Sondheim and Choreography
Sondheim and Choreography
SorryGrateful
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/10/05
#0Sondheim and Choreography
Posted: 8/1/06 at 11:18am
Obviously, when Sondheim worked with Michael Bennett, there was choreography in his musicals, like "The Right Girl," "Who's That Woman," and "Tick Tock." But it seems like most of Sondheim's later musicals don't rely on any big dance numbers at all. (Passion, for instance, has none.)
What are your thoughts on this? Does the work of Sondheim not work well with big numbers or are they just not considered relevant to his shows?
You promised me poems. ~Tricky
#1re: Sondheim and Choreography
Posted: 8/1/06 at 11:22am
Uh, a musical like PASSION just doesn't have "dance music." The actors aren't going to break out with high kicks performing to a beautiful soft operatic score.
There are dance musicals and there are not. It doesn't really have anything to do with Sondheim. He had some dance musicals, and a lot that weren't.
Though Passion DOES have some choreographed sequences with the soldiers.
Updated On: 8/1/06 at 11:22 AM
#2re: Sondheim and Choreography
Posted: 8/1/06 at 11:22amWhen I was doing Merrily We Roll Along, there was a lot of choreopgrphy. I really think that it depends on the nature of the show. I don't think we would have believe Fosca dancing in Passion. If you look at all of Sondheim's shows...he seems to rely more on movement then he does on pure dance. I guess it really depends on the number and the feel of the piece if there should be "dance" Also, Im not sure if it is just Sondheim. Look at Les Miz and musicals from that late 90's era. There was barely any dance...and even in Phantom...you have the ballet dancers and you have the opening of Act 2, but is that really dance or actors moving?
SorryGrateful
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/10/05
#3re: Sondheim and Choreography
Posted: 8/1/06 at 11:29am
Oh, there's definitely choreography in Passion, as with pretty much all musicals, but there's nothing huge or showstopping. I'm not saying there needs to be choreography in a Sondheim show (although I've always wanted to put two of my favorites, Sondheim and Fosse, on a show together. Well, it's not going to happen now, obviously.)
My question is more along the lines of whether you all think Sondheim has gotten away from using more elaborate choreography for a reason. Do you think he should use choreography more? I don't really have an opinion. I would just like to open up a discussion on it.
You promised me poems. ~Tricky
#4re: Sondheim and Choreography
Posted: 8/1/06 at 11:38am
Interesting question, SG...
I know that seeing McKecknie do Tick Tock in 1993, 20 years after she originally did it...was one of the highlights of my theater going life.
I recall not being impressed with Marshall's choreog. for the revival, tho...was that D'Amboise or Marshall? Was it the comparison? Not sure...but that is one great dance number.
I feel like it is possible that Sondheim just has chosen to write shows that have not needed big dance numbers. I dont know if he purposly did not write a big fairy tale dance break number for ITW...interesting to wonder about. Someone needs to ask him.
"Carson has combined his passion for helping children with his love for one of Cincinnati's favorite past times - cornhole - to create a unique and exciting event perfect for a corporate outing, entertaining clients or family fun."
"In Oz, the verb is douchifizzation." PRS
"In Oz, the verb is douchifizzation." PRS
SorryGrateful
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/10/05
#5re: Sondheim and Choreography
Posted: 8/1/06 at 11:57am
The next time we sit down for dinner, I'll go ahead and do that. 
You promised me poems. ~Tricky
#6re: Sondheim and Choreography
Posted: 8/1/06 at 12:02pm....I'm waiting for an invitation!
"Carson has combined his passion for helping children with his love for one of Cincinnati's favorite past times - cornhole - to create a unique and exciting event perfect for a corporate outing, entertaining clients or family fun."
"In Oz, the verb is douchifizzation." PRS
"In Oz, the verb is douchifizzation." PRS
#7re: Sondheim and Choreography
Posted: 8/1/06 at 12:04pmAhh... Julia McKenzie... how I would die DIE to just see her perform onstage in a show again!
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dancinfan
Broadway Star Joined: 8/9/04
#8re: Sondheim and Choreography
Posted: 8/1/06 at 12:05pm
Sondheim tends to work on book shows that simply don't call for a lot of big dance numbers. Sweeney Todd and Passion...not too dancy. Follies...dancy. Into the Woods - movement. A Little Night Music - some waltzes as transitions. Really, when you go to a Sondheim show, you want to hear great singers sing great lyrics, and that probably means there won't be tons of time taken for dances. Sondheim is all about characters and stories, not about spectacle.
Updated On: 8/1/06 at 12:05 PM
#9re: Sondheim and Choreography
Posted: 8/1/06 at 12:12pm
INOT THE WOODS has the most 'choreography'/dance in any of his musicals I think... and well said, dancinfan
"TO LOVE ANOTHER PERSON IS TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD"- LES MISERABLES---
"THERE'S A SPECIAL KIND OF PEOPLE KNOWN AS SHOW PEOPLE... WE'RE BORN EVERY NIGHT AT HALF HOUR CALL!"--- CURTAINS
SorryGrateful
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/10/05
#10re: Sondheim and Choreography
Posted: 8/1/06 at 12:17pmdancinfan-- You're so right. That was pretty much what I was thinking as well, but you put it much better than I could have.
You promised me poems. ~Tricky
#11re: Sondheim and Choreography
Posted: 8/1/06 at 12:18pmInto the Woods had tacky choreography thrown at in the in the revival, Eponine. Originally, like Sunday in the Park, I believe the choregrapher recieved "Movement" credit. The Sondheim show with the most dance is Follies, no argument. It's about the type of musicals that had a lot of dancing and therefore has a lot of dancing.
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