Calling all musical theater folks - help me stage my song
April 18, 2023 10:30 AM Subscribe
I know mefi has a great community of experienced musical theater folks. I'm a jazz singer dipping my toe into musical theater in a community class - please help me stage my song for our showcase!
In an effort to improve my stagecraft and just do something fun, new and challenging I started taking musical theater "acting the song" classes during the pandemic. It's been great and totally transformed how I perform and got me thinking about maybe even eventually doing some community theater. Until recently the classes were over zoom and the focus was on expression of the lyrics, every semester we workshopped a few different songs. The class I'm currently taking is the first one I've done in person and we have a couple low key performances at the end - in a nursing home and a church. We've been working on the music and now for the remaining classes we're going to work on staging our song.
We had to audition the song we were going to do before the first class so I picked "Show Me", mostly because I liked the song and was thinking about how much I could improve as a vocalist by working on things that are challenging to me in it. I didn't think too much about the actual performance, silly me. Now that I've performed it a couple times in person for the class I'm much more in touch with the energy coming out of me from the anger and frustration I'm expressing. If I had a partner on stage that energy would be directed at them but b/c I don't it feels like it's directed at the audience and I really don't like how that feels. From watching various versions online my favorite is this one of Julie Andrews and John Michael King (I think). I really like how the humor his physical comedy tempers her aggressiveness and helps underscore the charm of the music and the song. So.... can you help brainstorm some ways I could get a similar effect but just by myself? Right now I thought I could maybe start by sitting a table and acting frustrated by a bunch of up love letters or books of poetry etc. But I'm not sure what I'd do after that or if there's even enough of a musical intro to pull that idea off (my music only 4 bars in the intro). And I thought I could build up to the anger at the end instead of just opening with it, like so many versions do. She's talking about love, it seems like it should be playful in parts. I'm open to all ideas ...I'd rather go a bit silly than too serious. Thank you!
In an effort to improve my stagecraft and just do something fun, new and challenging I started taking musical theater "acting the song" classes during the pandemic. It's been great and totally transformed how I perform and got me thinking about maybe even eventually doing some community theater. Until recently the classes were over zoom and the focus was on expression of the lyrics, every semester we workshopped a few different songs. The class I'm currently taking is the first one I've done in person and we have a couple low key performances at the end - in a nursing home and a church. We've been working on the music and now for the remaining classes we're going to work on staging our song.
We had to audition the song we were going to do before the first class so I picked "Show Me", mostly because I liked the song and was thinking about how much I could improve as a vocalist by working on things that are challenging to me in it. I didn't think too much about the actual performance, silly me. Now that I've performed it a couple times in person for the class I'm much more in touch with the energy coming out of me from the anger and frustration I'm expressing. If I had a partner on stage that energy would be directed at them but b/c I don't it feels like it's directed at the audience and I really don't like how that feels. From watching various versions online my favorite is this one of Julie Andrews and John Michael King (I think). I really like how the humor his physical comedy tempers her aggressiveness and helps underscore the charm of the music and the song. So.... can you help brainstorm some ways I could get a similar effect but just by myself? Right now I thought I could maybe start by sitting a table and acting frustrated by a bunch of up love letters or books of poetry etc. But I'm not sure what I'd do after that or if there's even enough of a musical intro to pull that idea off (my music only 4 bars in the intro). And I thought I could build up to the anger at the end instead of just opening with it, like so many versions do. She's talking about love, it seems like it should be playful in parts. I'm open to all ideas ...I'd rather go a bit silly than too serious. Thank you!
Best answer: Great song, and very act-able and relatable. My two cents (musical theater producer who has also coached actors in exactly this kind of thing...) -- put the person you are singing to out over the audience's head somewhere... one specific point (like ... can you see an exit sign or something else in the space? Or just pick a spot.) So you are singing to an imaginary partner who is out in the audience's direction, but not *to* the audience, if that makes sense.
In my opinion, the song carries enough of its own context that you won't need props -- you are right, the intro is too short that the audience won't be able to process what you are holding. But -- great idea to give it a new context for yourself, if that helps you.
Regarding staging -- yes, check out The Last Five Years , great recommendation. But also: I think a trap actors often fall into is thinking that they have to move a lot. Plant yourself strongly (resist the urge to shuffle around or shift your weight.) You can move between sections, if you must (like on those little instrumental fills at the end of each section) -- and by "if you must" I mean, if your body is instinctively reacting to the emotion so strongly that you MUST move... but experiment with just taking a strong stance and letting the energy move through you, up from the earth, into your body, your face and your voice. The song and your expression of it is what will captivate us... a lot of moving often diffuses the energy... and this is one powerful song.
Of course if your instructor/coach has different advice regarding staging, follow that and ignore this :)
And thank you for loving musical theater and performing live...
posted by profreader at 11:15 AM on April 18, 2023 [5 favorites]
In my opinion, the song carries enough of its own context that you won't need props -- you are right, the intro is too short that the audience won't be able to process what you are holding. But -- great idea to give it a new context for yourself, if that helps you.
Regarding staging -- yes, check out The Last Five Years , great recommendation. But also: I think a trap actors often fall into is thinking that they have to move a lot. Plant yourself strongly (resist the urge to shuffle around or shift your weight.) You can move between sections, if you must (like on those little instrumental fills at the end of each section) -- and by "if you must" I mean, if your body is instinctively reacting to the emotion so strongly that you MUST move... but experiment with just taking a strong stance and letting the energy move through you, up from the earth, into your body, your face and your voice. The song and your expression of it is what will captivate us... a lot of moving often diffuses the energy... and this is one powerful song.
