Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with musicals

I just wanna slappa da bass while people in clown costumes swing around me.

tylerfulltilt — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:46:57 -0800

I play bass guitar. I'm not bad at it. In fact, I'm quite good. How do I get auditions to start playing for touring musicals and the like? (and do I stand a chance?) A little backstory: My wife decided to audition for a community theater production of Rent. Which got me thinking. Why don't I try to land a spot playing bass instruments in a show? The only problem is that I have no contacts. Google searches for auditions don't turn up much. How do I get started doing this? Do I need to get representation? Do I need to just know people? I have no idea where to begin with this.

And for those of you with experience, here's a brief rundown of my abilities. Perhaps you can give it a quick look and tell me If I'm being deluded.

+ : I'm very experienced on my instrument. I've played in live situations before. I've got very good technique and a great sense of tempo and rhythm. I can play really any style. I know a little theory and I can read tab, chord charts, and sheet music. I'm mostly experienced with electric fretted and fretless bass, but I can play an acoustic upright, both pizz. and arc.

- : Never actually played in a theater production before. But everyone has to start somewhere right?

Songs similar to Spring Awakening's "Touch Me?"

mellifluous — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:24:35 -0800

I love the song "Touch Me" from Spring Awakening. Are there more like it? I don't know if I can fully articulate everything I like about the song, but here's my best attempt:

- A moderate to largish group in vocal harmony: I like the vocal interplay between the group, e.g., everyone building into a crescendo, which quickly segues into a solo, or when the group emphasizes particular parts of a phrase by coming in to sing it in unison.
- A melancholy, yearning tone, and sparse instrumentation (I don't want anything too operatic or saccharine, like songs from Disney musicals or something.)
- Pretty lyrics.
- A de-emphasis on showy vocal gymnastics.
- I think I also kind of enjoy that all the solo singers are male, but this isn't necessary.

Your suggestions needn't come from other musicals (especially since I don't care for the stupid speaking interlude in the original cast recording.)

Thanks.

Anyone know anything about "Umbrellas of Cherbourg" actress Ellen Farner?

holdenjordahl — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:30:00 -0800

"Umbrellas of Cherbourg" French actress Ellen Farner, M.I.A. This is driving me crazy.
I just saw The Umbrellas of Cherbourg yet again and instead of looking at Catherine Deneuve like I usually do I was looking at Ellen Farner, who played Madeleine, who took care of Guy's aunt, and ended up marrying him.
Intrigued (read: enchanted) I googled, yahoo'ed, and binged her everywhere and could find nary a trace.
Is it possible that she made one movie then retired? Is she still alive? Did she die young? Did she get married and change her name?
This is the first time I've been unable to find something on the Internet; yeah, I guess it's possible, but there's got to be more to her than than one stunning performance. Dang, I hope there is.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Merci.

Meg Brockie: I'm highly attracted to you. Why, when I look at you, I feel wee tadpoles jumping in my spine.

ocherdraco — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:21:37 -0800

I'm going to be auditioning for a musical theater role in a month, and could use some advice on how to prepare. My theater group is going to be putting on Brigadoon this fall. I haven't auditioned for any theater roles in seven years (I've worked backstage), and there's a certain amount of pressure, as everyone in my theater group recently learned that I can sing.

I'm going to be auditioning for the role of Meg Brockie, and here's what I'd like to know:

What would be a good song to audition with? If I recall correctly, one doesn't audition with a song from the show one is auditioning for, but with one from a show and character with a similar style. I have The 16-Bar Theatre Audition - Belter (Mezzo-Soprano) so it would be easy to take a song from there, but I am open to all suggestions.

What are good resources for learning a Scottish accent? I have a good ear, so audio resources would be helpful, and I studied linguistics in college, so resources in IPA would be, too.

Have you seen a good performance of this role? If so, what did the actor do that made it work? (Meg Brockie seems like a character that could easily be played in an annoying fashion.)

Why are they always singing? You got something to say, SAY IT!

tcv — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 08:45:03 -0800

As a child of the 70s, I have often had some sort of revulsion to movie musicals. Well, it more like "perplxed." For instance, "Flying Down to Rio" with Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire is on right now. As is the norm for Astaire movies, there is a lot of singing and dancing. My question: Why? My understanding is that these style movies were the preferred and desired form of movie entertainment at the time, but how did that come to be? And why are there so few today? Books on the subject are welcome answers.

