Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
#1Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Posted: 11/16/07 at 1:39pm
Thinking of mounting this production, but have more talent than the 3 roles allow. Would this work with a very small chorus to fill out some scenes?
Updated On: 11/16/07 at 01:39 PM
singingbackup
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/3/06
#2re: Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Posted: 11/16/07 at 1:43pm
It could..maybe treat them like a greek chorus, or 'voices' of main characters (think THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG)
#2re: Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Posted: 11/16/07 at 1:45pm
Exactly! There are some scenes that have locations that allows for a small chorus, imo. I'm not going to make them a 4th character. More like texture to the world they live in.
No if I add vocal parts for them, is that legal?
erinrebecca
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/29/04
#3re: Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Posted: 11/16/07 at 1:47pmMy guess is that it's unlikely that you'd get permission to do that from the licensing agent.
longshadowsfalling
Understudy Joined: 3/21/06
#4re: Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Posted: 11/16/07 at 1:52pmI know someone who was in a production where they used other actors for roles like Rosa and Jon's parents instead of having the actors playing Michael and Susan do all the other parts. So I would think that you'd have no problem getting permission to at least do that.
#5re: Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Posted: 11/16/07 at 2:02pm
Re-writing vocal parts would be a violation of the licensing contract. Adding a chorus technically would be a violation as well, because you are in effect adding characters to the script, You could write and ask for permission; if its for a school project, there would probably be more support for expanding the show.
But of course, this all begs the question, instead of tinkering, why not just pick another musical that better serves your casting wishes?
#6re: Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Posted: 11/16/07 at 2:09pmTrue, MB. I haven't settled on the show, so I'm just asking some few early question. Not set on this show at all.
#7re: Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Posted: 11/16/07 at 2:12pmI'm pretty sure it has been done, if it's a matter of permission.
#8re: Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Posted: 11/16/07 at 2:16pmPeople add a chorus to Last 5 Years all the time, which I think doesn't suit the piece. Adding a small chorus to Tick wouldn't damage the integrity of th piece.
#9re: Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Posted: 11/16/07 at 2:18pm
Just because its been done, doesn't mean it was done with permission 
I'd just be really careful with tinkering with anything that MTI licenses. Unlike some of the old school licensing houses like Sam French and Tams Witmark, they actually research the productions they license, and usually find out if changes have been made. And they loves them some cease and desist letters!
#10re: Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Posted: 11/16/07 at 2:18pm
Yeah - I think it would be great. The show was originally a one - man show - so if they could add two extra characters, why not a chorus?
Actually if you look at the actual character breakdown there are a lot of characters:
Jon
Susan
Michael
Carissa Johnson
Rosa Stevens
Jon's Mom
Jon's Dad
Judy Wright
At least three other market research execs.
At least three diner patrons
(Possibly) Stephen Sondheim (that could be funny, or just really bad!)
#11re: Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Posted: 11/16/07 at 2:21pm
Oh, I know. I meant that I I think the production I know of was done with permission. Sorry I wasn't clear. 
But I'm sure there are more than the one I had in mind that were done without!
Yeah, Sondheim should definitely just be a voice over. The whole voice-of-God-esque idea is definitely funnier than trying to have someone play him on stage.
#12re: Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Posted: 11/16/07 at 2:26pm
But Elphie, the script was written to be played by a cast of three. That is how it is represented on the licensing material. Adding actors to play characters overtly changes the author's intention.
It would sort of be like taking a one woman show like SHIRLEY VALENTINE and casting actors as the people that Shirely talks about in her monologues.
I mean I don't know - maybe Jason Robert Brown has given his blessing for adding a chorus to THE LAST FIVE YEARS for a school, but I'd find it hard to believe he'd let a professional theatre company do that.
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#13re: Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Posted: 11/16/07 at 2:34pm
I remember reading that Jane Wagner and Lily Tomlin had granted permission for a college to put on SEARCH FOR SIGNS OF INTELLIGENT LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE with a full cast to play all of the charactes and not just one solo performer. Not sure how well that worked, but at least the college did ask for and was granted permission to do it.
