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Post by Belle Pullman on Mar 11, 2008 23:31:38 GMT
ohhh, what did I suggest earlier?
I think the most important things is to have upbeat, funny songs in a cabaret. I'm sure other people will provide the angst and soul... the songs that make people laugh are the ones that are remembered fondly by the audience.
"Therapy" from Tick, Tick... Boom
The Song that Goes Like This from Spamalot? Greatvocal showcase and hilarious!
Anything from Hairspray or Wicked will already be suggested
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Post by Ceri on Mar 12, 2008 8:20:37 GMT
Loathing is pretty good on its own, if it hasn't already been suggested.  |
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Post by Belle Pullman on Mar 12, 2008 9:53:26 GMT
It is a fabulous number, Ceri! My worry would be that there'll be 6 people wanting to do it, and probably for the last 2-3 years too... Wicked's desperately over-done in this sort of cabaret/gala affairs.
hmm... have a look at what the Starlight cast did for their gala back in November?
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Post by Memphis on Mar 12, 2008 15:37:04 GMT
If you are desperate to do something from Wicked don't do the obvious, Loathing, Popular and Defying Gravity are done to death, the same way at one point in the 80's a gala type performance didn't seem to be worth a thing if it didn't have Memory and Starlight Express (the song) in it. Go for the path less trodden.
Who are you working with? A run of the mill AmDram group? a performing arts group from Uni? It may make a difference to what you should pick...
There are some amazing AmDrams out there but if you have a group of 15-19 year olds who turn up once a week because their parents make them I don't advise The Song That Goes Like This. There is a distinct difference between an ironic piece sung straight, the audience getting it and finding it hilarious and the same song hammed up to the stage where the irony is lost and it's just plain stupid.
If, however, you have a group of 18-23s who are training to be professionals you don't want to insult them by asking them to perform Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile for example... it's written for kids and so a much more limited vocal range and would be a waste of their talent.
Also have a couple of ideas in case your first choice is already being done.
I know it's a lot to think about but get the right song and you will be talked about for years to come, get the wrong piece and you will be talked about equally, but wouldn't want to hear what they are saying.
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Post by Forest on Mar 12, 2008 20:12:34 GMT
Well it's the Musical Theatre Soc. so I suppose they are amateur, however their talent is fantastic, and the majority of them are performing arts students. They were all mostly in Sweeney Todd and the vocals in that were SUPERB! ;D
And yeah, I agree. It would be nice to choose something unusual, but not necessarily overly obscure. I'm still considering 30/90 though, purely because I think that if you can get across the message of growing older and REALLY not wanting to, and wanting to achieve something worthy, then it could work. Also I think it provides good opportunity for the use of a T shaped stage.
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Post by Belle Pullman on Mar 12, 2008 21:08:13 GMT
GUTTERSNIPE. That's the one that's been niggling at me. two boys duet, from Taboo, Boy George and his worst friend Marilyn....lots of poking fun at each other and joking around. Upbeat, fun, relatively easy to learn... couldn't find on youtube tho.  |
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Post by Memphis on Mar 12, 2008 21:34:25 GMT
Now I would go for Out of fashion personally for agroup number, but Guttersnipe works well.
As a matter of interest, do you have to find sheet music and/ or a backing track for this or will someone do it for you? This is another thing you need to think abut at this point.
(Can you tell I've done this kind of thing myself?)
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Post by Forest on Mar 12, 2008 23:39:07 GMT
Yeah that's one thing I'm not sure about. I can find the sheet music on musicnotes .com or something, but as far as backing tracks go, that I think would be harder to find. If, for example, I was to do 30/90, I know for 99% certain there is no backing track in existence that I can find on the web. There is sheet music for piano/guitar/vocal though....so if we had a band, this would be fine I think?
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Post by Memphis on Mar 13, 2008 0:49:06 GMT
It may well be worth asking whoever is in charge of the whole show if you will have a band there and if they can work with the vocal/ guitar/ piano score or if you need to find something a little more for them. Some band can do wonders, others, not so much.
Of course if there is no band you know you are limited to what you can find the backing for.
I'm sorry if I sound like I'm looking for negatives, but I think you would prefer to have all the problems figured out now and not come across them than not being ready for them and falling flat.
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Post by Forest on Mar 14, 2008 17:44:57 GMT
Nope that's fine!  I gave Dave a ring to ask and he said that once the conductor and his assistant know what the running order is, they'll set to work getting music and arranging it for the full orchestra we're going to have. So no backing tracks required. Good. ;D |
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I gave Dave a ring to ask and he said that once the conductor and his assistant know what the running order is, they'll set to work getting music and arranging it for the full orchestra we're going to have.