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Post by d'James on Jun 23, 2016 12:24:10 GMT
I have a question after reading it in another thread. What is a libretto? The libretto is another word for the 'book' of a musical, so all the dialogue and spoken word/structure  Oh good, thanks. I thought so, but the post I'm thinking of made me think they were different. |
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Post by ShoesForRent on Jun 23, 2016 12:53:57 GMT
I know this has already been brought up but I didn't fully understand the answer so I hope nobody minds me re-asking. The E6 in Phantom, is it always pre-recorded or do the Christine actresses actually hit it during performances, just not during the West End Live type things? Also, could somebody tell me which line it is on, so I can listen out for it on the soundtrack recording? Thanks. The note is always pre-recorded on regular perfomances at the theatre, in all productions (West End, Broadway, the different tours etc). (The entire title song is pre-recorded in all productions, the E6 is the last note of the title song- I linked a video of Sierra Bogges and John Owen Jones earlier in the thread, but it's the last note on all recordings you will find of the song) The entire song is recorded because of the scenery and use of doubles on stage. By the time the actors get to that portion of the song they are alone with no scenery moving, so very early on in the production (as in first previews) that portions (the AHHHs) were live. The reason they stopped singing it live then (and subsquently in all later productions) is for two reasons 1. (i didn't find the documentry but I did find some comments saying) Sarah Brightman would often lose her voice (this is also the reason Chrisitne only performs 6 shows a week) 2. The blocking for that particular moment has christine shhoting her head back, make it look like "the note escaped her throat/ floated out"- it's already a terribly hard note to hit, and practicly impossible in that pose. There actresses though who choose to sing along to the recorded track, to make it more authentic (I doubt they reach for that E6 volunterly every time though) During West End live type performances- the note is also pre-recorded almost always. (During that clip of Sierra and John though I don't know- because it's not held as long as usual) |
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Post by ncbears on Jun 23, 2016 14:42:44 GMT
I heard an interview with an actor playing Christine, I think on Broadway. Her story was something like this: They brought her in to record the final note. The other half of the song is sung live. She objected to the pre-recording saying she was healthy enough to sing it 6 shows a week. The producers said "no - everyone pre-records". But, it wasn't one take. It was multiple takes. So much so that she tired out her voice and couldn't sing the note live that night!
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Post by Phantom of London on Jun 23, 2016 15:38:22 GMT
Going back to 'click track' how does a click track time itself? What triggers the device to come in for Christines last note? How does it know when to trigger the pyrotechnics in the right place of a show? Does the click track ever get out of synch with whagts happening on stage? What does a click track look like?
Excuse my ignorants?
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Post by ShoesForRent on Jun 23, 2016 15:51:58 GMT
I heard an interview with an actor playing Christine, I think on Broadway. Her story was something like this: They brought her in to record the final note. The other half of the song is sung live. She objected to the pre-recording saying she was healthy enough to sing it 6 shows a week. The producers said "no - everyone pre-records". But, it wasn't one take. It was multiple takes. So much so that she tired out her voice and couldn't sing the note live that night! That's very intersting ggstern- you don't happen to remmember who it was? Its definetly at least the entire cadenza thats recorded, not just the last note (Ive seen mishaps lol) and the three first verses (The phantom's "sing for me"s are always live though) It's the last verse that might not be (in all your fantasies...) but I could have sworn I heard it is too... Next time Im seeing phantom from first row (could be as soon as Oct. Eek  ) I'll pay attention |
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Post by ShoesForRent on Jun 23, 2016 15:58:54 GMT
Going back to 'click track' how does a click track time itself? What triggers the device to come in for Christines last note? How does it know when to trigger the pyrotechnics in the right place of a show? Does the click track ever get out of synch with whagts happening on stage? What does a click track look like? Excuse my ignorants? I'm a 100% on this so might be wrong. I think it would work the same for most shows as it does Wicked It would be the show's stage manager, or whoever has booth duty(it might not be the stage manager himself but he oversees the whole thing) to click the clicktrack- for vocals, stage effects, auto scenery. Basically they sit in a booth/station (either above the audience or backstage) that has multiple cameras the stage and they click accordingly to the script in front of them. I mentioned Wicked because there is a wonderful documentary that follows Broadway's stage managers on youtube. |
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Jun 23, 2016 16:37:12 GMT
I never knew this about click tracks, and it makes me sad, knowing it now. One of the reasons I love going to the theatre is to hear wonderful singers achieving amazing things with their voices - I don't want to be going now and thinking that some of the most impressive stuff I'm hearing is on tape.
Incidentally, on the Phantom example - do they get all Christines to pre-record it, including understudies, so they're at least miming to their own vocal?