I'd certainly write for permission first, before even considering producing and then adding performers to a production of tick..tick... BOOM!
RyToast1
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/07
#14re: Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Posted: 11/16/07 at 2:37pmWhen I directed it, I added a fourth person who played Karessa & Rosa. It worked really well.
#15re: Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Posted: 11/16/07 at 2:39pm
It wasn't WRITTEN to be played by a cast of 3. It was reconfigured later that way...
Per Wikipedia: After Larson's death in 1996, producer Victoria Leacock asked David Auburn (author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Proof) to reconfigure the piece. He restructured the monologue into a three actor musical.
#16re: Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Posted: 11/16/07 at 2:42pmI'm a performer and a writer - so I definatly respect the creators vision. But to some extent i feel like if a show was adapted after the death of it's creator, you can't be TOO strict on adapting the adaptation.
#17re: Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Posted: 11/16/07 at 2:42pm
JPBran - the script as licensed currently was crafted to be presented with a cast of three. How it was originally conceived isn't relevant.
Elphie - its not just about respecting the writer, you have to respect what the estate authorizes. Like or not, you have no choice but to present shows like MACK AND MABEL and FINIAN'S RAINBOW with revisions made after part of the original writing team's death.
Updated On: 11/16/07 at 02:42 PM
Link Larkin Wanabe
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/1/04
#18re: Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Posted: 11/16/07 at 2:50pm
While I agree that asking the licensing agent is the best way to solve this specific debate, it does raise the interesting question of whether NOT doubling up roles in shows that were originally doubled up counts as breaking a lisencing agents contract.
Stage directions and set descriptions aren't required to be followed exactly, so why should the casting list?
Akiva
#19re: Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Posted: 11/16/07 at 2:56pm
Well, technically link, the licensing contract usually specifices that you CANT duplicate the original staging and set design, but that you are required to do the show as written - without adding characters. Since, for example, the script for TICK TICK BOOM lists only three characters in the script - adding other people does change the contract agreement. Technically, you aren't supposed to do it. There are also clauses that prevent you from changing the gender of characters, etc.
I'm not saying people don't do it - but the licensing contracts themselves are pretty specific.
Link Larkin Wanabe
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/1/04
#20re: Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Posted: 11/16/07 at 3:01pm
There are three ACTORS listed, but there are certainly other CHARACTERS in the show (Carissa Johnson, Rosa Stevens, etc.). You can add actors without adding characters. Just because a lot of productions of Wizard of Oz double up Glinda and Auntie Em, its not essential. If theatre was consistently trying to emulate the original productions, then whats the point. Might as well make a movie.
Akiva
#21re: Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Posted: 11/16/07 at 3:04pmNo I agree - oubviously you always have to ask the estate before doing anything. I just sort of feel that if the original work was adapted - they'd be a little more leniant.
#22re: Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Posted: 11/16/07 at 3:09pm
Well, but with THE WIZARD OF OZ, Glinda and Aunt Em are listed as sperate characters. Doubling isn't the same, from a licensing standpoint, as adding characters.
To the best of my knowledge, the only listed characters in TICK TICK BOOM are the three leads. Adding additional actors is thus rewriting the script - again, from a licensing standpoint.
So a cast of ten can do MY FAIR LADY but a cast of 30 can't do I DO I DO - at least as the terms are drawn.
#23re: Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Posted: 11/16/07 at 3:12pmSo in that case, Tick tick could be changed into a one man piece without violating contracts?
#24re: Would tick, tick...BOOM! Work with a Small Chorus
Posted: 11/16/07 at 3:15pm
No, because it isn't licensed as a one man piece. I can't for example use the off Broadway (and superior, btw) script for HAIR just because it was the original version, and the version that was officially published. I have to do what is currently licensed.
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