Musicals

Dia Minha · #1 02-15-2008, 10:25 PM

My next adventure with my daughter is the talent show. In years past I have encouraged her to share her talent of story telling, because I knew I could help her with it. She has always done an amazing job. However, she has expressed interest in sharing her other talents such as dance and music. I thought it would be perfect to help her put together a scene from a musical where she could act, sing, and dance.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what would be a good, short, scene for a ten year old to perform, most likely by herself? Also does anyone know if it would be possible to find the sound track for karoke, so she would have the music to perform to?

Any ideas, or suggestions are welcome.

bookworm · #2 02-16-2008, 09:04 AM

"The Secret Garden" has many things for a girl that age and the music is superb. I have the piano book with selections from, if you want to borrow it. I could probably dig out the cd and loan it to you too, if you want it.

"Once on this Island" has some things, too, but the characters are all "island" people, not white- could still work for a talent show.

"Seussical" has stuff for a young boy, which could perhaps be adapted for a girl.

I'm trying to think of what else there is- obvious things like "Annie" come to mind...

"Into the Woods" has Little Red Riding Hood's scenes, but that may be a bit mature for her level...

My sister's almost 10-yo daughter loves to sing and perform, I'll send her a note and see if she has any suggestions.

Karaoke cds are out there- look online- I would look at Amazon.com or start by just searching on google to get titles, then search Amazon or half.ebay.com to find cds. They are also called minus tracks (music without the performer singing) in the theater world. You probably knew that, though.

Dia Minha · #3 02-16-2008, 10:47 AM

I knew you would know this Bookworm. Thank you so much. The only one I could come up with was Annie. She has actually never seen the movie, so I have it on hold at the library. I had just come across The Secret Garden as a musical. I have never heard the music. We would love to borrow the CD. Do you by any chance have the movie? Is there a movie? It would help me a ton to see it.

I have never heard of "Once on this Island", I'll have to look into it, because I love musicals, but I am very limited to the most popular.

She actually wanted to do Little Red Riding Hood, but I wanted to save that for a later year, because I thought it might be too much for her at this age.

bookworm · #4 02-16-2008, 11:17 AM

I've never seen a movie version of the musical. Interestingly, though, the soundtrack has almost all of the script dialogue on it. I will try to dig it out later today or tomorrow morning. I'm still pretty sick and trying to take a day off today- we are watching Danny Kaye and Marx Bros. movies, I'm hoping it'll help me feel better faster if I take it really easy today. I've been sick for a week tomorrow! ICKY!!

Anyway, you can come pick stuff up from me on Monday if you want. We'll be cleaning that day, since today is a day off!

I agree about Little Red- it's a more mature portrayal of that role.

"Island" is unique. My sisters and I saw it at Hale last season- it's really good. We got season tickets there this year- we are having so much fun going together. This year we get to see "Into the Woods" and "Annie Get Your Gun"- I'm soooo excited!!

Dia Minha · #5 02-16-2008, 11:24 AM

Oh I am so jealous, Into the Woods is my favorite. DH took me to see it when Murray City did a couple of years ago. My DD dance instructor tried to convince me to try out for the part of Little Red, but I had a nursing baby and going out to Murray six days a week wouldn't have worked well. The funny thing is I thought I was too chubby to even think about trying out. Then when we went and saw it, LRRH was quite plump. I had only seen it done on a High School stage and the movie that is out and both times she was not plump. It made so much more sense for her to have a little meat on her bones though.

Sorry your not feeling well. Don't worrry about getting to it any time soon. We are getting a jump start. I haven't even heard when the talent show is. It is usually in the Spring. Usually we just put off planning it for too long and then she is limited in what she can do. It really showed last year. She enjoys doing it so much, I really want to see her succeed.

natickgirl · #6 02-16-2008, 08:03 PM

How fun for you & her.....

"Castle on a Cloud" from Les Miserables comes to mind. Not much dancing, but pretty song.

"Wouldn't It Be Lovely" from My Fair Lady

All kinds of Disney songs.

"Supercalifragilisticexbealidocious" from Mary Poppins. That could be a fun one to dance to.

I, too, love the music to "The Secret Garden." My favorite song by Mary is "The Girl I Mean to Be."