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Post by ShoesForRent on Jun 23, 2016 16:55:10 GMT
I never knew this about click tracks, and it makes me sad, knowing it now. One of the reasons I love going to the theatre is to hear wonderful singers achieving amazing things with their voices - I don't want to be going now and thinking that some of the most impressive stuff I'm hearing is on tape. Incidentally, on the Phantom example - do they get all Christines to pre-record it, including understudies, so they're at least miming to their own vocal? Yes every Christine (principle/alt/ u.s.) and Phantom (prin./ s.b / u.s) records thair tracks, separately- that way they can mix and match the different actors. But every actor has their own. I think Phantom is a real rarety- Ive yet to hear of another single note in musical theatre being recorded because they're too hard to hit. (Also with the E6 recorded, I don't think there is any reason Christine should be doing 6 show a week) |
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Post by Michael on Jun 23, 2016 17:25:41 GMT
I think Phantom is a real rarety- Ive yet to hear of another single note in musical theatre being recorded because they're too hard to hit. Nicole Parker told Seth Rudetsky in her Obsessed video*) that Elphaba's melting scream is pre-recorded, but everything else is sung live. *) |
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Post by 49thand8th on Jun 23, 2016 17:38:45 GMT
I never knew this about click tracks, and it makes me sad, knowing it now. One of the reasons I love going to the theatre is to hear wonderful singers achieving amazing things with their voices - I don't want to be going now and thinking that some of the most impressive stuff I'm hearing is on tape. Sorry! And the base of the Tony is plastic. Here's one of the oldest Phantom fan sites in existence with more info on the click-track: web.archive.org/web/20100314181839/http://www.phantomoftheopera.com/modules/article/view.article.php/c6/17Elder Price's "No, no, NOOOO" (right after I Believe) is also pre-recorded, so he doesn't have to do that anguished yell 8x a week. |
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Post by theatre-turtle on Jun 23, 2016 17:55:28 GMT
I never knew this about click tracks, and it makes me sad, knowing it now. One of the reasons I love going to the theatre is to hear wonderful singers achieving amazing things with their voices - I don't want to be going now and thinking that some of the most impressive stuff I'm hearing is on tape. Sorry! And the base of the Tony is plastic. Here's one of the oldest Phantom fan sites in existence with more info on the click-track: web.archive.org/web/20100314181839/http://www.phantomoftheopera.com/modules/article/view.article.php/c6/17Elder Price's "No, no, NOOOO" (right after I Believe) is also pre-recorded, so he doesn't have to do that anguished yell 8x a week. This is actually incredibly eye opening and a little sad. Grateful if anyone could shed light into which other shows use pre recorded vocals. Wicked? Miss Saigon? Billy Elliott? |
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Post by andrew on Jun 25, 2016 15:15:23 GMT
Is there a technical term for actors being onstage as the audience file into the auditorium, going about their business or walking around prior to the show properly starting? Recent memories include Great Britain, Doctor Faustus, Everyman etc...
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Post by dippy on Jun 25, 2016 16:16:05 GMT
I've heard it called pre-show but don't know if there's another name too.
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Post by theatremadness on Jun 25, 2016 17:25:11 GMT
Is there a technical term for actors being onstage as the audience file into the auditorium, going about their business or walking around prior to the show properly starting? Recent memories include Great Britain, Doctor Faustus, Everyman etc... As dippy says, you can have a pre-show, but that'd be something more like the recent Barnum UK Tour with circus acts in the audience before the show, pre-show is where there are actual 'performances' that happen before the show, I *think* the term might also be pre-set, where an actor is set before the show, if it's on stage then that's where they are pre-set. Can also apply to props, sets, costumes etc. May be wrong - will wrack my brain! |
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Post by ShoesForRent on Jun 25, 2016 17:33:36 GMT
This is actually incredibly eye opening and a little sad. Grateful if anyone could shed light into which other shows use pre recorded vocals. Wicked? Miss Saigon? Billy Elliott? I know most screams in shows are pre-recorded (understandably) [Eponine's Elphaba's...) I found this thread on BWW that is a pretty interesting read on different shows using prerecorded tracks for different reasons: www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=993796#3804023EDIT: Michael that video is hysterical. I remember binging OBSSESED! videos years ago- they were so good (and Nicole's was a standout) |
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Post by andrew on Jun 25, 2016 22:30:31 GMT
EDIT: Michael that video is hysterical. I remember binging OBSSESED! videos years ago- they were so good (and Nicole's was a standout) I wish he'd do more. I'm not sure how much of Seth Rudetsky I could tolerate in lengthy portions, but the videos are great. |
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Post by shady23 on Jun 25, 2016 22:48:08 GMT
Is there a technical term for actors being onstage as the audience file into the auditorium, going about their business or walking around prior to the show properly starting? Recent memories include Great Britain, Doctor Faustus, Everyman etc... Also The Play that Goes Wrong. |
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Post by firefingers on Jun 25, 2016 23:00:27 GMT
Yeah, I'd say pre-set as well.
