Songs added to shows for technical reasons?

[Inigomontoya]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 4:03pm

Hey,
I was wondering if you could think of famous songs that were added during tech(to give more time for costume changes or stuff like that)?

[Renart]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 4:06pm

I had heard that "The Highest Judge of All" from Carousel was put in as a "set switch song". Don't know if that would be considered 'famous'.

Updated On: 7/10/12 at 04:06 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 4:16pm

"Something was Missing" in ANNIE in order for the staircase/mansion/Christmas tree set to be set-up for the show's final Christmas sequence.

[bdn223]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 4:25pm

Both of Ursula's reprises in The Little Mermaid "Poor Unfortunate Souls (Reprise) and "I want the Good Times Back (reprise)" were both used for set and/or costume changes

Updated On: 7/10/12 at 04:25 PM

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 5:45pm

I know the long "we LOVEEEEEEEEE you" from COMPANY is as long as it is due to the elevator that was on the set, as it took awhile to move down.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 5:49pm

According to Strouse's autobiography, "Tomorrow" was only written to cover a set change in ANNIE.

I think that song qualifies as famous. Or infamous, if you prefer.

Updated On: 7/10/12 at 05:49 PM

[tphiliboy152]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 5:55pm

^That's really interesting and shocking. It's such a well known song from Annie!

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 5:59pm

I thought Tomorrow was written earlier in the process, It's on one of the early bonus demos on the original soundtrack.

[myshikobit]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 6:00pm

"On the Street Where You Live," from My Fair Lady

[morosco]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 6:04pm

And wasn't the melody for "Tomorrow" used years before by Strouse in a short film of some sort?

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 6:12pm

I thought Tomorrow was written earlier in the process, It's on one of the early bonus demos on the original soundtrack.

I forgot the "added during tech" part of the OP's question. I didn't mean to imply that "Tomorrow" was added that late to the show, only that Strouse says they only wrote it to cover a set change. That could have happened early in the planning process because they knew a set change would occur there.

[temms]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 6:57pm

A little-known ditty called "There's No Business Like Show Business".

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 7:11pm

Somebody on here once said that "Turning" from Les Misèrables was written for a set change. That, however, is not the case.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 7:11pm

Isn't Western People Funny in King and I there to serve an "in one": scene while the set is changed? I always assumed that's one reason it's usually dropped now (aside from the fact that it's not exactly a highlight).

[leefowler]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 7:20pm

"The Rumor" from Fiddler On The Roof is there just to cover a set change. They wanted to cut it, but could never figure out a way.

[carolineorchange21]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 7:25pm

i pity the individual whose job it was to tell Bea they were considering cutting her song.

Updated On: 7/12/12 at 07:25 PM

[justoldbill]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 7:55pm

I think the melody of "Something Was Missing" was originally heard as "You Rat You" in the film THE NIGHT THEY RAIDED MINSKY'S.
Another scene-change utility (and one of my favorites) is "Her Is", from THE PAJAMA GAME.

Updated On: 7/10/12 at 07:55 PM

[jdavisinaustin]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 8:05pm

"Brush Up Your Shakespeare" from Kiss Me, Kate was added at the end of Act II to cover a massive set change for the show's finale. It's always done in front of the curtain, and it's not really a part of any scene.

[ILuv2shop531]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 8:20pm

Multiple songs from Priscilla

[BwayEqs]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 9:03pm

When I played the Mad Hatter in my community theater's production of ALICE IN WONDERLAND, The White Rabbit had an extra song that our director wrote to allow time for Big Alice to put the house on for the scene when she grows into the house. It was a song about if he were in a parallel dimension and was always way too early instead of late. Keep in mind, that was not an official song obviously, the director wrote it.

[justoldbill]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 9:09pm

"I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face", important as it is, is done "in one" to facilitate the scene change between Mrs. Higgins' home and Higgins' study (the same Wimpole Street drop used for "On The Street Where You Live").

[BwayEqs]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 9:13pm

Also, I believe, in the BRING IT ON tour, there was a scene when the head cheerleader and her boyfriend (I saw the show months ago, so I can't remember their names) had a sweet sentimental moment infront of the curtain. This was so they could set up for the big Cheerleading Competetion behind the curtain.

[justoldbill]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 9:21pm

Probably the most famous example is the title song in CABARET, at least in the original staging. The second half of the song is moved downstage to facilitate the scene change from the Kit Kat Klub back to Cliff's room, but moving Sally down to the "limbo area" and having her more or less "lose" herself in the number certainly ups the ante theatrically and emotionally for both herself and the audience. Good theatre.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 9:22pm

Though it wasn't written for the express purpose, it was planned pretty much from the start for "I Just Can't Wait to be King" to be done as an in-one number to cover the scene change into the elephant grave yard.

[missthemountains]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 9:24pm

What about "Dear Old Shiz" for Glinda's costume change?