JCS performed by prison inmates in Peru

I came across this link today and was pretty impressed by these pictures - this was a production performed in a prison!  Wow - look at the costumes etc - pretty good I think, don't you agree? 

JCS performed by prison inmates in Peru


This is the video of it on You Tube as well.  The power of musical theatre, eh?

Tales from theatre land - well Bishop's Stortford anyway

I used to work for a local council run theatre, which was quite small - only a 300 seater. My  job was Marketing Manager but I often covered the front desk, and box office.  I have recently been reading a great blog called My So Called Life in a Box which is written by a girl who works in the Box Office in Leicester Square - she is really hilarious about the people she has to deal with and the questions she gets asked. You ought to go and read it!   It made me think of some of the things that I experienced in my 6 years working at a theatre, so thought I would share them with you....

So in my time I have been...

A Parking Attendant
I was working behind the front desk in the theatre and on the phone to a customer... when a woman comes in and marches up to the counter
Customer:  THERE'S NO PARKING!!!  (bellowing in my face!)
Me: (Motioning I am on the phone) "Excuse me I'll help you in a moment I'm just talking to a customer..."
Customer: (rudely ignoring me, bellows again) THERE'S NO PARKING - ITS RIDICULOUS, CAN'T YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT?!!!"
Me: Oh ok, I'm so sorry, give me five minues and I'll come out there, move two cars with my bare hands, and then lie down in the space for you so you can park your car shall I?

An Expert on other People's Children
Me: (on phone) Hello, how can I help?
Customer: Hi, can you tell me if the pantomime is scary?  Would my three year old be frightened?
Me: I have absolutely no idea - have I met your three year old?  Am I an expert in your child?  So how the bloody hell am I supposed to know what they would find it scary...you're their mother what do you think?

Well, on second thoughts, this probably would frighten small children

A Placator of Other People's Children
Me: Hello, how can I help you on this bright and Christmassy December morning?"
Customer:  Look, this is going to sound really wierd, but my friend's daughter came to see the pantomime and she has not been able to sleep since as she was so frightened of the witch puppet.  My friend is at her wits end...she has not had any sleep for several days.  What could you do to help?
Me: Give her a tot of whiskey?
Customer:  I mean, umm, could you take a picture of someone with the puppet with its head off to show her its not a real witch?
Me: So, you want me to take a picture of a headless witch puppet - are you sure that is not going to be scarier?
Customer: I think it could really help her
Me: Ok, I'll see what I can do *sigh*

And for the record I did take the picture and send it to her but have no idea if it helped as she never contacted me again so the child either died of fright or recovered but with a severe paranoia about puppets that will last her through to her adulthood.

Serioulsy what is scary about this?  I'm joking - this is NOT the one we used

An Expert on Fairy Stories
Customer:  We came to see the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk and we were horrified by the costumes the children were wearing in the second act.  Their pajamas looked like concentration camp costumes and they were being put into an oven...surely this was in very bad taste?  It's really not appropriate for children to be put in an oven and my grandchildren found it very scary."
Me: Ummm have you ever been to a pantomime before?
Customer: Yes, several times
Me: Have you ever read Jack and the Beanstalk?
Customer: Yes
Me: Then you will know that 1) there is a giant in it that eats children, animals and people2) Its not actually real 3)Most fairy stories are far worse than this - I mean look at Hansel and Gretel, Red Riding Hood, Rumplestiltskin?  Don't blame me, blame the Brother's Grimm!

I really must see if this is on Netflix?

For the record they got their money back. There's just no pleasing some people. Oh yes there is, oh no there isnt!

Expert at deflecting any complaint
Customer:  It's far too hot in the auditorium
Me: Ok, I'll turn the air conditioning up a bit
Customer no 2:  It's freezing in the auditorium
Me: Ok, I'll just turn the air conditioning down a bit
Customer: The seats are really uncomfortable
Me: Ok, let me just fetch you a soft downy pillow for your very sensitive behind
Customer: Why aren't there more toilets?
Me: God knows
Customer: My child's been sick in the foyer,
Me: (shouting) DUTY MANAGER!!!!
Cusotmer: Why isn't there more parking?
Me: Look, we've been through this about twenty million times, because no-one actually planned this place, the council just plonked something down and then thought about it afterwards.