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Post by ShoesForRent on Jun 26, 2016 6:50:03 GMT
EDIT: Michael that video is hysterical. I remember binging OBSSESED! videos years ago- they were so good (and Nicole's was a standout) I wish he'd do more. I'm not sure how much of Seth Rudetsky I could tolerate in lengthy portions, but the videos are great. Have you seen the hour long one he did live with Megan Hilty, Ramin Karimloo and Ana Gasteyer? I was sure he was gonna do more of those but I guess not. those and Side by Side on Broadway.com I used to watch all day long |
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Post by Jon on Jun 26, 2016 13:54:06 GMT
Side by Side by Side is absolutely hilarious, the Jonathan Groff episode is my favourite
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Post by andrew on Jun 27, 2016 10:10:47 GMT
Side by Side by Side is absolutely hilarious, the Jonathan Groff episode is my favourite There's a great clip of them running through Groff's family farm and upsetting all the fainting goats. She also made Daniel Radcliffe seem human in a different episode. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2016 18:37:12 GMT
Can somebody quickly explain the difference between a standby and understudy? I know what swings are but why can't Wicked just have an Elphaba understudy in the ensemble rather than have somebody sit backstage for 2hr 30 mins every day?
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Post by ShoesForRent on Jul 3, 2016 18:43:48 GMT
Can somebody quickly explain the difference between a standby and understudy? I know what swings are but why can't Wicked just have an Elphaba understudy in the ensemble rather than have somebody sit backstage for 2hr 30 mins every day? For emergency- they need to be able to switch between the cover and the Elphaba on the stage as quickly as possible. If the cover was part of the ensemble the time it would take to get her off stage (as they don't have earpieces there isnt really any elegant way to get them off stage) and into costume (+8-20 minute makeup) would stall the show for too long. Standbys are usually given to taxing lead roles who are on stage for a large portion of the show- meaning it is more likely something would go wrong, and in order to have the switch happen as smoothly as, a cover is needed backstage. I feel like there is a lot of thought that goes into it and it's ultimatly a producer's call. For ex. Chrisitne does not have a s/b but the Phantom does. Why is beyond me though ha! |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2016 19:07:31 GMT
Can somebody quickly explain the difference between a standby and understudy? I know what swings are but why can't Wicked just have an Elphaba understudy in the ensemble rather than have somebody sit backstage for 2hr 30 mins every day? For emergency- they need to be able to switch between the cover and the Elphaba on the stage as quickly as possible. If the cover was part of the ensemble the time it would take to get her off stage (as they don't have earpieces there isnt really any elegant way to get them off stage) and into costume (+8-20 minute makeup) would stall the show for too long. Standbys are usually given to taxing lead roles who are on stage for a large portion of the show- meaning it is more likely something would go wrong, and in order to have the switch happen as smoothly as, a cover is needed backstage. I feel like there is a lot of thought that goes into it and it's ultimatly a producer's call. For ex. Chrisitne does not have a s/b but the Phantom does. Why is beyond me though ha! What does the alternate Christine do for the rest of the week when they aren't on? Are they in the ensemble? |
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Post by ShoesForRent on Jul 3, 2016 19:14:20 GMT
For emergency- they need to be able to switch between the cover and the Elphaba on the stage as quickly as possible. If the cover was part of the ensemble the time it would take to get her off stage (as they don't have earpieces there isnt really any elegant way to get them off stage) and into costume (+8-20 minute makeup) would stall the show for too long. Standbys are usually given to taxing lead roles who are on stage for a large portion of the show- meaning it is more likely something would go wrong, and in order to have the switch happen as smoothly as, a cover is needed backstage. I feel like there is a lot of thought that goes into it and it's ultimatly a producer's call. For ex. Chrisitne does not have a s/b but the Phantom does. Why is beyond me though ha! What does the alternate Christine do for the rest of the week when they aren't on? Are they in the ensemble? That a really good question. I know she isn't in the ensemble, and I'm almost sure she doesn't wait backstage either. I feel like she has to stay within a radius of the theatre though, but I can't say that I know. I wonder what an alt.'s pay is like. I mean they must get minimum week's pay even just for the 1/2 performances right? Maybe someone knows |
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) I'll pay attention
