Transposing Songs/Changing Character Focus in The Full Monty

[HOUFlip04]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 11:44pm

Ok, Good news - I just got cast as Dave in The Full Monty. ]]

Bad news - The guy cast as Jerry is a bass, has never had a lead in a musical, a limited range and they are talking about transposing his songs down a FIFTH. Which means Dave's parts in the songs with Jerry will be transposed down a FIFTH.

Has this ever happened to anyone?

Also, Keeno (the "real" stripper) has been cast with a guy with a gut and stretch marks. Does anyone see the logic in this casting?

Updated On: 8/8/06 at 11:44 PM

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 11:50pm

I'm sorry, but I won't be seeing your production.

I would seriously complain to the director about this ridiculous transposing. It is not fair to you. I wanted to transpose some of my songs down when I was in Songs for a New World, but couldn't because other people sang in my songs. I just had to make do. I would complain and if the director was unwilling to do something about this, then I would probably just quit. Why transpose to make the other guy sound good if it's just going to make someone else sound bad.

I say sit down and discuss this with your director.

[HOUFlip04]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 12:03am

Good advice! Knowing what I know...I wouldn't come see this production either. Also, I don't think transposing would make the guy sound any better. The orchestrations would sound just plain wrong a FIFTH down.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 12:24am

Seriously. Sometimes it's best to just walk away when you know for sure something is going to be a disaster.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 12:48am

Dude...wow. I'm assuming this is a community theater production? Anyway, I agree that you should meet privately with the director and (respectfully) request that you "compromise" on the key changes with the songs that involve you and the other men. I guess there's no way around not transposing the song "Man" if your Jerry is a bass, but "Michael Jordan's Ball" and "Let It Go" really should not be lowered anymore than like, a step, step and a half max, otherwise the songs will lose a lot of their power.

My condolences...

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 1:16am

God those songs will be painful lowered a FIFTH!!

[HOUFlip04]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 9:15am

Distinctive Baritone - nope, it's not community theatre in that we are getting paid with a stipend and travel compensation. But it's in the small town where I grew up so talent is limited sometimes and it's hard to get people to travel from the bigger city, especially with gas prices as they are.

Unfortunately, we had to do with who auditioned. I tried to get my other professional actor friends to audition, but it just wasn't the right time now for them.

I am just irked because I was looking forward to screaming some high notes.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 10:56am

Maybe you can compromise and transpose it down a third?

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 11:50am

Um don't complain to a director because that is how you get fired.

But then again this director is obviously oblivous to the facts of casting (no offense to you). Normally you cast someone who physically looks a part and can sing it.

Whoa re you doing it with?

[HOUFlip04]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 6:44pm

I don't think it's really complaining, BwayBaby18. It's just letting her know what my issue is. And anyway, I've worked with this director a couple times before - so we know each other and are friends.

I'm not going to mention the name of the theatre. I don't want to give specifics on this.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 7:04pm

Beware non-Equity professional theater! You never know what you're going to get. Sometimes the line between amateur and professional is perilously thin. Of course, I'm a non-Equity actor myself, so what can I say?

[HOUFlip04]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 7:16pm

DB, I totally agree! Oh well, I might just go ahead with doing the show. I'd rather do Jerry, but Dave is a great part as well. I'm just gonna stand my ground about keeping my keys intact.

[other321]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 10:55am

That sucks for you. Unfortunately, I do know people who have had similar experiences because the "lead" in the show usually gets the keys that make them sound best and the rest of the cast has do just deal. It's okay to talk to the director - you won;t be fired and if you were then that is not people you want to work with anyway. Hope you can come to some type of compromise and have a great show!!!

[[e-mail]]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 3:14pm

Don't complain to the director, that's really stupid, because most likely he's the one who cast the show.

I don't understand the big deal about Transposing for Musical Theatre in General. There are some shows where I feel it shouldn't be done because it cheapens the story (Evita, Sweeney, Piazza) but in most others (esp. Phantom even a half step or two for West Side) I would see little to no problem with transposing most of the roles

[HOUFlip04]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 3:45pm

I don't have a problem with transposing down a half step or two. But a fifth?

Transposing down should be a last resort.

[Shay Jericho]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 4:59pm

I'm in a show where, due to the vocal constraints of one of the actresses, the show was lowered a third, which leaves all of the songs down in the basement.

One of the biggest regrets of my acting life is not making a bigger deal about this and trying to get it changed.

But, it is community theatre. What do you want?

I can't even imagine lowering anything a fifth. That's ridiculous.

[Shay Jericho]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 5:01pm

Also, I find that people who would advise lowering something by that much aren't really good musicians, and if you're in a musical directed by people who don't understand music, you're in for a world of pain.

Not to be a music snob, or anything...:)

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 5:09pm

I'm in a show where the musical director's guilty of transposing, not down, but up, and it actually works ebtter. I'm playing Helena Landless in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, but I'm not an alto. My confession was transposed up a fourth and my Out On a Limerick (so was Rosa's Limerick) was transposed up a third. Both songs are a lot more powerful because of it.

[Fiction Writer]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 5:53pm

The actor has every right to voice his opinion. The director should be willing to compromise, and come up with the best solution for everyone.

And [e-mail], it's really immature for you to tell someone they're stupid.

Posted: 7/26/06 at 6:04pm

A fifth is crazy.

At my rival high school they did Guys and Dolls for the spring musical. They didn't have a strong enough soprano to play Sarah, so the musical director (who is my voice teacher) had to transpose "If I Were a Bell" a fourth.

Ew.

[HOUFlip04]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 6:06pm

Shay, the musical director is a great musician. She just had to deal with what talent she had to work with.

[magic8ball]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 6:08pm

Tell your MD that, if he wants to transpose the score, then he also needs to work with you to write alternate harmonies that are higher.

[HOUFlip04]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 6:38pm

Good idea! But does anyone else think that doing all that instead of finding someone who can sing the notes is just a big waste of time?

[magic8ball]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 6:46pm

It's absolutely a waste of time. But I was just operating on the assumption that the casting was set in stone.

[HOUFlip04]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 7:00pm

Oh, I don't believe any casting is set in stone. Actors can get fired..or they may realize that having little experience with musical leading roles will overwhelm them and they have to drop out. (oh sorry, that was wishful thinking) :)