What constitutes a "lead role" in a musical?

ragtimepiano — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:05:35 -0800

My friend's two daughters are in a school musical, and she is naturally extremely pleased. She's been telling everyone that they have the "leads", but neither is cast in the leading female role. I think "lead role" refers to the leading female and the leading male roles, as in this case there are both? (In single gender plays, I would think the "lead roles" would be the two characters with the most lines? ) Of course I won't point this out to her....and I'm wondering if I am wrong? The musical is "Thoroughly Modern Millie".

Songs with overlapping verses?

trivirgata — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:47:18 -0800

What is the musical term for songs that feature overlapping or simultaneous verses? The only two examples that I can think of to illustrate what I'm talking about are "All for the Best" from Godspell and Irving Berlin's "You're in Love." Anyone ever come across a list of songs of this type, specifically songs from the world of musical theater?

I'm just a girl who can't say no

nax — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:23:16 -0800

What is the origin of the name "Ado Annie" in the musical Oklahoma? We figured out Annie, but what does Ado refer to?

Song from musical that starts with argument?

duckierose — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 10:19:19 -0800

I'm looking for a song from any musical that starts off with two people arguing. Not a specific song, but any song like that. Two people getting into a regular verbal argument, and then they start singing (at which point other people can/should join in). Ideally, there would be a few main singers, but parts for a "chorus", too (so, no songs that just have two or three singers). Any genre/gender/time period is fine. Even Disney/animated movies. My experience with musicals is limited enough where I don't feel like I have enough options.

Best stores in Albuquerque, NM for musicals on CD?

jroybal — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 18:01:41 -0800

Any recommendations for stores in Albuquerque, NM for the cast recordings and soundtracks for stage or film musicals on CD? The Borders and Barnes & Noble stores are pretty good, but I'm wondering if other stores in town have better selections. Thanks!

i'll have my name in lights...

kidsleepy — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 15:04:38 -0800

In a few weeks, I have the wonderful opportunity to go see a Broadway show (my first!). My options are Hairspray, Wicked, or the Drowsy Chaperone. Which one should I pick?

TKTS - Downtown or Broadway?

rorycberger — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 14:51:48 -0800

Question regarding strategy for which TKTS location to try next Tuesday to get Broadway tickets... I am staying at the Affinia Fifty Hotel (E 50th St. & 3rd Ave.) - would you recommending trekking down to the downtown TKTS location (supposedly with much shorter lines) or going to the closer (but more popular) Broadway location? At either location, what time is best to get there for the shortest wait? They open at 11, is it good to get there a half hour early? An hour? Any other tips for either location?

For context, my mom and I are looking to go to a show, but we are not theater buffs and don't have any target shows in mind. Our goal is to have as little hassle as possible to get cheap tickets to pretty much whatever show sounds good on the spot. Come to think of it, is there any sort of guide to shows that might be handy to have in line with us so we can make a semi-informed choice?

Movies where actors sing?

BigBrownBear — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 06:19:06 -0800

What are some good movies with musical numbers sung by the actors? My wife and I really liked "Everyone Says I Love You" as well as "El Otro Lado de la Cama" and "Los Dos Lados de la Cama". Are there other contemporary movies with songs sung by the actors? In both of these cases, the songs were well-known hits that fit into the movie plot.

We're not interested in musicals made into movies. Those of you who are familiar with the movies listed above probably know the vibe we're looking for.

Does anyone else dream in musicals?

Orange Goblin — Sat, 22 Oct 2005 03:25:57 -0800

Does anyone else dream in musicals? I don't mean dream that you are in pre existing musicals. I mean that you start dreaming, and then suddenly people break into song. This has happened to me before, but not on as grand a scale as last night. There were proper rhyming lyrics, motifs, and a proper story. None of it was something that I had picked up from somewhere else, as far as I could tell. So, am I just crazy?

Finding a production of a play.

mto — Sun, 16 Oct 2005 17:39:52 -0800

Is there a good resource (online or not) to find out if a given theatrical production is running, anytime in the near future, anywhere in the country (USA/Canada)? It happens often that I'll read or hear about a play and want to see it. If I want to see a rock concert I just go to the band's web page and view their tour information. I essentially want a similar resource but I want it for plays and musicals. I'm wondering if there is anything close to this out in the wild.

For example, presume I just read Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and now I want to see it performed. I am possibly willing to travel anywhere in the USA or Canada to see it and I don't really care if it's being put on by a college versus a professional theatre company. How, other than Google, would I find such a listing of performances? I have tried using Ticketmaster to find performances, but a lot of places I know don't use them to handle ticketing.