Robbie's Sweeney Todd updates

[RAPstar]

Congratulations on the role! As anyone who knows me well enough can tell you, Sweeney is my all-time favorite musical (but please don't get me started on that piece of dreck they called a film---Helena Bonham Carter-please).

In fact, Rob and I are going to be seeing a benefit concert version soon with Davis Gaines and Faith Prince.

It's my deepest, darkest dream to play Sweeney one day.
Consider me very jealous of you.

I love Faith Prince! She's about to take over Ursula on Broadway! I so wanna go see her do that!

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

Woo-Hoo! Great news!

 

[RAPstar]

Ok, so far, I've discovered, watching Sweeney Todd is fun.....trying to learn the music is a pain in the buttocks!! That and we've gone from 14 ensemble members to 10, and only 4 guys. But apparently, i get to be one of Sweeney's victims, so yay!!!

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

i get to be one of Sweeney's victims, so yay!!!

Where is the Tag Fairy when you need him/her?

 

[goofy4tink]

Ok, so far, I've discovered, watching Sweeney Todd is fun.....trying to learn the music is a pain in the buttocks!! That and we've gone from 14 ensemble members to 10, and only 4 guys. But apparently, i get to be one of Sweeney's victims, so yay!!!

I'm in our ST ensemble too!!! And we just cast Sweeney's 'victims' last night. I get to be the wife of one of his 'intended' victims but because the wife (me) and our child are there, Sweeney decides not to kill my dh!!!
The whole remembering of lyrics is driving me nuts though....but, I am enjoying being a lunatic!!!
We go up the end of May....have fun with your production. We're losing ensemble people as well.

 

[MemoToMe]

Rob and I saw the Davis Gaines/Faith Prince Sweeney last week. Awesome show! One interesting thing they did during Sweeney's "Joannah", is when Sweeney slit the throats of the victims, he would pull a length of red silk from the victims shirts at the neckline (something very similar to what they do in the current stage version of Chicago during "Cell Block Tango").

For those in productions of ST, are you using stage blood, or going with more creative (and less messy) ways of dispatching victims?

 

[goofy4tink]

Rob and I saw the Davis Gaines/Faith Prince Sweeney last week. Awesome show! One interesting thing they did during Sweeney's "Joannah", is when Sweeney slit the throats of the victims, he would pull a length of red silk from the victims shirts at the neckline (something very similar to what they do in the current stage version of Chicago during "Cell Block Tango").

For those in productions of ST, are you using stage blood, or going with more creative (and less messy) ways of dispatching victims?

That was dicussed last night, but nothing definative. I'm assuming when the production team meets this coming week, they'll come up with something. I would prefer it to be red silk vs liquid blood....I think the liquid could be lost out in the audience. Our house holds about 450-500, so if you're midway back, you aren't going to see the blood if it's liquid.
Not to mention our costume dept people are not going to be happy if they have to worry about 'blood' on their costumes!!! They don't even like us to eat grapes backstage...could drip on the costumes!!!

 

[RAPstar]

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypzowIgUA9o

Just the theatre right now. I hope to get a show clip tomorrow. We're using a red light, cause we're cheap like that. lol Our house only holds 250, it's very small.

 

[dis75ney]

When my group did ST (I had a conflict and wasn't able to audition), they used copious amounts of stage blood. I have no idea how the costume mistress was able to clean it all up between shows...my DH was in a show where he was "shot" every night and I just ended up having to buy new shirts for each performance...thankfully, he was only wearing a t-shirt, so not too expensive...

My group has an extremely small house (about 160), so we were able to get away with stage blood. For a larger house, I'd think red silk would have to be used in order to be seen from further back...

 

[MemoToMe]

Actually, I saw the original touring production w/ Angela Landsbury and George Hearn many moons ago, and they used stage blood. In one instance, I think when ST slits Pirelli's throat, they positioned a light just so, so that you would see blood flying across the stage. I was a very cool, but messy effect.

If I'm not mistaken, for the John Doyle production (the most recent revival), they used lighting. Using stage blood is probably great for some audiences, but for many local productions, they have to take into account the delicate sensibilities of their audiences in this increasingly non-confrontational and PC world. Heaven forbid if you commit the theatrical equivalent of "bad touch".