So there you have it - any amusing stories you would like to share with me of your experiences of cusotmer service in the theatre??? Or elsewhere?  And please don't rant at me about transaction fees - I don't think they are right either and I used to have to justify them to everyone all day long!!

Biblical, hippy or modern - the thorny issue of costumes

Hello fellow theatre luvvies,
I was thinking what to write the blog on this week - we are now into our rehearsal schedule but as we have only been doing music so far, we have yet to find out what vision our director has in store for us, including the issue of what we are going to wear and what look the show is going to have.

So this made me start thinking about costume.  We are all aware of the time Jesus Christ Superstar is set (33AD I think?), and some companies choose to stage it in biblical dress.  I have seen an amateur production of this where this was done, and it did not do it for me.  Maybe because I feel that this limits you to a sea of sandals and beige stripes with the odd palm leaf being waved around.We have agreed our production will be in modern dress - but what does this mean?  We have all been very influenced I think by the recent arena tour, where the cast wore modern dress - the look was of protestors and was heavily influenced I think by the riots in London a few years ago, and the protestors around St Paul's Cathedral.  Doing some internet research I came across all sorts of references so thought I would share them with you.

Firstly I found this brilliant bit of video from the costumer designer for JCS on Broadway in 2012 - I really like what he did as he has merged traditional dress with but there are touches of modern fashion - so it still looks funky and cool...

Paul Tazewell: Costume Designer For Jesus Christ Superstar Broadway 2012

What do you think?  I particularly like how he dressed Herod and Mary Magdalene - Mary really stands out in that yellow dress.

Love the suit Pilate is wearing too

This last picture shows Herod's song - love the use of the white piano but also how the girls and boys are dressed - sort of camp Roman??? Bit like 'A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum? '  Look at  that guy in the red tunic!!


Here is another take on costume from another society - the Hippy look...this is another way of doing it, referencing the time it was written and first put on stage - i.e. 1970s...Not too sure about this - could be in danger of looking a bit too much of its time?

 

Touch me, touch me Jesus!

I'm sure I've seen these guys in the British legion playing ukeleles on a Wednesday night

Now in this next picture, I am not sure what the hell is going on - back to the 80's anyone?  Pink DMs - a bit Bananarama? Although I am quite liking the Angels and the white vests with diamante crosses. But what is with those grey dresses the souls sisters are wearing?  Tell me, does this float your boat?

Do you really want to hurt me?

This was the only pic I could find of traditional Biblical dress and I must say I do like the Roman uniforms, but then I have always been a uniforms girl...but no, glad we are not doing it like this.

Doesn't Jesus look sweet though?

It thought this worked well, sort of - mix of old and new?  And that corset I bought could come in handy again...I am getting my money's worth out of that. I like Judas in black and Jesus in white.  Not sure about the guys in hats though, are they meant to be the priests or gangsters?

This is from the arena tour - hard not to copy it isn't it, as it is so good! - love the banners, love the modern look.  It would be really easy for us to do as we probably have the clothes at home - but what does our director have in mind?  I am sure he won't want to just copy it.

 

 

Gotta get my hoody out

Lastly thought I would leave you with this image of the priests - wouldn't this be great????Like something out of Star Wars???  Leather tea cosies for hats?

Got rehearsal tonight and wondering - will I ever get the notes right? The altos have got some real buggers to sing this year.

As promised in my last blog here is alto corner for JCS 2014!!  There are some more ladies but they are either on holiday or in the toilet....

The view from the Alto corner

So we are now into rehearsals for JCS - I am going to refer to it as JCS from now on so I don't have to keep typing it.  If you are wondering how the auditions went I'll tell you - true to my word I screwed it up as usual but managed to get my head back together and won the part of the Maid.  I googled this part but not a lot came up - she is referred to as Maid by the Fire - and that is about it!  Anyway, I get my 15 seconds of fame so I am happy...and hopefully I can pick up a few more lines here and there.  I am just glad to be in it and having fun again!

We had our first music rehearsal on Monday and it was great to be back with the gang again - I am an alto and we tend to be fewer in number than sopranos so we have to belt it out a bit  to be heard and stick together.  I find as an alto that we often get quite tricky parts to sing and every year we have the usual problem - can we hit the right first note?  Because if we get put off by sopranos we are stuffed and then we all just look desperately at each other and try to listen in to whoever may remotely be near the note....sometimes I just die laughing as some of the alto girls make me giggle so much - especially my theatre gal mates Cat, Carrie and Jo.

