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HELP NEEDED: Musicals in Concert

Posted by: BEME 02:23 pm EDT 08/06/14

I am compiling a list of shows to produce in concert version as a fundraiser for a local organization. The show needs to be popular, obviously, and it should have rich orchestrations (they'll be a 30-piece orchestra) and strong choral part.

Shows like Oklahoma, My Fair Lady, Carousel, and South Pacific come to mind right away. Any other suggestions?


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Rights?

Posted by: Carol2 08:08 am EDT 08/07/14
In reply to: HELP NEEDED: Musicals in Concert - BEME 02:23 pm EDT 08/06/14

There might be rights issues with this. Depending on the show's licensing agency, you may not be able to do a full show in concert without special permission. I've noticed that MTI has a specific list (see link).

Link http://www.mtishows.com/concertsbway.asp

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or availability

Posted by: Carol2 08:23 am EDT 08/07/14
In reply to: Rights? - Carol2 08:08 am EDT 08/07/14

Maybe the concert lists are just in terms of what's available that is already orchestrated. Just out of curiosity I did a search on the topic for R&H and found that they have notes about concerts in their FAQ section on their website.

Link http://www.rnh.com/faq.html

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There is a distincition about Full Concert Performance and Concert Library

Posted by: Quicheo 10:21 am EDT 08/07/14
In reply to: or availability - Carol2 08:23 am EDT 08/07/14

You raise a good point about licensing and it's a good idea to check to be sure there is not a restriction in the license. In my experience, usually most licensing houses are okay with presenting a whole work as a semi-staged concert.

Some houses, like R and H and MTI, have concert libraries where SINGLE SONGS can be rented for presentation in a concert with full orchestra. For example, when our theater had a milestone birthday, we did a concert and featured songs from shows from our previous seasons. We rented the orchestrations on a song by song basis. This is one legal way to perform the songs. A note--sometimes, the songs in question are NOT the same orchestration provided when one licenses the whole show. A discussion with the Concert Library people at each house is often helpful.

Some houses, notably Tams, have no mechanism to rent a single song, at least not to community or lower tier professional theaters. In these cases, one must either forgo the songs or buy the full orchestration for a song outright (several publishers offer such, often designed for school concerts, etc.).

I'm sure others have had far more experience than I and can offer more solutions.


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re: HELP NEEDED: Musicals in Concert

Posted by: MikeR 04:59 pm EDT 08/06/14
In reply to: HELP NEEDED: Musicals in Concert - BEME 02:23 pm EDT 08/06/14

The Rodgers & Hammerstein shows, for the most part, don't meet the "strong choral part" requirements. In Carousel, all the choral singing is in unison. It's mostly unison in Oklahoma, with the exception of the title song.

Your chorus will be happier with the Lerner & Loewe shows (Brigadoon has some especially lovely choral music). Also, if memory serves Jerry Herman shows have some good choral parts, so you might consider Mame or Hello Dolly as well.


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re: HELP NEEDED: Musicals in Concert

Posted by: Chromolume 10:39 am EDT 08/07/14
In reply to: re: HELP NEEDED: Musicals in Concert - MikeR 04:59 pm EDT 08/06/14

In Carousel, all the choral singing is in unison.

Well, not literally, but yes, most of it is, and I know what you're trying to say. yet, the few moments of harmony do stick out in a wonderful way. Maybe the end of "Clambake" doesn't feel all that special, but certainly the harmonies in the final reprise of "You'll Never Walk Alone" are very effective. And there's also that wonderful 2-part harmony moment for the women that leads into the reprise of "Mister Snow" (that section is among my favorite moments in the score).

Allegro has more choral part-writing than the other R&H shows (and features all that Greek chorus dialogue as well) - but I would assume it's not a popular enough title for this poster's needs.

The choral writing in Brigadoon is fun and lovely, I agree. And any of the big Herman shows would be rewarding chorally as well.


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re: HELP NEEDED: Musicals in Concert

Posted by: showtunesoprano 02:35 pm EDT 08/06/14
In reply to: HELP NEEDED: Musicals in Concert - BEME 02:23 pm EDT 08/06/14

Candide, Sweeney Todd, West Side Story


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re: HELP NEEDED: Musicals in Concert

Posted by: Zelgo 04:50 pm EDT 08/06/14
In reply to: re: HELP NEEDED: Musicals in Concert - showtunesoprano 02:35 pm EDT 08/06/14

Oh, Calcutta!


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