Staging Musicals: An Essential Guide

Description

Staging Musicals describes all the elements involved in putting on a musical production, including: choosing the right show, creating budgets and schedules, auditions, rehearsals and performances, as well as showing you to deal with set and costume design, lighting and publicity. Drawing on his experience as an actor, director and producer of musical theatre, as well as from many interviews with other producers, choreographers and desginers in the UK and the US, Matthew White shows how the ideal production is the result of careful organisation and a dedicated team. Structured as a step by step reference detailing every stage of the work, Staging Musicals is a must-have text for any would-be impresarios planning their production. Cover page Halftitle page Title page Copyright page Dedication CONTENTS PHOTOGRAPHS DIAGRAMS CONTRIBUTORS’ BIOGRAPHIES ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FOREWORD PREFACE 1 SELECTING THE SHOW Producer Finding the right show Licensing companies Affordability Suitable casting Age-appropriate shows Cast size Intended audience Venue Performing rights 2 CREATIVE TEAM Choosing a director Director Musical director Choreographer Set designer Costume designer Lighting designer Sound designer Musical supervisor Casting director Orchestrator Costume supervisor Wig designer Props supervisor Make-up supervisor Video designer Puppet designer Orchestral contractor 3 BUDGETS, SCHEDULES AND PUBLICITY Budget Schedule Publicity 4 RESEARCH AND DESIGN Research Personal research Design 5 CASTING Casting the show Diversity Casting breakdown When to hold auditions Audition venue Audition panel Auditions Audition objectives Recalls Finalising casting Offers Casting children Casting actor-musicians Respecting the auditionees 6 STAGE MANAGEMENT AND THE SUPPORT TEAM Production manager Company manager Company stage manager Stage management Stage manager Deputy stage manager Assistant stage manager Crew Stage management in the US Production stage manager Stage management in rehearsals Deputy stage manager Crew Props crew 7 FIRST DAY OF REHEARSALS Meet-and-greet General introductions Introductory speeches Model box presentation and design discussion Parish notices and house rules Script read-through Cast measurements Prioritising the music Rough rehearsal schedule Advice to understudies End of the day 8 REHEARSALS 1: CREATING A COMPANY Theatre games Group research Group activities Improvisation Character detail Involving stage management Regular breaks Accent work Other specialisms 9 REHEARSALS 2: SONGS, SCENES AND CHOREOGRAPHY Split calls Music rehearsals Dance rehearsals Rehearsing the scenes Privacy in rehearsals Creating the right environment 10 REHEARSALS 3: MUSICAL STAGING Director/choreographer collaboration Staging Staging the songs Rehearsing musical comedy Run-throughs 11 REHEARSALS 4: STAGE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES Before rehearsals Starting rehearsals Mark-up Rehearsal schedules Props Deputy stage manager in rehearsals Production meetings Wardrobe fittings Pre-empting the tech Rehearsal photos Obtaining licences Rehearsal reports Accident book Keeping the rehearsal room tidy Staging notes Final run-throughs Notes Lighting design in rehearsals Sound design in rehearsals Producer’s run 12 TAKING TO THE STAGE Sitzprobe Organising the get-in and fit-up Seating the band Lights: focussing and plotting Early sound checks Actors in the theatre Backstage Production desk Tech Bows and curtain calls Dress rehearsal Cast pep talk Show calls Make-up and hair Putting it together Photo calls Notes from the dress rehearsal 13 PREVIEWS, OPENING NIGHT AND BEYOND Previews Press calls Opening night Maintaining the show Understudies Warm-ups Show reports Final performance 14 MUSICALS: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE Show Boat Game-changers Where next? New ideas Contemporary issues Looking ahead Epilogue Appendix REFERENCED MUSICALS INDEX