Altos often get called upon to add a bit of a boost to some of the male numbers in a show - this was the case in Fiddler on the Roof when we were on stage as 'knitting women' during the big Lachaim number.  I used to love doing this part of the show, as it was such a laugh.  There was one moment particularly in this number when we had to 'freeze' and I usually caught the eye of Jo - who always makes me laugh - so I had to look over her head every night. I didn't learn to knit but I sewed a sock to death the week of the show.

I personally love the sound of an alto voice - as I think the sound comes from deeper down - i.e. not so much your head voice...I may be wrong on that one not being a music professional! Feel free to correct me!

I researched on the internet about altos - and thought I would share with you some famous alto singers....

Judy Garland

Wow what a voice - like velvet - she had a range of two octaves.  
Although known for her emotive singing, her technique was brilliant.

Adele

Adele has brilliant control over the dynamics of her voice, being able to sing soft and airy when it suits the delivery, but switching back to a fuller tone with speed and aplomb. I like the emotion she puts into her singing.

 

 Cher

She sure can belt them out - and in true alto style she likes a crazy wig.  Apparantly in the 60s her secretary had to write to reassure fans she wasn't a man.

 Karen Carpenter

Is she your guilty pleasure?  Yes probably a little naff to admit you like The Carpenters these days, but you've got to admit she had one hell of a voice - often described as like chocolate and cream.

Kelly Clarkson

Very strong in the mid range and a true belter but she can also do a great head voice and falsetto!

I'll try and get a picture of some of us alto girls at rehearsal tonight -and maybe the Maid will get to sign her line tonight as well - you never know....

What about you? What alto signers do you like?

Auditions - make me sick (quite literally)

The nerves are jangling today as tonight we have our auditions for Jesus Christ Superstar! You can feel the tension amongst the whole company as everyone has been practising like mad.  Every year I ask myself why I put myself through it and I am sure so does everyone else - there is nothing worse than going in to a room and performing in front of a panel.  Nerves always get the better of me and I usually forget something - I actually find it worse than doing an actual performance. 

Last year I was on the committee and so I sat in on the panel for our Carousel auditions - I learnt a lot from this so thought I would pass on a few of my observations in the hope that they may help others (or not!)

1. Try to learn the piece if possible
It was noticeable from last year that people who had tried to learn the part performed better - probably because they were not hampered by holding a piece of paper and could act. We all have busy lives and its hard to fit it all in, but it definitely helps to have some idea of what you are doing without getting flustered and looking at your lines. My own personal view is that if you learn the part you really get into the character you are portraying because you're thinking about the words and the emotions more.

2. To wear a costume - or not?
I think the jury is out on this one - this year I am going to wear something suitable but the main reason is to help me feel the character more.  I have seen others take this approach and I think it really does lend something to their performance - maybe it gives more confidence? However, I saw really good auditions last year where people had not worn any type of costume but they just' 'had' the character and interpreted it well.  You could almost see them transform by using their body language etc.  Some of these people were chosen for their roles too - so having a costume would not have made any difference.  I think you should do whatever you need to do to make yourself feel more confident, not because you think it may impress the director.  He/she will have a vision of what the character will wear in the final show and it probably won't be anything like you wear for your audition anyway.

You can tell me the truth - is the donkey a bit much?

3. Do your own interpretation
Forget what anyone else says to you - go into the room and present the character how you feel it should be done.  The director is looking for something different - sometimes he/she may not even know what he is looking for until he/she sees it!  If everyone went in and did the same thing it would be really boring, wouldn't it?   So if you want to slow down your singing part in places, let the MD know that you want to do that before you start.   You have control!

Yes Pilate could be this guy - why not?

3. Don't be afraid to come further forward and make (some) eye contact
The director will probably tell you where he/she wants you to stand if you ask them first - here's a little tip to our BSMTC members - our Director  (mentioning no names) likes people to come forward and not stand too far back,  he likes a bit of eye contact - he likes people to move around a bit and not stand too rigidly and forced - i.e. don't just adopt one position and stand like that for the whole audition.  He shows absolutely no reaction to your performance but he is taking it all in, and will thank you politely the end...but you will have no idea how you have done!  Also his decision is final - he does take advice from others but its totally up to him in the end.
I thought this article was good on eye contact - no-one likes to be stared down but people don't like it when you don't make eye contact altogether...the 90/10% contact rule is quite good.
http://www.ace-your-audition.com/making-eye-contact.html

Possibly just a teeny weeny bit too much eye contact

4.  Be confident when you walk in - first impressions count
Yes, you are shaking with nerves but remember you are acting a part to some extent from the moment you walk in the room- walk in confidently and say hello. Stand tall and put your shoulders back - even if you don't feel it you will give the impression of confidence. And that's what they are looking for - are you confident enough to go on stage and perform?