 

[RAPstar]

Actually, I saw the original touring production w/ Angela Landsbury and George Hearn many moons ago, and they used stage blood. In one instance, I think when ST slits Pirelli's throat, they positioned a light just so, so that you would see blood flying across the stage. I was a very cool, but messy effect.

If I'm not mistaken, for the John Doyle production (the most recent revival), they used lighting. Using stage blood is probably great for some audiences, but for many local productions, they have to take into account the delicate sensibilities of their audiences in this increasingly non-confrontational and PC world. Heaven forbid if you commit the theatrical equivalent of "bad touch".

Actually, in the revival they sorta used both. During the second act "Johanna" sung by Todd and Anthony, when Mrs. Lovett is supposed ot be throwing "pieces" in the over, she carried around a big bucket of stage blood or red water and emptied it from one bucket to another then carried the full bucket around the stage to re-empty it into the other bucket. I loved the revival!! lol

 

[goofy4tink]

Evidently we're going with 'stage blood'. Our costume people have some kind of formula that is easily removed but looks pretty authentic. We'll see.
So far,we've lost our musical director, our Tobias and our Mrs. Lovett!! Had to recast Tobias and Mrs L from within the cast, but it actually was a godsend. The new Mrs. L is a much better fit with the cast. Tobias was also recast from the ensemble and looks to be a good choice. I haven't worked with the new musical director yet..he just started Sunday and I didn't have a call that day. So...we'll see. All I know is that our cast is finally gelling...actually having fun now. That wasn't the case two weeks ago.
The music is still nasty to learn though.

 

[RAPstar]

Days until we open: 4
Total number of run throughs: 0

 

[dis75ney]

Days until we open: 4
Total number of run throughs: 0

Are you sure you're not working at my theater? This is a regular occurance with my group...

As someone who has been there, done that, and gotten many more tacky t-shirts than she cares to admit to, it'll all come together before opening night...try not to worry about it. That's what your director and stage manager are supposed to do...

Break a leg!!!

 

[dis75ney]

If I'm not mistaken, for the John Doyle production (the most recent revival), they used lighting. Using stage blood is probably great for some audiences, but for many local productions, they have to take into account the delicate sensibilities of their audiences in this increasingly non-confrontational and PC world. Heaven forbid if you commit the theatrical equivalent of "bad touch".

We did Rocky Horror a couple of years ago...between Rocky, ST, and Best Little *Brothel* in Texas, I think we've managed to offend nearly every person in our 'burb. Hasn't slowed us down one bit...in fact, Rocky came in 2nd in total earnings for a show ever (behind Joseph).

What's really funny is that we had season pass holders refuse to see Diary of Anne Frank because the material was "too sensitive/offensive", yet these were the same people that filled our house for Rocky, ST, and *Brothel*...

 

[wallyb]

We did Rocky Horror a couple of years ago...between Rocky, ST, and Best Little *Brothel* in Texas, I think we've managed to offend nearly every person in our 'burb. Hasn't slowed us down one bit...in fact, Rocky came in 2nd in total earnings for a show ever (behind Joseph).

Toucha toucha toucha touch me, I wanna be dirty
Thrill me chill me fulfil me
Creature of the night.

 

[MonorailMan]

Days until we open: 4
Total number of run throughs: 0

Oh dear.

This is one of those shows you probably don't want to perform without at least one run-through.......or four.

 

[Disneysoloist]

When we did "A View from the Bridge", the lead gets stabbed in the chest at the end of the play. We made stage blood from clear dishwashing liquid, and added red food coloring and a few drops of green. We put the "blood" in a zip lock bag and used a safety pin to attach it to his t-shirt (he had a white dress shirt over it). It worked great, and the dishwashing liquid worked well when washing the shirt. It was a little pink after washing, but did not read from the audience because of the lights.
I saw the re-worked (pared down) Sweeney when it came to Boston. It was great, but I like the full cast version better.

 

[Saxton]

Days until we open: 4
Total number of run throughs: 0

So are you ready for the big night?

 

[RAPstar]

So are you ready for the big night?

We're almost there. We canceled tonights show just because this show is technical hell....plus to give our new Mrs. Lovett just a little more prep time. The last three nights of run throughs have gone well. Last night was probably the best we've done the show, IMO. Also, as per last night, this will be my first show to ever wear a stage mic. I'm in the bass in "The Letter" quintet and there's just no way to hear me cause its so low without one. So yay to that!