Other Topics: Once Upon a Mattress Accompaniment

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Once Upon a Mattress Accompaniment

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URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5085
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Topic: Once Upon a Mattress Accompaniment

Posted By: Irishgirl
Subject: Once Upon a Mattress Accompaniment
Date Posted: 6/06/11 at 6:37pm

We are likely producing 'Mattress' at our (new) HS in the fall. We do not have a band/orchestra. We also do not have the $1700 it would take to rent the canned music system RnH requires in our situation.

Thoughts?

Replies:

Posted By: TonyDi
Date Posted: 6/07/11 at 6:54am

Try contacting Broadway 2 Productions - he has done the midi sequencing of the tracks for that show and has the rights to rent them. NOT sure of his price. But just tell him your needs and see if he can swing it for what you're doing. Doesn't hurt to ask - all he can do is say no.

http://bway2.com/tracks/index.htm - http://bway2.com/tracks/index.htm

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"Almost famous"

Posted By: Rorgg
Date Posted: 6/13/11 at 2:19pm

Not having a band or orchestra at a HS is really sad.

Okay... to solutions. Questions: do you have a MD? Do you have a rehearsal accompanist? What kind of music resources did you have on hand when you said "let's do a musical!"?

Posted By: Irishgirl
Date Posted: 7/29/11 at 6:21pm

Thanks for the input. I will check out that website. To answer your questions-- the school's music teacher will MD. Do not yet have a rehearsal accompanist. Will possibly pay someone to record music for rehearsal? Or perhaps MD can do it-- not sure yet. Other thoughts at this point would be using small budget to pay a pianist, percussionist, and violinist, or at least pay for their gas if they are willing. Then thought we could have interested students play portions of the show, as they do not (according to music teacher) have the ability to play the whole thing. Any other suggestions are welcome!
Thanks!

Posted By: MusicManD
Date Posted: 7/30/11 at 3:19pm

If you can find keyboard players, synths can cover anything that you can't find in the regular way. My old high school has used as many as four electric keyboards and sometimes only had bass and drums as "live" instruments (although the band director would usually play trumpet).

When I do my shows, I play whatever is necessary (I'm both choir and drama and have a background in band). My accompanist plays piano, the HS and MS band directors come to cover woodwinds, and I usually have a student percussionist. Then we add any students who can hack it through the show, knowing that the adults can help cover trouble spots. Hopefully this year I'll have a student bass player, or else I'll be stuck on bass.

You might just put the word out to local churches, other schools, etc. I know lots of schools whose MDs help each other out by playing in each other's pit orchestras. I may start doing that this year, since a friend of mine just started teaching down the road. A lot of people will be willing to help the community for free.

If you're near central KS, I'd be willing to come lend my skills (drums, bass, guitar, limited keys) if you cover my gas. :-)

Posted By: Irishgirl
Date Posted: 8/04/11 at 5:01pm

Thanks, MusicMan. I think that's the direction we're headed in. WIll let you know how it turns out! We are in CA, unfortunately:)