OK this is not confident - this is just overacting - bless Nicholas Cage he never lets me down!

I certainly do not profess to be any kind of expert at auditions and will probably make a mistake tonight but I feel it's always good experience to do them - it helps you learn and it helps the director see what you can do, so he /she may consider you for other parts in future.  Last year I auditioned for a 'Heavenly Friend' and came out as a dancer - something I had not even considered auditioning for as I thought I was a) too old b) not good enough c) not slim enough.  So that proves my point doesn't it?  You never know until you try!

Break a leg!

What's the Buzz? Tell Me What's Happenin'

BSMTC are bringing Jesus Christ Superstar to the Bishop’s Stortford stage!  

Well the ‘buzz’ was audible on Wednesday night and it was all definitely ‘happening’…we had our first show talk for our NEW production Jesus Christ Superstar which will be at Rhodes, Bishop’s Stortford 10^th -17^th November.

The first get together of the year when we discuss our big production is always fun – you get to see old friends who you have not seen for a few months and there is the excitement of new beginnings.  I always get a little thrill when I hear the music for the first time and hold the Lib in my hot sweaty hands!

Jesus Christ Superstar is a bit of a departure for our company in some ways.  We have a great reputation and can certainly do Rogers and Hammerstein justice – i.e. we’re very good at the more ‘traditional’ musicals ( hence the win for Carousel!).  In my second year with the company we put on the less traditional show Little Shop of Horrors which definitely did not sell as well as the previous year – it was up against my Fair Lady which sold out.  Bit of a hard act to follow! Little Shop is an amazing show and great fun to do, but was maybe not to the taste of some of our more established audience. However, I am a firm believer that although it is a priority to get bums on seats you still need to try new things – for the benefit of the members who are as keen as mustard to learn and want to experience the excitement of everything musical theatre can throw at them!  I have just finished my two years as a committee member and have learnt a huge amount in that time about what it costs to put on a show, and how to balance members interests against  commercial interests.  Without ticket sales you don’t have a show or a company basically – but you do need your members to be enthusiastic about what they are doing. 

The choice of show is a real ‘hot potato’ for the committee who have to make the decision every year.  Jesus Christ Superstar was chosen as the show for 2014 way back in 2012 and we did a great deal of research into it. One of the factors that influenced us was the fact that it has been recently resurrected as a Arena tour starring Tim Minchin, Mel C, Chris Moyles and of course Ben Forster who played Jesus and was chosen for the part via an ITV reality show.  This gave the show a huge amount of publicity and people know quite a bit about it.  So that helps a lot! 

I am probably going to be blogging a lot about this show as there is quite a lot to say and we don’t put it on until November so I thought I would kick things off with a few facts you may not know about Jesus Christ Superstar…

Did you know?

•  It was originally produced as an album before it ever became a show.  It only became a stage show when the album sold phenomenally well in America
• On the original album Ian Gillan who was the lead singer of Deep Purple played Jesus – hence the authentic ‘rock’ feel.
• Murray Head had a pretty unsuccessful career until Andrew Lloyd Webber asked him to play Judas on the original album – did you know his younger brother is Anthony Head of Buffy the Vampire fame?
• Agnetha from Abba played Mary Magdalene in the Swedish stage show – right before they won the Eurovision song contest! 

Agnetha in plaits - a fetching look in her pre ABBA days

Agnetha obviously went for beardy Jesus look alikes which is probably why she ended up with Bjorn

• "King Herod's Song" is actually a number from "King Richard", a failed Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. Tim Rice had to write new lyrics for this number so that it could be added to "Jesus Christ Superstar"; originally, the number was called "Those Saladin Days".  They wrote it in 20 minutes!
•  For the 1973 film three actors were considered for Jesus – Mickey Dolenz, David Cassidy and a 17 year old John Travolta (who then went on to be cast in Saturday Night Fever and Grease!)

