As you may be able to surmise from the title of this blog, things are back on track for me in the world of musical theatre!
Last night's class was an incredible improvement from the previous week. My voice was much better, louder, in tune; and my dancing was also a lot better (although my Hairspray routine still needs a lot of improvement). What made it exceptionally great however, was the fact that the boys (yes, us) had the opportunity to do a dance of our own, and guess what it was... the Linde Hop! A dance I very much loved from beginners class last semester. In fact, it's the same routine we did from that class, so I already knew it, which was a bonus.
Obviously, in my current condition, I could not do the lifts, but when I'm better (hopefully by the show), I'll have no problems doing those either.
It's so nice to be able to do a dance that's remotely technical. After moving down to the simple dance routine (to be alongside the other guys), I've been feeling rather underused (this coming from the guy who completely refused to dance a few months ago). I think I have a lot more to offer, dance-wise, and if you see the routine I'm doing now for the beginning of Joseph... well... I don't find it challenging at all; and I was seriously starting to get a bit bummed out.
BUT, now with the Linde Hop, I feel there has been some justice at last.
Singing-wise, the auditions for the next male parts are next Monday, which is when I'll be auditioning for the Jamaican-esque segment from the Joseph Megamix; and I'm considering perhaps trying out for the Edna part from Hairspray - but I seriously need to work on my voice for that... I have a week. I have no problems auditioning for singing, even though I know I'm not a great singer; I just hope the same thing as last week doesn't happen again.
But all in all, I'm quite happy. Last night's class left me on a high, which is what it should have done - which is what I missed after the previous class. So now, onwards and upwards. Bring on next week!
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
Making a musical 15: The disaster class!!!
You know, how in like loads of TV shows, or in certain films; there's like the 'disaster' show/film/segment?
A great example of this is Back to the Future 2; or Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back. It's complete pain, misery - one bad thing after the next; ending on a cliff hanger, with no feeling of hope for a happy ending.
Well, last night's musical theatre class was my disaster class! Perhaps disaster is too strong a word, but I figure that if I'm going to be partaking in theatre type stuff, I should at least start acting theatrical, and over-dramatic!
So anyway, it started off with my voice. It was a mess. I knew from the start, when we were doing the vocal warm ups, that I was totally off. I'm not a good singer anyway, but I could feel the tickle in the back of my throat, and it just was not a promising sign - especially since we were semi-auditioning for the solo parts in Joseph; and I really wanted the Pharaoh solo; which I have been practising 3 weeks for.
Obviously, when it came down to it, I just couldn't even hit the right key; and much to my disappointment, I had to/volunteered to give the part away to someone else.
After that, I was just totally embarrassed and so not with it.
When it came to dancing, my timing was a complete shambles. My moves were off. I forgot so much (and this is to the dance of hairspray, which I know inside out). Despite my love for dance, I just didn't want to be there. I couldn't look anyone in the eye and I couldn't wait for the class to be over.
It was the slowest two hours ever.
It has totally scared the hell out of me for auditioning again next week for the other solo part. I mean, I know my singing isn't great - but I worked really hard for that part, and I know I could have nailed it any other time.
Alas... I suppose that's what happens.
BUT not all hope is lost.
In the world of creating a musical, I have FINALLY come up with a story line (with the help of my friend Jenny) I am happy with. As soon as I finish my current screenplay (hopefully by the end of this week), I will start working on the musical.
Now, a little bit about the musical since my last blog on the subject - I'm going to write it for the stage. It's going to be about 40mins-1 hour long. The story line is completely genius, but I don't want to give too much away before I actually start writing it. It'll be a lot of music, and not really much dialogue - which is totally different from the film I was writing.
I have a few contacts now from dance class and musical theatre, which I'm hoping to use to get cast and venue etc...
I've already got all these lyrics flying around in my head. I'm hoping it will be entertaining, funny, and original. It's not going to be easy, but then when have I ever taken on an easy task?
If all goes well, and please do keep your fingers crossed, I'll have a production in place by the end of the year.
So maybe this post isn't complete disaster, because there is some hope... for my musical at least :)
A great example of this is Back to the Future 2; or Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back. It's complete pain, misery - one bad thing after the next; ending on a cliff hanger, with no feeling of hope for a happy ending.
Well, last night's musical theatre class was my disaster class! Perhaps disaster is too strong a word, but I figure that if I'm going to be partaking in theatre type stuff, I should at least start acting theatrical, and over-dramatic!
So anyway, it started off with my voice. It was a mess. I knew from the start, when we were doing the vocal warm ups, that I was totally off. I'm not a good singer anyway, but I could feel the tickle in the back of my throat, and it just was not a promising sign - especially since we were semi-auditioning for the solo parts in Joseph; and I really wanted the Pharaoh solo; which I have been practising 3 weeks for.
Obviously, when it came down to it, I just couldn't even hit the right key; and much to my disappointment, I had to/volunteered to give the part away to someone else.
After that, I was just totally embarrassed and so not with it.
