small musicals

[judy_in_disguise]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 2:14pm

People at my university produce a bunch of small musicals every year, and I'm hoping to put something forward. The most affordable theatre is very intimate (about 100 seats), minimalist sets and costumes would be great (student budget!) as well as a small pit and small cast.
Right now we're looking at I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, the revised edition of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, and Side By Side By Sondheim (or possibly Putting it Together). Unfortunately, Songs For A New World has been done recently and L5Y just played in Toronto....
Anyways.
Which, in your opinion, is the best piece for this type of theatre? Each has its ups and downs, I'd just like to get some advice from all you Broadway-heads
Thanks!

[NuggetMonkeys]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 2:17pm

Side by Side by Sondheim is great,
if not just for the last word in the title
...and the music, of course.
How about Song and Dance?
One woman for the first act.
Then a couple dancers...
-d.b.j-

[zoran912]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 2:18pm

The two that I was about to suggest have already been ruled out, apparently. Would Side Show work?

[judy_in_disguise]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 2:20pm

hmm SideShow, I love the music but I've never seen a production. Is there a lot involved with sets and costumes and cast? I'd imagine there would be....
Song and Dance is another great suggestion, thanks!

[chauvelin128]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 2:26pm

How about A New Brain...I'm considering doing it at my school, but I won't if I can't find the right people...so I would love to see someone else do it, so I can live vicariously through them. :)

[KMF_NYC]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 3:04pm

how about Romance/Romance -- I LOVED this show -- it got eclipsed by Phantom and the British Invasion of the late 80's -- two separate stories -- 4 actors --- some period costumes for first half and contemporary for 2nd act....

OBC had Scott Bakula (YUMMY) and Alison Frasier....

[NativeNewYorker]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 3:24pm

The Fantasticks!

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 3:32pm

Judy,

You are in Toronto right? I will be flying back there for my second year at Ryerson on Sept 2nd, so if you need any help, especially with sets and stuff (or if you want some actors/singers/dancers I could suggest some amazing Ryerson talent...mmake it a cross-campus thing!)...anything i could do i would be willing to help.

Akiva

[judy_in_disguise]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 3:32pm

the Fantasticks did cross my mind but I'm not a huge fan
I've never heard of Romance/ Romance, do you have any info?
And A New Brain...another good suggestion, thank you!

In terms of I Love You, You're Perfect and YACMCB, which would you pick?

[Burnsy8811]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 3:32pm

CHARLIE BROWN!!!!!!!!!

[FinnFanatic]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 3:34pm

FALSETTOS or JOHN AND JEN would both be great.

FALSETTOS is a seven person cast with a pretty minimal set (the music is a bit tricky, as it is entirely sung-through)

JOHN AND JEN is a two person cast (1 male, 1 female) with a VERY minimal set (the original was just 3 boxes and 2 chairs if I remember correctly).

Between I LOVE YOU...and YAGMCB, I'd chose I LOVE YOU...etc. While Charlie Brown is cute and fun, it's a rather easy show to do and woudln't provide too much of a challenge. If that is what you're looking for, perhaps it'd be better. If you want more of a challenge, however, I'd go with I LOVE YOU, etc. It may also be better for the college audience (they'd be able to relate to the dating/relationship issues and would probably find them to be quite humurous and true).

There's my two cents Updated On: 8/6/04 at 03:34 PM

[judy_in_disguise]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 3:39pm

ahh, thanks Finn- those are great points/suggestions!
Sadly, John and Jen is ruled out because they did it last year. *shakes fist*

[Plum]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 3:39pm

Charlie Brown isn't the deepest musical around, but it worked wonderfully when my school did it. Especially the book report number, for some reason. :) It's also nice because it's a true ensemble piece, with a good part for everybody.

[KMF_NYC]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 3:45pm

Judy
here is synopsis of R/R -- the OBC recording is in print (according to Amazon, but man it has gotten expensive)...

Based on your two choices, I'd go for YGMCB, with the updated version from a couple years back...
Romance/Romance

[POLisPOL]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 3:51pm

I agree with John & Jen, it's a nice musical, I like very much.
In other hand, "no way to treat a lady" it's a small one and nice musical too

[wildparty20]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 4:07pm

I did YGMCB last year at a 450 seat theatre and the royalties for the new version were $975 per performance. I don't know if they would be that much for a much smaller theatre, but they are definitly more expensive than most shows. I had a great time doing it though!

I really enjoy Michael John LaChiusa's small one act musicals... Break, Lucky Nurse, Eulogy for Mr. Hamm, and Agnes. They are fresh, different stories and something new. I also love his First Lady Suite which has only 7 people in it (6 women, 1 man).

I also like Wings (the musical), A Man of No Importance, Ruthless, The Spitfire Grill, and They're Playing Our Song.

[judy_in_disguise]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 4:08pm

Link,
I go to Queens....in Kingston. So I truly appreciate your offer, however the 3.5 hour commute might be tricky!

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 4:23pm

Judy,

Sorry about that...for some reason i thought you went to either York or U of T...but i am still willing to give advice on Sets. (I promise I am really good with them, they are my passion). Did you have any involvement with Gypsy last year? my friend goes to Queens and helped out with make-up on that show.

Akiva

[judy_in_disguise]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 4:27pm

haha no I stayed away from Gypsy I was in Cabaret at the same time they were rehearsing.

[jayem1968]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 5:57pm

They performed Side Show in a small theater here in Los Angeles - they got by with very simple costumes and absolutely no set - only a few props. It was simply wonderful - the run was longer than the Broadway run and every performance was a sell out.

[timote316]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 11:51pm

A review of almost any kind would do. Side by Side would be great, as would Putting it Together (same things, basically). I know Side by Side can be put on using only a piano, 3 females and 1 guy. No set/props really necessary. Smoky Joe's may work too, not too sure tho.

[marlomanners]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 11:54pm

Judy

I saw an amazing production of Side Show a few years ago that used practically no set and minimal costumes and it worked because the cast was awesome and the material is that strong. Cast size, however, could still be an issue.

[marlomanners]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 11:57pm

Duh...I'm ignoring the obvious, for me, right now in my apartment since I have the Tick, Tick...Boom CD playing right now. What about that? Three actors and basically no sets or costumes.

[judy_in_disguise]

Posted: 8/7/04 at 1:02am

Marlo,
GREAT idea.
In fact, SO great that it was our first idea! We were all set to do Tick Tick Boom...
... and lo and behold, we couldn't get the rights.
Which is why we're in this current dillemma.
I have a feeling we'll go with I Love You....etc, but Side Show would be worth looking into, I do love the music!

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 8/7/04 at 1:03am

The Last Five Years.