I could have been Jesus

I could have been Jesus too - I had the hair

I also could have been Jesus - but at least I got Danny in Grease

I'm Ian Gillan and I WAS JESUS!!! I had the hair, the voice and the loincloth!

• Andrew Lloyd Webber hated the first stage show of JCS on Broadway – calling it a ‘travesty’.  He also hated the 1973 film.
• Johnny Rotten is currently playing Herod in the North American Tour- altogether now " I am an antichrist!"

Scary..just scary.....

A little thought to leave you all with – here’s a quote from Aussie Stage News who reviewed the recent Australian Arena Tour…

” It takes just the slightest misstep to get this famous, much seen and much recorded rock opera wrong. And Superstar is not a show that calls for slight steps. It needs boldness and creative daring.”

Mentioning no names but I've seen an amateur production which did get it soooo wrong....We have to nail this BSMTC peeps – so no pressure there guys!!

So to calm your minds, here is a lovely picture of Tim Minchin as Judas in the recent Arena tour  - just because...

Tim contemplates whether he should have had that dodgy kebab last night

A Night of Old Time Music Hall

I spent a really lovely evening on Saturday night watching my company BSMTC perform our annual Spring Show which this year was an Old Time Music Hall.  Our Spring Show was essentially conceived as a fundraising activity but what I really like about it is it gives members of our company who may not get leading roles in our main production a chance to shine. 

Music Hall is a very much a traditional British theatrical entertainment - with its orgins in London in the 1830s. It started off in public houses but grew in popularity and soon standalone music hall venues were being set up.  These theatres were designed chiefly so people could consume food and alcohol and smoke tobacco in the auditorium while the entertainment took place.  Sounds like a great night out to me - bar the smoking!

Music Hall made stars of people like  Marie Lloyd, Dan Leno, Little Tich and George Leybourne.  In fact Marie Lloyd was only 14 years old when she made her debut!  Songs from the music hall have become part of our culture - everyone knows My Old Man, You are My Honeysuckle and of course there are so many songs from the First World War too such as Keep the Home Fires Burning, Pack Up Your Troubles and Goodbyee. 

I was not in this Spring show as I decided to take a break - I started a new job in January and my commute is massive and tiring so I wanted to concentrate on getting established and settled.  But boy did I miss it!  I really wished I was up on stage on Saturday night as everyone looked like they were having so much fun.  What was really nice is that the older members of our company really seemed to enjoy performing in this show and there were some great comedy turns and beautiful solos.  A lot of my friends were in it and performed brilliantly - it was very well put together, colourful and fun. It's amazing what you can do in a village hall - with no scenery and just lighting to bring it all together.  The costumes really make a difference - I loved the cockney section with the pearly kings and queens the best.

My theatre pals Cat and Jay lead the company in The Lambeth Walk!  Oi!

In true music hall tradition we sat at tables, with our bottles of wine and beer and in the interval had fish and chips.  Simple but oh so enjoyable! My hubby always says he loves the Spring show because he likes the fish and chips. Not because he enjoys seeing his wife perform! I can't tell him off though as he took most of these photos for this years show and he made a really good job of it - I think I am going to offer his services to do our dress rehearsal pics for Jesus Christ Superstar which is our main show this year in November.  More on that in another blog post as we have our first show talk tomorrow night - Yippee!  To say I am excited is an understatement....we are all so looking forward to it.  I don't really care what I am in but I have a secret hankering to be a leper covered in blood - I just want to build my part up as much as possible so I figure I will get noticed if I am covered in blood! ha ha.  More of that later...

To get back to the Music Hall - here is the opening number from the show - Oh I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside - now we all know that one don't we?

Love the way the beach ball is in mid air in this one!

I had to include this one because I think it takes guts to wear a swimming costume like that - this was Swimmin' with the wimmin' - Richard came down with a nasty cold after the show - maybe it was the costume?

And this is of our lovely chorus girls doing Ta Ra Ra Boom Dee Ay.. Here's a little tip from me - get a corset if you are in a Musical Theatre group -  you will wear it loads....

 

And finally a picture of the BSMTC ladies doing a number from Oh! What a Lovely War  - fronted by my good friend Cat who was fabulous in the role of recruitment diva.  I keep telling her she should be on the stage....;)

What about you?  Have you ever been in an Old Time Music Hall - what songs did you sing? How did you stage it?