Of course if your instructor/coach has different advice regarding staging, follow that and ignore this :)
And thank you for loving musical theater and performing live...
posted by profreader at 11:15 AM on April 18, 2023 [5 favorites]
A few videos for potential inspiration:
- Laura Osnes singing a very jazzy version of "Show Me" at a cabaret. I think this has less anger than the song calls for, but it does give you an idea of how you can play with this song without another person or props.
- Donna Murphy singing "Could I Leave You?" at Sondheim's 80th birthday concert. This song is also written to be sung to another actor, but is here performed out to the audience because of the concert setting. This song is angrier than "Show Me", but Donna relishes the playfulness of the song and really gives it room to build to the energy at the end.
- Joanna Gleason singing "Moments in the Woods" (from a full production, but sung with just her onstage) is a very different energy, but is my favorite version of a person working out an internal struggle within a song. I think your idea of building up the anger and bringing out the playfulness of the song is very smart!
posted by earth by april at 11:16 AM on April 18, 2023 [2 favorites]
- Laura Osnes singing a very jazzy version of "Show Me" at a cabaret. I think this has less anger than the song calls for, but it does give you an idea of how you can play with this song without another person or props.
- Donna Murphy singing "Could I Leave You?" at Sondheim's 80th birthday concert. This song is also written to be sung to another actor, but is here performed out to the audience because of the concert setting. This song is angrier than "Show Me", but Donna relishes the playfulness of the song and really gives it room to build to the energy at the end.
- Joanna Gleason singing "Moments in the Woods" (from a full production, but sung with just her onstage) is a very different energy, but is my favorite version of a person working out an internal struggle within a song. I think your idea of building up the anger and bringing out the playfulness of the song is very smart!
posted by earth by april at 11:16 AM on April 18, 2023 [2 favorites]
Can I ask what you don’t like about directing the emotion of the piece at the audience? I would definitely lean into the monologue with a solo version of this song - the audience doesn’t need to stand in for Freddy, but they certainly could be the friends you rant to about this guy you’re dating, or the walls as you pace around your room and let off steam. Staged versions of Sondheim songs might be a place to look for inspiration - there are lots of examples with prickly emotions like this one, too!
Also nthing profreader’s comment about movement: jazz singers don’t need to act out the song for us to feel it, and good actors don’t need to move constantly or ham up every line - in musical theater in particular, they’re not delivering “what this would look like in real life”, but a meta-level interpretation where the use of stillness is as much a part of the expression as movement.
A recording I’ve watched often that fits both thinking-of-song-as-monologue and economy-of-movement is Raúl Esparza singing Being Alive.
This sounds like so much fun! Break legs, and have a wonderful time.
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 12:00 PM on April 18, 2023 [2 favorites]
Also nthing profreader’s comment about movement: jazz singers don’t need to act out the song for us to feel it, and good actors don’t need to move constantly or ham up every line - in musical theater in particular, they’re not delivering “what this would look like in real life”, but a meta-level interpretation where the use of stillness is as much a part of the expression as movement.
A recording I’ve watched often that fits both thinking-of-song-as-monologue and economy-of-movement is Raúl Esparza singing Being Alive.
This sounds like so much fun! Break legs, and have a wonderful time.
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 12:00 PM on April 18, 2023 [2 favorites]
I love this song, and I love singing this song. Here's an idea. I don't know if it will work for you, but it's something I would try.
Instead of being as angry and intense as you would if you were talking/singing at the other relationship partner, imagine you're at a bar or at lunch with a trusted friend who would agree with you that _this stuff is ridiculous_. This dude is ridiculous, his deal is ridiculous, and you're a saint for putting up with it. Friend has no idea what you should do. It seems pretty clear: he should be puttin' the moves on you! What is his frickin deal? I mean, he's cute, and all...
In other words, take down the intensity and try a totally different subtext. Sure, there's a moment or two of intensity, anger, frustration - the rest of the song will set it off excellently. But mostly, it's: How did I get myself into this crazy situation???
posted by amtho at 1:32 PM on April 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
Instead of being as angry and intense as you would if you were talking/singing at the other relationship partner, imagine you're at a bar or at lunch with a trusted friend who would agree with you that _this stuff is ridiculous_. This dude is ridiculous, his deal is ridiculous, and you're a saint for putting up with it. Friend has no idea what you should do. It seems pretty clear: he should be puttin' the moves on you! What is his frickin deal? I mean, he's cute, and all...
In other words, take down the intensity and try a totally different subtext. Sure, there's a moment or two of intensity, anger, frustration - the rest of the song will set it off excellently. But mostly, it's: How did I get myself into this crazy situation???
posted by amtho at 1:32 PM on April 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
If you don't mind modernizing the implied context a bit, I think it could be fun to set the scene by looking at your texts (plenty of time in four bars to establish that this is what you're doing, it'll be immediately accessible to the audience) and then sing the song to your phone as if you're addressing the other party in absentia.
posted by babelfish at 11:29 AM on April 19, 2023
posted by babelfish at 11:29 AM on April 19, 2023
Response by poster: Thank you everyone for all the ideas and links to things to watch, lots to be inspired by here.
posted by snowymorninblues at 1:55 PM on April 19, 2023
posted by snowymorninblues at 1:55 PM on April 19, 2023
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Actually, the show that's from, The Last Five Years, might be helpful in general because the whole gimmick is that it's about a couple that meets, falls in love, and breaks up, but the two of them are only ever singing together on stage once or twice. So while a lot of the songs are pretty angsty, clips from stage productions will give you lots of ideas of how to make it feel like you're actually talking to a partner without that person on stage. (The film version abandoned this conceit, however, so those clips probably won't be helpful)
posted by lunasol at 10:46 AM on April 18, 2023