They're Playing Our Song Help....

[sfs1414]

They're Playing Our Song Help....#1

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:24pm

I have an audition for this show on Wed. The two leads have been cast. They are just casting the chorus. But I was wondering....does the chorus have a lot to do in the show? What all do they do? Thanks.

[WestVillage]

re: They're Playing Our Song Help....#2

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:29pm

The chorus consists of 3 boys and 3 girls, "inner voices" for Vernon and Sonia. They appear as "background vocals" in many of the numbers. If you get the OBC recording, you will hear how many songs they are in. Fun vocals for them, though.

[BrodyFosse123]

re: They're Playing Our Song Help....#2

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:32pm

They not only provide background vocals, but they also appear on stage -- they are included in the staging. They're not off-stage singing at all.

[sparrman]

re: They're Playing Our Song Help....#3

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:36pm

Often, one of the three "Voices of Vernon" will double as the offstage voice of the recording engineer in one scene. The character can get some good laughs.

[Jon]

re: They're Playing Our Song Help....#4

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:43pm

They are often mistakenly refered to as "Alter Egos", but in the show they are actually "the back-up singers you hear in your head". They are usually dressed to match the characters, and ideally should be roughly the same age as them. In other words, if Vernon is in his 30's, you shouldn't have some 60-year-old guy as one of his inner voices.

[singingbackup]

re: They're Playing Our Song Help....#5

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:56pm

I played one of the voices years ago and had a blast. Also did the recording engineer's voice. Great harmonies and lot's of stage time, especially when we were in hospital gowns and playing toy pianos. Break a leg.

[Dancin Thru Life]

re: They're Playing Our Song Help....#6

Posted: 6/16/08 at 2:04pm

YES!

FILL IN THE WORDS!

Great harmonies, toy pianos, and a LOT of fun!

"To love another person is to see the face of God!"

[WOSQ]

re: They're Playing Our Song Help....#7

Posted: 6/16/08 at 2:21pm

This chorus is also known for having one of the shortest on stage times of any show.

I think it is under 10 minutes, and the show runs close to 3 hours.

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

[sfs1414]

re: They're Playing Our Song Help....#8

Posted: 6/16/08 at 2:47pm

So one poster says there is lots of stage time..and one says only 10 mins? Does just depend on the director or what?

[WOSQ]

re: They're Playing Our Song Help....#9

Posted: 6/16/08 at 3:30pm

In the original production the chorus was on stage only when you hear them on the album plus the recording engineer. It isn't all that much time although the numbers may have been cut for time. However long they're on the stage would be a director's decision, but it isn't in the writing.

The script was published in a hardcover edition and could probably be found on a used book site like Abebooks.com.

In that chorus was Debbie Shapiro who evolved into Debbie Gravitte and who covered Lucie Arnaz. One of the bartenders heard an understudy rehearsal and told me (I was across the street at another theatre) that if Debbie ever went on, she would blow Lucie off the stage. And this wasn't bitchery, Lucie was liked; it was a case of big talent. This was about 30 years ago.

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

[Unknown User]

re: They're Playing Our Song Help....#10

Posted: 6/16/08 at 3:34pm

It's been years since I saw this show but I recall the "voices" singing on a lot of the score- and remember them dressed in variations of the same costume the lead wore. When she's in her "Cherry Orchard" dress they were all in dresses that could be costumes for Cherry Orchard. And is there a scene in a navy uniform?

[morosco]

re: They're Playing Our Song Help....#11

Posted: 6/16/08 at 3:47pm

When Vernon asks Phil if there is any food left in the control booth, "There's one danish left but we're using it as an ashtray".

I always loved that line.