My daughter was an orphan in a production of Annie..."Hard Knock Life" is a fun one, but probably better suited for a group. "Maybe" is good, too.

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from Wizard of Oz.

"Memories" from Cats. There are other fun songs, too.

Lots of great songs from "The Music Man."

"I Have Confidence" from Sound of Music. That could be really cute.

Good luck; have fun with this!

bookworm · #7 02-16-2008, 09:48 PM

Great ideas, NG!

I wish I could audition for "Into the Woods" at Hale this year. It's been so long since I did a show and it pulls at me when I think about it. BUT I am needed here. If I were gone multiple nights a week, my kids would have to take care of each other too much- DH works until 8:00 most nights. And with no local theater anymore, I'm just not going to be able to do anything for a long time. It's a worthwhile sacrifice- being a mom is the best thing I've ever done, but it's something I really really miss...

I just thought of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"- there are some fun songs in that, too. I guess there are broadway versions of "The Little Mermaid" and "Mary Poppins" as well as "Beauty and the Beast", too- if she loves the Disney stuff those could work. "Little Women" has some awesome songs, too, but I'm not sure how many would work for a little girl...

Good luck!!

Dia Minha · #8 02-17-2008, 01:47 PM

Bookworm, what would it take to start up a community theater? I bet you would be an awesome director or producer or whatever the person in charge of a local community theater is called. I would so be interested in supporting a locals arts council by participating in the theater in whatever capacity was needed, whether it was advertising, fund raising, or actually performing on stage. Especially if you were in charge.

Dia Minha · #9 02-17-2008, 01:51 PM

Just wanted to add: I have always wanted to play July in "Saturday's Warrior". I am getting too old to actually think about ever "winning" the part. I have always thought I would have to put on my own mini production and cast myself. Wouldn't that be fun Bookworm? We could just put on our favorites and cast ourselves in the parts we wanted. We wouldn't even have to put on the full production, just our favorite scenes.

bookworm · #10 02-17-2008, 04:12 PM

LOL- Dia you are so cute! That would be fun, but who would come see it?

I think to start a community theater would require: space (a building), equipment (lights, sound system, etc.), and most of all MONEY. Royalties are expensive. I'm not sure what else is needed, but I'm sure there's some important stuff to it...

Dia Minha · #11 02-17-2008, 05:52 PM

We wouldn't need an audience. We could just get everyone interested to play the other roles. When children get together and "act" they don't need an audience. They just enjoying "playing" the parts.

I figured money would be the hardest to come by. I wasn't even thinking royalties. Do non-profit organizations have to pay royalties? As in, if the ward or stake was putting on a production and there was charge for admittance, would royalties have to be paid?

It seems like everything the church does by way of shows is for the youth. I know this is important. On the other hand, why couldn't the adults put on a show? Something like "Into the Woods" where the characters don't really have a predetermined age. Yes, the ages would have to coordinate, but there would be no reason why Little Red Riding Hood, couldn't be 33 and look 25 with hair and makeup, as long as the Baker and his wife looked around 35-40 with hair and makeup.

bookworm · #12 02-17-2008, 09:47 PM

No audience??? hmmm... I don't know about that... although, it is really fun to just get in a group and sing sing sing...

I've also thought about how much fun it would be to start a show choir, but I just don't know what to do or how to go about it.

I do think anyone who performs a work that is under copyright has to pay royalties, even if they are non-profit. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure. I know you can do Gilbert and Sullivan for free (what's that called, when it's old- public domain??)... also, you can do "revue" type shows with songs from multiple shows, but I'm not sure how you get permission for something like that.

In my sister's Stake, ANYONE can be involved in the Stake Musical they do every few years- old and young. It is written by either a volunteer or committee, and usually involves songs from real shows. The last one was really long and the "script" was terrible, but still fun- my neice was in it.

I remember a few years ago I heard that there was going to be a County amphitheater somewhere at the Deseret Peak complex- I wonder what ever became of that idea. This County has some incredibly talented people, but it seems like it's hard to get something like a theater off the ground in a small community. Especially one that's kind of... how do I say it delicately... hick-ville? Our theater in Grantsville was an old church and we did dinner theater- it was really great, but it got purchased by someone and turned into a reception center- no more shows

Oh well.

