny, it would just be true. And that would be unacceptable." --Carrie Fisher

[Timmer]

re: Show Within a Show#17

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]

re: Show Within a Show#18

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

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

"He found something that he wanted, had always wanted and always would want— not to be admired, as he had feared; not to be loved, as he had made himself believe; but to be necessary to people, to be indispensable." -F. Scott Fitzgerald's This Side of Paradise

[pli1018]

re: Show Within a Show#19

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]

re: Show Within a Show#20

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

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

I chose, and my world was shaken. So what? The choice may have been mistaken. The choosing was not.

[Timmer]

re: Show Within a Show#21

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]

re: Show Within a Show#22

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.

Experience live theater. Experience paintings. Experience books. Live, look and listen like artists! ~ imaginethis
LIVE THAT LESSON!!!!!!

[jennyish]

re: Show Within a Show#23

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

The chromalume is Sculpture within a show!

I chose, and my world was shaken. So what? The choice may have been mistaken. The choosing was not.

[i*heart*fame]

re: Show Within a Show#24

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.

"Don't thank your parents, if you were raised in a nurturing environment you wouldnt be in show business"--Conan O'Brien at the 2006 Emmy Awards