Very exciting times!
Mon, 2 Apr 2007, 12:29 pmSean B9 posts in thread
Very exciting times!
Mon, 2 Apr 2007, 12:29 pmRecently High School Musical rights to the stage were released to the world wide community as many of you would know. It will probably be one of the most produced shows of 2007 and it will be lapped up by audiences across the globe especially by those who are fans of the film- mostly of course, children.
And it is a great show for Children- with messages of tolerance towards those that are different to you, about being true to your inner self and not what everyone else wants you to be and of course standing up for what is right. That's all tied together with basketball, singing, dancing, acting and skateboarding- there's got to be something there for almost every child.
So to be involved in such a popular global phenomenon is incredibly exciting.
However recently we were informed through the rights agents that we are the premiere Australian performance of High School Musical. That's when I suddenly realised how BIG our little school play had become. Of course the cast is very excited- it's also very daunting...usually the first production in a country is by the pros not a bunch of high school kids (then again in relation to the story it makes sense).
To think that it will be my school that performed the show first, and that my name will go down as Assistant Director and the first Ryan Evans is very exciting. It's very exciting times at my school at the moment- with only three weeks left to show time.
Hopefully we do a good job!
So has anyone else been in any Australian Premiere shows- for instance I wrote an Aus Premiere- but it was on a much smaller scale- especially globablly...and I doubt anyone else is going to do my play (If you're interested though please contact me).
If not a premiere what was the most notable show you've been in to date?
Sean BMon, 2 Apr 2007, 12:29 pm
Recently High School Musical rights to the stage were released to the world wide community as many of you would know. It will probably be one of the most produced shows of 2007 and it will be lapped up by audiences across the globe especially by those who are fans of the film- mostly of course, children.
And it is a great show for Children- with messages of tolerance towards those that are different to you, about being true to your inner self and not what everyone else wants you to be and of course standing up for what is right. That's all tied together with basketball, singing, dancing, acting and skateboarding- there's got to be something there for almost every child.
So to be involved in such a popular global phenomenon is incredibly exciting.
However recently we were informed through the rights agents that we are the premiere Australian performance of High School Musical. That's when I suddenly realised how BIG our little school play had become. Of course the cast is very excited- it's also very daunting...usually the first production in a country is by the pros not a bunch of high school kids (then again in relation to the story it makes sense).
To think that it will be my school that performed the show first, and that my name will go down as Assistant Director and the first Ryan Evans is very exciting. It's very exciting times at my school at the moment- with only three weeks left to show time.
Hopefully we do a good job!
So has anyone else been in any Australian Premiere shows- for instance I wrote an Aus Premiere- but it was on a much smaller scale- especially globablly...and I doubt anyone else is going to do my play (If you're interested though please contact me).
If not a premiere what was the most notable show you've been in to date?
NaMon, 2 Apr 2007, 12:56 pm
Though not written by an
Though not written by an Aussie, my most notable premiere was the first Australian performance of Ten Days on Earth by Ronnie Burkett... a puppeteer of course!
If anyone is ever even remotely interested in puppetry, this is who you go see. Unfortunately, he lives in Canada and rarely comes to Australia, but if you ever catch him, it is worth it.
About 30 puppets. Two and a half hours. One man to perform it all. That says it all (oh, and if you think two and a half hours sounds long... Ronnie speed-talks, which makes his show even more incredible)
The Prompt Copy Store
www.store.thepromptcopy.com
Sticky Apple Legs
www.freewebs.com/stickyapplelegs
Puppets in Melbourne
www.freewebs.com/puppetsinmelbourne
Treading the Boards
www.treadingtheboards.thepromptcopy.com
imjustabroadwaybabyMon, 2 Apr 2007, 03:00 pm
I was in the Australian
I was in the Australian premier of the off-Broadway Maury Yeston musical-'In the Begining'- my youth theatre put it on in 2002. Lots of fun. A big challenge but it was such an unknown show that it didn't matter that we wern't the standard an Aust premier should be!
Also, I've written 3 musical productions- all of which were performed by youth theatres, and my most sucessful had a 2 wk run by a local theatre company earlier this year.
