Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: L’il Abner

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tat2dcoyote
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Topic: L’il Abner
Posted: 1/04/05 at 12:18am

Our theatre company is putting on L'il Abner this summer. Does anyone have any experience doing this show?

I gotta admit, it's intimidating me! With so many cast members and props I just don't think we'll have the room. The theater we're using is fairly small...no orchestra pit, small wings, no real dressing rooms (we use the bathrooms), no flying battons, no integrated light or sound systems (we set up our own)...is this show going to be impossible? I'm so worried...

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livetheatre
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Posted: 1/04/05 at 11:52am

I was in a production about 5 or 6 years ago and had a great time. The theatre I did it with was renovated movie theatre that did have some of the things that you will be missing but I don't think that should stop you from doing it.

We performed on a unit set and flew in a backdrop for the scene in the Senators office...but that may not be needed.

One thing that we did was put the entire cast in those plastic wigs. They come in about four or five different styles. The cast then used very cartoon like makeup (similar to a Cirque De Soile) that really brought the audience into the world of the comic. You can't do this show seriously.

Going into the show I was not looking forward to it but it ended up being a great experience. Good luck on your production.

Livetheatre

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Nyria
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Posted: 1/20/05 at 1:55pm

I did this show a number of years ago (as an actor). One thing that stands out in my mind was the chase scene. It was really varied - one chase would be fast then another in slow mo - all to music with people everywhere and lots of variety. (I don't know if this is how it actaully is in the script)

Another show I did that was very cartoonish was done 2 dimentionally. Our costumes were made of that tick foam stuff that looks like cardboard and they were like paper dolls. We wore nude body suits underneath and then the 'paper' fronts. We also did the entire show facing the audience. never turning our bodies to face each other (like a paper doll play would be done). It was hard for us actors but it looked awesome and was a fun experience.

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Nyria
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Posted: 1/21/05 at 1:53pm

Oh ya, another thing when we did Lil Abner - all our props were 2D as well. They were made of wood and then painted black and white (and were really big)

NYRIA

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Daisy Mae
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Posted: 3/11/05 at 11:36am

No worries! We are doing the exact same play as we speak. And let me tell you, our stage is just as bad as yours. You will get through it. We have crazy costumes, we ordered the major charcter costumes from a Broadway company in New York City. The makeup is also way out there. Guessing from my screen name, you can probably tell which character I'm playing. I have huge fake eyelashes. Like someone earlier said, you can't take this show seriously. Just have a good time and good luck!

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AnonymousActor5
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Posted: 3/25/05 at 12:01am

i did this show 2 years ago...i played pappy yokum, but it was pretty fun, except the my fellow castmates didn't grasp the fact that lil abner was based off a comic strip, but it was very straight and simple yet, i would stray away from shows like lil' abner, because to me it was TOO simple and not enough risk.

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Mykel
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Posted: 4/24/05 at 1:51pm

I am interesting in doing Lil Abner with my school group, but have been unable to find a source for the scripts, scores, etc. Can someone look at the back of the script and tell me which company is handling the rights? Thanks.

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Kathy S
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Posted: 4/24/05 at 10:47pm

Tams Witmark is the company holding the rights.

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tristanrobin
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Posted: 4/25/05 at 8:00pm

I directed a production about ten years ago - it was terrific fun -
though, admittedly, a LOT of the jokes were simply too
antiquated and obscure for anybody under 30.

We used one major set for ALL the Dogpatch sequences - we
used a series of ramps, and on the stage was the Cornpone
Statue, the Yokum cabin and tree, etc. Then we had very VERY
simple drops used for the scientists' scene, the Bullmoose
mansion (which we also used as his office). The sets were all
done in black and white, with pale grey dots (they looked like a
newspaper) - but the costumes were an explosion of color.

Contact me at my email address if you'd like a copy of the tape
to get a few ideas.

GOOD LUCK - it's a lot of fun - and a lot of work! LOL - but, a lot
of fun.