Dia Minha · #13 02-17-2008, 09:53 PM

Oh man, oh would so be interested in having some where local. The only thing keeping me from trying out for a show is the drive into Salt Lake. Well, maybe that and the fact that I too am needed at home. My DH dance instructor choreographs a lot of the community shows, specifically, Murray and West Jordan. I know she or her daughter have worked with a few others as well. I would so have an in sorce to what shows were being done and what directors would be good to work under.

I have never done community theater, there seems to be a lot of youth that participate. Was that hard? Did you feel like a kid again, or was it just really annoying?

bookworm · #14 02-17-2008, 10:03 PM

Not annoying at all- I LOVED working with the young people. And we had a healthy mix of people in our age group and a few older people, too, so that helped. I really enjoy the energy and passion that teenagers bring to the theater- I used to have that! When I did shows after becoming a mom, the passion was there, but not as strong, because I wasn't just focused on the performing- I had kids, husband, home, etc. too.

I love community theater. Even when it's bad, which it often is. I loved every minute of it. There were some silly, stupid, small-town politics that drove me crazy- like pre-casting of people who weren't necessarily the best for the part, etc., but there is a lot of ego involved in theater, and I had to learn to just shut mine up and enjoy whatever I got. I went from being a big fish- lead in every show in HS, to barely getting any parts in college, to feeling lucky to be in the ensemble in Grantsville, to being one of the leading performers again. It was an interesting journey.

I can tell you, though, it is HARD to get in at Hale Theater. There are politics everywhere, at every theater, who you know and being the TOP talent they see are so important. I really struggle with auditions. I have auditioned there a few times, but never got a call-back. It was sad, but not devastating. I know if I could try out for every show they do, sooner or later I would get a shot. I know I'm good enough, it's just showing them what I can do in a 3-minute audition that is hard for me.

You can tell this is a subject I am passionate about, can't you- I could go on and on... but I won't.

Dia Minha · #15 02-17-2008, 10:06 PM

Yes, I can tell. I'm just absorbing it all in. I don't have much experience with auditions. At least not good experiences. I'm hoping I can rely on you, when my DD starts auditioning. She has so got it. Everything from the talent to the confindence. I might have had some talent, but I never had the confidence.

bookworm · #16 02-17-2008, 10:10 PM

I remember back to my first time auditioning, and it's so funny, because here I was this terribly shy little girl with NO confidence, but I was drawn to the audition- it was like I really couldn't NOT do it. And I landed the part! First try! Weird. I was tiny, and we were doing a little "grinch" production- I got to play "Cindy-Lou Who". It was so much fun. I never looked back. Until adulthood- now I get so nervous when I audition it's pathetic! I think rejection is hard on some of us- it's hard to not get a part, it's hard to be told you weren't good enough. So fear gets in the way. If your dd can handle NOT getting parts, and hold on to her confidence, she will be just fine. Those are the people who go on to great things, I think. If fear can be pushed aside and not clung to, you can do anything!!

Dia Minha · #17 02-17-2008, 10:16 PM

Oh she would be fine with not getting the part. At least I think she would. She has never had to audition for a dance part. Her dance teacher does not do auditions. She does main parts by invitation only.

However, she has had to audition several times for the talent show over at the school and she is never nervous. I get more nervous then she does and it's her audition. Last year she was very unprepared and I didn't think she would make it, because there were a lot more kids trying out. I talk to her about how she would feel if she didn't make it and she said she would be fine. She did end up making it and learned a big lesson. Even if it does come easy, you still have to practice. I'm glad she learned that in 3rd grade when she is still so full of confidence then in High School when her confidence will be shakey.

Dia Minha · #18 02-18-2008, 10:42 AM

Natick, some how I missed your post. What cute ideas. I hadn't thought of her doing Sound of Music or My Fair Lady, because there weren't any solos for a girl her age. However, I can see how it would be cute for her to do "Wouldn't it Be Lovely" or "I Have Confidence". I bet she could really pull it off.

I'm doing all the research for her, but I'm going to let her choose what she wants to do. We are waiting to pick up the movie Annie at the library and to see if BW has "The Secret Garden" CD. Then we'll have to sit down and listen to them all and narrow her choices down.