Joseph...
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Topic: Joseph...
Posted By: Andrea T
Subject: Joseph...
Date Posted: 8/29/05 at 2:15am
| Hello...I run a youth theater with usually about 40 kids ages 8-19. I have a few questions...first, It's very hard to find entertaining shows with a cast that large, and diverse. We just finished Lil Abner which was perfect, and now I am thinking about Joseph and the Amazing.... Ive only seen this show once and never directed it before. could it work for my cast size/ages? Also, Im looking for something that is easy easy easy on the sets and costumes. Lil Abner was such a headache! does Joeseph fit this requ. too? Oh, and one last thing...Our theater doesnt have room for an orchestra :( Does Rogers and Hammerstein offer musical tracks?? I know Tams Whitmark is opposed to that but MTI offers it. Last year we had to get a track made and it was VERY expensive. If you could help me out with these questions, or offer suggestions for another show I would appreciate it!! |
Replies:
Posted By: P&M Sales
Date Posted: 8/29/05 at 8:55am
|
Hi Andrea, We have a good number of large cast musicals for youth groups like yours. They usually have about 6-10 principal parts, maybe another 5 support roles and generally a large chorus. Have a look at our website under 'For Schools', 'Musicals', 'Two Act', 'All Titles' where we provide a detailed description of each musical. You can safely purchase all items, including Royalty Fees, with a credit card through our secure website, for delivery to the USA. 'Treasure Island!', 'Star Crossed' and 'AD79' are firm favorites, but 'Crazy Capers, Dodgy Deals' is also tried and tested. If you have some more mature student members (16-18) then have a look at our general list of musicals too! best regards David |
Posted By: Juliet
Date Posted: 8/29/05 at 9:57am
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hmmm...I wouldn't advise doing joseph, unless you had some very strong male daners and singers and not many females. go to b4b.org. This is an organization that was in the same situation as you, and they have done many shows that fit that cast size. |
Posted By: Andrea T
Date Posted: 8/30/05 at 3:18am
| Hmm....there isnt a b4b.org that I can get to...it says there is no such address. |
Posted By: casey05
Date Posted: 8/30/05 at 5:20am
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b4b.org is short for bornforbroadway, I think. While Joseph does need a LOT of male dancers, there is something which may be enough to get you. The company who license it (at least, I know they do it in the UK) are willing to waive all or part of the royalties for school or church groups - I've heard that, anyway. |
Posted By: Juliet
Date Posted: 8/30/05 at 1:15pm
Oh, sorry...It's bound4broadway.org.
|
Posted By: casey05
Date Posted: 9/02/05 at 6:50am
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Knew it was something like that . Thanks Juliet.
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Posted By: fjoef
Date Posted: 9/13/05 at 3:27pm
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We are a local community theatre in New Jersey and we performed Joseph and the Amazing to sold out audiences!! We have the tracks and can help you! We also have the tracks to "Anything Goes" and "Caberet"!! Contact us at mailto:appleciderplayers@yahoo.com - appleciderplayers@yahoo.com ------------- Joe Ferrara |
Posted By: pauliebonn
Date Posted: 9/26/05 at 3:13am
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But isn't Joseph a show with like 14 -17 people? That seems to be a very small cast for the organization. We have a troupe here in town doing Godspell, and they have a chorus of 30! I have never heard of a chorus for Godspell, but I digress....
You have to also remember, that Joseph is all music, and NO dialogue. It is also a very short running show (1 hour I believe), and all those d*^m colors to remember. Idid the show back in 1998, and STILL don't remember those stupid colors!!!!! (HA HA) |
Posted By: Scott B
Date Posted: 9/26/05 at 3:00pm
Well ... typically you would want twelve brothers and twelve wives, so we're already up to 24.  There's room for a cast of thousands if you have the talent and can utilize them.I saw Joseph by a community theatre and high school ... both done this year and it was interesting to see how they handled the show. Both were very different, yet both were good. Since this was my first time to ever see the show I was amazed at what directors do to make it fit "their" vision. |
Posted By: Andrea T
Date Posted: 9/29/05 at 2:50am
| Thank you all for your comments! Very helpful..it's difficult to find something that suits us! Joseph is still in the lead, but if anyone has a better idea of a well known musical that might work let me know. Thank you! |
Posted By: Nyria
Date Posted: 9/29/05 at 3:55pm
|
If you have very little for props and costumes it's nice to do something that you can get creative with - like 'Wizard of Oz' or 'Alice in Wonderland'. MTI has a bunch of new shows for younger players coming out - and many of them you can get the tracks to. Also check out the 'Jr.' versions - they're pretty good. MTI is updating all the time so make sure you go a lookin. ------------- NYRIA |
Posted By: Unclepeter
Date Posted: 9/30/05 at 4:56pm
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We have done Joseph twice...once with an adult cast the, about six years later with a mixture of adults and summer campers. Both productions were, without a doubt, outstanding although totally different. It requires some strong singers in the roles of Joseph and the Narrator, however, it is worth it. I also saw Joseph done by Children's Theatre group with a cast of less than 10. It was done as a series of blackouts and the director's vision of how to work the blackouts while continuing the story's flow was really good. I have also seen a professional performance by a touring company which was totally different any of the others. I would see the show in any venue with any production group just to see it performed in a totally different way. In short, "Joseph" lends itself to the director's artistic vision. The song, "Any Dream Will Do" aptly describes what I believe Weber and Rice were trying to put across. |
Posted By: emro
Date Posted: 10/03/05 at 3:33pm
|
Joe and the Amaz. Dreamcoat is THE childern's muscial staple in Athens,
Georgia and has enjoyed wild success here. One run I was in with
the local community theater did so well that a special encore run was
performed the next season. The high school here also did it last
year, as did the children's theater camp. It can carried off with
great charm and aplomb using very limited
resources and a cast of thousands--bare suggsetion of set and costumes
can work very well. The theater camp used a single piano for
accompaniment. However, I do think the play's success largely
hinges upon a strong, charismatic leading male, and if no such person
readily presents themselves to your mind, I would seriously reconsider.
------------- Cucumber sandwiches? Watercress sandwiches? The whole scene would stand or fall on his ultimate decision. -- Instant Lives & More: Oscar Wilde |
Posted By: theaterbrat
Date Posted: 10/04/05 at 8:48pm
How could you have a cast of less than 10 is there are 12 brothers??? Just wondering. |
Posted By: Unclepeter
Date Posted: 10/05/05 at 11:22pm
|
Although there are 12 brothers, there is really no rquirement for all to be on stage. In the scene where the brothers identify themselves, only two "brothers" named the others vollying as if in a tennis game. In the "Caanan Land" scene, two brothers were playing a table game, much like checkers, while two other brothers watched, bewailing their fate. The director used imagery to make you forget that you were not getting the full number of brothers. Using sketches and blackouts, with lots of high intensity dance and music, you were so drawn into the story that you forgot the size of the cast. It was an outstanding presentation of the story in a totally unexpected way. ------------- "Good judgement comes from experience - and a lot of that comes from bad judgement." (Will Rogers) Uncle Peter |