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Author	Message
tat2dcoyote Walk-On Joined: 1/04/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: L’il Abner Posted: 1/04/05 at 12:18am
	Our theatre company is putting on L'il Abner this summer. Does anyone have any experience doing this show? I gotta admit, it's intimidating me! With so many cast members and props I just don't think we'll have the room. The theater we're using is fairly small...no orchestra pit, small wings, no real dressing rooms (we use the bathrooms), no flying battons, no integrated light or sound systems (we set up our own)...is this show going to be impossible? I'm so worried...

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livetheatre Walk-On Joined: 7/30/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 1/04/05 at 11:52am
	I was in a production about 5 or 6 years ago and had a great time. The theatre I did it with was renovated movie theatre that did have some of the things that you will be missing but I don't think that should stop you from doing it. We performed on a unit set and flew in a backdrop for the scene in the Senators office...but that may not be needed. One thing that we did was put the entire cast in those plastic wigs. They come in about four or five different styles. The cast then used very cartoon like makeup (similar to a Cirque De Soile) that really brought the audience into the world of the comic. You can't do this show seriously. Going into the show I was not looking forward to it but it ended up being a great experience. Good luck on your production.
	Livetheatre
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Nyria Guest	Posted: 1/20/05 at 1:55pm
	I did this show a number of years ago (as an actor). One thing that stands out in my mind was the chase scene. It was really varied - one chase would be fast then another in slow mo - all to music with people everywhere and lots of variety. (I don't know if this is how it actaully is in the script) Another show I did that was very cartoonish was done 2 dimentionally. Our costumes were made of that tick foam stuff that looks like cardboard and they were like paper dolls. We wore nude body suits underneath and then the 'paper' fronts. We also did the entire show facing the audience. never turning our bodies to face each other (like a paper doll play would be done). It was hard for us actors but it looked awesome and was a fun experience.
	IP Logged

Nyria Celebrity Joined: 1/20/05 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 157	Posted: 1/21/05 at 1:53pm
	Oh ya, another thing when we did Lil Abner - all our props were 2D as well. They were made of wood and then painted black and white (and were really big)
	NYRIA
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Daisy Mae Guest	Posted: 3/11/05 at 11:36am
	No worries! We are doing the exact same play as we speak. And let me tell you, our stage is just as bad as yours. You will get through it. We have crazy costumes, we ordered the major charcter costumes from a Broadway company in New York City. The makeup is also way out there. Guessing from my screen name, you can probably tell which character I'm playing. I have huge fake eyelashes. Like someone earlier said, you can't take this show seriously. Just have a good time and good luck!
	IP Logged

AnonymousActor5 Walk-On Joined: 3/24/05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 3/25/05 at 12:01am
	i did this show 2 years ago...i played pappy yokum, but it was pretty fun, except the my fellow castmates didn't grasp the fact that lil abner was based off a comic strip, but it was very straight and simple yet, i would stray away from shows like lil' abner, because to me it was TOO simple and not enough risk.
	IP Logged

Mykel Walk-On Joined: 4/24/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 4/24/05 at 1:51pm
	I am interesting in doing Lil Abner with my school group, but have been unable to find a source for the scripts, scores, etc. Can someone look at the back of the script and tell me which company is handling the rights? Thanks.
	IP Logged

Kathy S Celebrity Joined: 8/21/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 303	Posted: 4/24/05 at 10:47pm
	Tams Witmark is the company holding the rights.
	IP Logged

tristanrobin Celebrity Joined: 4/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 704	Posted: 4/25/05 at 8:00pm
	I directed a production about ten years ago - it was terrific fun - though, admittedly, a LOT of the jokes were simply too antiquated and obscure for anybody under 30. We used one major set for ALL the Dogpatch sequences - we used a series of ramps, and on the stage was the Cornpone Statue, the Yokum cabin and tree, etc. Then we had very VERY simple drops used for the scientists' scene, the Bullmoose mansion (which we also used as his office). The sets were all done in black and white, with pale grey dots (they looked like a newspaper) - but the costumes were an explosion of color. Contact me at my email address if you'd like a copy of the tape to get a few ideas. GOOD LUCK - it's a lot of fun - and a lot of work! LOL - but, a lot of fun.
	IP Logged

Topic: L’il Abner( Topic Closed)