When it came to dancing, my timing was a complete shambles. My moves were off. I forgot so much (and this is to the dance of hairspray, which I know inside out). Despite my love for dance, I just didn't want to be there. I couldn't look anyone in the eye and I couldn't wait for the class to be over.
It was the slowest two hours ever.
It has totally scared the hell out of me for auditioning again next week for the other solo part. I mean, I know my singing isn't great - but I worked really hard for that part, and I know I could have nailed it any other time.
Alas... I suppose that's what happens.
BUT not all hope is lost.
In the world of creating a musical, I have FINALLY come up with a story line (with the help of my friend Jenny) I am happy with. As soon as I finish my current screenplay (hopefully by the end of this week), I will start working on the musical.
Now, a little bit about the musical since my last blog on the subject - I'm going to write it for the stage. It's going to be about 40mins-1 hour long. The story line is completely genius, but I don't want to give too much away before I actually start writing it. It'll be a lot of music, and not really much dialogue - which is totally different from the film I was writing.
I have a few contacts now from dance class and musical theatre, which I'm hoping to use to get cast and venue etc...
I've already got all these lyrics flying around in my head. I'm hoping it will be entertaining, funny, and original. It's not going to be easy, but then when have I ever taken on an easy task?
If all goes well, and please do keep your fingers crossed, I'll have a production in place by the end of the year.
So maybe this post isn't complete disaster, because there is some hope... for my musical at least :)
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
Making a musical 14: Time for a change...
Sometimes in a man's life, he must make a choice: to continue with things as they are, or to build up the courage to climb the mountain of fear, and scream from atop the summit of despair: "I'M NOT HAPPY!", and that, my friends, is exactly what I am doing now!
My current musical script is close to completion. In fact, there is very little left to do, and looking at it in its near entirety, I must admit, I am very pleased with the result. It is refreshing (for a musical), and even (dare I say it) funny in places. However, most of the original circumstances upon which I based a lot of the story has changed, and although I like the script, I'm not happy to continue with it, as my heart is no longer in the words. It can probably explain why it's taken me so long to work on an ending. I honestly cannot locate the inspiration to complete it. So, do I carry on with things as they are? Force an ending and make this film? - or do I admit that I'm not happy with it, and I want a change?
Well, I'm going for a change - a change that makes nearly 6 months of work completely pointless. But I justify it through the following simple explanation: Why make a film I don't want to make?
Luckily it's all in the pre-production stages, and thankfully circumstances changed now as opposed to later on, when it's easier to change things.
For this reason, I am able to sever ties with the current script, and begin working on something completely new. A different story, with different songs (yes, it's still going to be a musical); but shorter this time.
The last script was teetering on close to 3 hours. After editing, I could have probably taken it down to 2 hours - but that's still a lot for an inexperienced film maker. So I'm thinking of making something shorter, possibly an hour long. And I've got some great ideas.
It'll still be refreshing (for a musical), and it'll still be (dare I say it) funny. But at least now it'll be something that my heart is in, and it'll be shorter, and therefore cheaper and easier to produce.
I'm currently working on another short film, hot on the heels of Spare Room, my last short. And once that is complete, I'll get to work on the new musical script.
I'm very excited, and now that I have more experience in dance (and musical theatre in general), I'm hoping for a much more professional film.
Wish me luck, and pray that I find solace in the new script :) lol.
My current musical script is close to completion. In fact, there is very little left to do, and looking at it in its near entirety, I must admit, I am very pleased with the result. It is refreshing (for a musical), and even (dare I say it) funny in places. However, most of the original circumstances upon which I based a lot of the story has changed, and although I like the script, I'm not happy to continue with it, as my heart is no longer in the words. It can probably explain why it's taken me so long to work on an ending. I honestly cannot locate the inspiration to complete it. So, do I carry on with things as they are? Force an ending and make this film? - or do I admit that I'm not happy with it, and I want a change?
Well, I'm going for a change - a change that makes nearly 6 months of work completely pointless. But I justify it through the following simple explanation: Why make a film I don't want to make?
Luckily it's all in the pre-production stages, and thankfully circumstances changed now as opposed to later on, when it's easier to change things.
For this reason, I am able to sever ties with the current script, and begin working on something completely new. A different story, with different songs (yes, it's still going to be a musical); but shorter this time.
The last script was teetering on close to 3 hours. After editing, I could have probably taken it down to 2 hours - but that's still a lot for an inexperienced film maker. So I'm thinking of making something shorter, possibly an hour long. And I've got some great ideas.
It'll still be refreshing (for a musical), and it'll still be (dare I say it) funny. But at least now it'll be something that my heart is in, and it'll be shorter, and therefore cheaper and easier to produce.
I'm currently working on another short film, hot on the heels of Spare Room, my last short. And once that is complete, I'll get to work on the new musical script.
I'm very excited, and now that I have more experience in dance (and musical theatre in general), I'm hoping for a much more professional film.
Wish me luck, and pray that I find solace in the new script :) lol.
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