It'd be rather dissapointing for amateur groups to do the first productions in Australia of some of the bigger shows to hit Broadway in the past few yrs, as they wouldn't have the budget (or the talent in alot of cases, altho there is alot of unknown great talent in amateur groups!) to pull it off to the standard the should be in order to get Australian audience appreciation. Altho it's worrying that this may happen with the release of movie versions of the shows (Hairspray for one, and whispers of others) happening before our theatres put on the productions.
x
x
NaMon, 2 Apr 2007, 03:12 pm
Actually, it makes perfect
Actually, it makes perfect sense for the am. groups to produce these plays first time round in a new country. Take a look at some of the bigger musical productions (perhaps a few years ago, the current ones are doing better) previously shown in Melbourne. Many of them were 'flops', budget-wise, because they were too expensive to produce and make their money back with low audience sales/merchandising.
Whereas an amateur group may be able to produce the show on a smaller budget.
Many American shows get tested out here before they decide on how well they'll tour to other countries. So an amateur performance may draw enough attention to 'test the waters', but not enough to put off audiences for a professional production (although this is just my guess, and probably completely wrong. Feel free to correct me)
The Prompt Copy Store
www.store.thepromptcopy.com
Sticky Apple Legs
www.freewebs.com/stickyapplelegs
Puppets in Melbourne
www.freewebs.com/puppetsinmelbourne
Treading the Boards
www.treadingtheboards.thepromptcopy.com
Sean BMon, 2 Apr 2007, 03:35 pm
And then of course go back
And then of course go back over to where the plays originate. It is years before they appear on Broadway- or even 'Off-Broadway' and cut it big and then journey out to far reaching lands such as London or Australia. There is a testing period for all shows, workshopping etc.
If amateur productions are succesful a producer may see a good opportunity to hold a 'bigger show' once it has grabbed audience attention.
I know that I'm looking forward to seeing High School Musical productions done by other production companies so I can compare. It will be interesting.
_____________________________________________________________
Currently working on:
"The Ultimate Broadway Musical" The Three-Person, Audience Interactive, Little Bit Of Improv, Mini-Musical event of 2007.
NaMon, 2 Apr 2007, 09:39 pm
Yes, some forget that Hugh
Yes, some forget that Hugh Jackman was *not* the first person to play the lead in The Boy from Oz - simply because he managed to play it successfully in America.
Good luck with the show - just came back from tech run for mine... sometimes you wish you'd never even started.... And then there's now, where you just want to bury your head in a pile of sand.
Actually, it wasn't bad (the opposite!), it's just with puppetry, it never stops being reworked!
The Prompt Copy Store
www.store.thepromptcopy.com
Sticky Apple Legs
www.freewebs.com/stickyapplelegs
Puppets in Melbourne
www.freewebs.com/puppetsinmelbourne
Treading the Boards
www.treadingtheboards.thepromptcopy.com
Walter PlingeFri, 6 Apr 2007, 11:43 pm
I think you'll find it's
I think you'll find it's being done somewhere else next week
(HSM)
Sean BSun, 22 Apr 2007, 07:31 pm
Mmm yes I have heard
Ah yes, I am aware of the show being performed elsewhere.
All I can say is this. From the rights agents we were told (in writing) that we were the Australian Premiere.
With that thought in mind the rights agents have also hooked us up with the press for reports on the show and we're having representatives at the show on opening night along with other things.
I don't know why they would help organise these things in this instance.
That is I suppose all I can say because I know nothing about the situations of the other performances.
ANYWAY
Onward to the show, premiere or not!
Sean
_____________________________________________________________
Currently working on:
"The Ultimate Broadway Musical" The Three-Person, Audience Interactive, Little Bit Of Improv, Mini-Musical event of 2007.
Walter PlingeMon, 23 Apr 2007, 12:09 pm
Sorry mate... after I
Sorry mate... after I posted it felt mean spirited..it wasn't meant that way... just trying to avoid you getting in strife for advertising it that way... I would suggest you had the rights first.. the show I'm speaking of had a very tight rehearsal schedule...
It sold out 7 shows (they had to put an extra one in) seven shows in 3 days was 'busy'
It should be well received... I hope it goes really well and you have a great time with it