ruds

Musical Proposals ‘09

This is a guide to the proposal system that takes place for submitting
directors of a musical to take place in Week 9 of Spring Term with
rehearsals starting in Week 6/7 of Autumn Term.

In this document you will find the following information

Which musicals have been shortlisted? 2

Why these musicals? 2

More information about the musicals. 2

Now you’ve picked one, what to do now? 7

What about a choreographer, musical director and producer?

7

What do I need to prepare for the proposal meeting? 7

What will happen at the proposal meeting? 8

What happens next? 9

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Which musicals have been shortlisted?

Bye Bye Birdie

Calamity Jane
Fame: The Musical
Guys and Dolls

Why these musicals?

We are keen to offer both audiences and society members

variety in the shows we produce. We looked at what we have
done previously and opted for the shortlisted musicals based on
the following criteria

book musicals
set in a defined location and time
opportunities for non-singing parts
even mix of male to female roles
uplifting themes and catchy numbers
fun to perform
proven successes with amateur groups

Submitting directors should stick to the musical shortlist. If you’ve

got a show in mind that fits in with the above criteria but is not on
the shortlist and feel like you absolutely must do it, get in touch at
committee@ruds.co.uk to see if we can accommodate it.

More information about the musicals.

On the following pages you will find starting points to research

the shortlist.

Don’t just go straight for the ones you know. There might be one
or two on the list you know nothing about that could become
your new favourite.

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Bye Bye Birdie

Setting
1950s Americana

You might like this if you like

Hairspray, Grease.

Wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bye_Bye_Birdie

Stream the soundtrack on Spotify

http://open.spotify.com/album/7gJHoUHjd5NJxtyKemYQvf

Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPPIL5k85_g

Performing Rights:
http://www.tamswitmark.com/musicals/byebirdie.html

Movie?
The 1963 film version of Bye Bye Birdie is COMPLETELY different to
the musical and a little bit rubbish if I’m honest. Some things
remain intact such as ‘The Telephone Hour’ but much of the rest
is a butchering of a classic stage musical. A TV movie was made
in 1995 that is truer to the stage show but more difficult to get a
hold of.

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Calamity Jane
Setting
Wild West

You might like this if you like

Annie Get Your Gun, Oklahoma

Wiki: Nothing on the musical but here’s the page for the film
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calamity_Jane_%28film%29

Spotify: soundtrack from the film

http://open.spotify.com/album/6DCvm5dL5s9C8ZqvK9yAEG

Video: Youtube is devoid of any decent clips from the stage

production, here is the best I could find
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH3OptD1Npw

Performing Rights
http://www.tams-witmark.com/musicals/calamityjane.html

Movie?

All the music was originally written for the 1953 movie but has
since been reworked into a stage show. Much is the same but
orchestrations of songs are different and the chorus gets more of
a look in.

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Fame: The Musical

Setting
1980s New York high school of Performing Arts

You might like this if you like

High School Musical

Wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fame_%28musical%29

Stream the soundtrack on Spotify

http://open.spotify.com/album/5xHFs8DkSHSpEhsIDvuEYu

Video
http://www.famenetwork.com/video-famevids.php

Performing Rights
http://www.josef-weinberger.com/index.html (the US liscence holders
have great casting info on their site at
http://www.mtishows.com/show_detail.asp?showid=000127)

Movie?

The musical is a different beast from the original 1980 film. Same
school but different time, different characters and completely
different score although the title song remains in some guise. The
characters even bitch about the movie in the musical. Many of
the storylines are similar though and the tone of the two is the
same. There is a re-envisioning of the 80s classic released this
month which is again rather different (as far as I can tell!). The
Fame franchise is a large one, each with different facets but all
based around similar characters at Performing Arts.

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Guys and Dolls

Setting
1920s New York

You might like this if you like

Singin’ in the Rain

Wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guys_and_Dolls

Stream the soundtrack on Spotify

http://open.spotify.com/album/4q2e5KZCBx9j4iHj9PyZwH

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

Performing Rights
http://www.josef-weinberger.com/index.html (the US liscence holders
have good casting info on their site at
http://www.mtishows.com/show_detail.asp?showid=000040)

Movie?
The 1955 film is quite truthful to the stage show in terms of plot but
many of the songs are omitted or substituted.

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Now you’ve picked one, what to do now?

Look at our guide to directing to see what qualities we look for in

directors.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/18500303/Directing-a-Play-with-ruds

The Code of Conduct will inform you further of your

responsibilities during production.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/16812610/RUDS-Code-of-Conduct-
20092010

Start thinking about how you would present your chosen show.
Gather images together to show at the proposal meeting.

Let us know your intent to propose to committee@ruds.co.uk

Check up on the Facebook group to see when the proposal

meeting is scheduled for.

What about a choreographer, musical director and producer?

You will need to find these people to help you in your proposal.

You can bring anyone you know with specialist talents like these
on board to help you. Make sure you can rely on them.

If you don’t know anyone who can fill these roles, don’t worry,
we can help hook you up to someone suitable and experienced
in society productions.

What do I need to prepare for the proposal meeting?

The most important thing is we want to know why you want to do

your show and what it will communicate to audiences.

How will your show look and what will be the tone? Strong visual
ideas are very welcome. Keep your ideas uncomplicated but
creative.

You can present your research in any way you chose.

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Some create short power point presentations, others provide

mood boards and some just talk and have one or two key
images to share.

Your proposal should not only argue the strength of your show
but also of your creativity, organisation and passion.

Make sure your ideas are strong and clear but be aware that
you may be asked how you would do things differently.

Being willing to work with the time and space constraints of the
society is very valued.

What will happen at the proposal meeting?

The proposal meeting takes place before the committee and is

open to anyone from the society. Be prepared to talk to a
sizable group of people in an informal setting.

Each proposal will have a time limit depending how many

submissions there are to hear. This time limit will be set between
10-15 with an additional 10 minutes of questions from the floor.

Once all proposals have been heard and questions answered,

the submitting directors and any senior production team
members will be asked to leave.

The society and committee discusses what has been put

forward. A preliminary vote is then taken from all in attendance.
General society members are then asked to leave.

The committee continues the discussion looking at the proposals

in greater detail, considering the society members’ views and
worries. A decision is then reached.

All submitting directors will be informed the next day if their

proposal has been selected. A group e-mail will be sent out
informing the society of the decision.

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What happens next?

When your proposal is selected you will be required to submit a

production pack to the committee. This pack will contain the
following information

Synopsis
Themes & Issues of the piece
Character biographies and notes for auditionees.
Visual approach, staging and design
Marketing image ideas
Draft rehearsal schedule

This pack is vital in order to everyone informed of your intentions

and to help you focus towards your goal – directing a show
stopping musical!

This pack is good first proof of your reliability. Musicals cost

hundreds of pounds to produce and involves most of the society
– it assures everybody to know how the show is going to work.

Only once this pack has been received and looked over by the
committee will auditions be permitted to be advertised.

As with all society productions, one member of the committee is

required to sit in on all stages of auditions. They will assist the
senior production team (director/choreographer/musical
director/producer) in their casting.

We ask this is insure that new faces get recognised, people who
have given lots of time previously backstage get a chance in the
limelight and that old-timers don’t get cast as the leads time and
time again.

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And then it is all over to you. You’ll then need to find your
production team and start work on rehearsals right away.

The committee will be on hand to assist you at all stages of your

productions. Communication is vital in making sure we can help
you put on your show the way you imagine it!

You will be invited to committee meetings regularly to provide

updates on production.

If you want any additional information, get in touch with at

committee@ruds.co.uk

Eve
Artistic Director

September 09

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