OKAY FIRST OF ALL! I AM SO EXCITED AT THE VERY THOUGHT OF THAT PICSPAM, THAT I COULD LIKE... DO A LAP AROUND MY HOUSE/WRITE THIS ENTIRE COMMENT IN CAPSLOCK. But I will refrain. But yes absolutely I will! I mean I can't think of what I'd say, BUT I WILL FIGURE IT OUT. Even if I have to watch them a bunch of times. That's always hard.
GIRL, I AM NOT EVEN LYING WHEN I SAY THAT I AM 1/3 DONE WITH the SBfSB one. I *~*got*~* the movie, and I haven't even watched any of it, I just went straight to the barnraising dance. West Side Story was checked out at the movie store, and I'm working on Oklahoma!, but! Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is check, check, check. I have exactly 123 caps, just of the dance! And I will go chronologically, so Oklahoma! will be next (and I may be so tired from this one that it won't come for ages, but it's a-brewin').
I'm not really sure why that first part was in all caps? But really, I mean it. I already have the caps I have so far posted in a private entry. Whaaat.
P.P.S. I am smiling so much at the Lee Pace!iness of our icons.
I am! In three parts. I'm still deciding which song in West Side Story to do (I would love your input should you want to give it – I'm torn between "America" and "Dance at the Gym," although I'm leaning toward "America"). The dream ballet in Oklahoma! is TEN MINUTES LONG, which is too long for it to be as comprehensive as this current one is/will be, but I'll figure it out! I have a really original title for it: the Choreography Extravaganza Picspam. Seriously, this Seven Brothers one is so big; it will break your computer screen. But my plan right now is just to post it with Part #/movie title/choreographer, and maybe a few words about the colors? I don't knooooow.
Okay, so I rewatched the West Side Story scenes on youtube, aaaaaand I definitely like "Dance at the Gym" (marginally) better. Because there are lots of horns and it tells a story and I like that? Yeah. BUT THEY'RE BOTH BEAUTIFUL, and I kiiiiind of think "America" might be easier to picspam? "Dance at the Gym" is a little more chaotic.
The dream ballet will lend itself naturally to trimming, won't it? -- the sequence inside the saloon (?) is a lot of it.
I like this way, though, it spreads the joy! Plus oh, god, the colors. Technicolor is such a gift.
It's tough! Because I feel like it has to be more about the colors and the dance moves, since the picspams are musicless? But! One of the reasons why I like the dream ballet so much is because it's basically the entire score redone. That part where Dream Curly and co. are fake horseriding to their "wedding"? One of the reasons I like it so much is because of the music! But I think I'll wait until I get WSS on DVD, so I can decide which will be easier/less time-consuming.
he dream ballet will lend itself naturally to trimming, won't it? Yeah, I think so. The saloon scene is kind of odd, so I probably won't do as much from that. Or willll I? We shall see.
OH, HEJ! I created a special custom friends group just for you (I called it elapses, lololololnot), so you should be able to see the entry if you want to offer any feedback before I post it for reaaaalz.
OH I AGREE, it is too, too perfect -- I can hear the echoes of Rodgers' scoring when I try to visualize it and so it's almost... weird to separate it. Is that one on youtube? Could you link to it when you post? I guess ten minutes is long for youtube.
C, it is SO pretty and perfect, I would not change it! I would say more but I feeeeeel like I should save it for an actual, picspam comment?
AND BY THE WAY, what were you thinking in terms of polls? One for each? I have to go find my That's Entertainment DVD, I have to resee the dance.
It is on YouTube, but in two parts. But in two HD parts, so it is rather magnificent and worth it. It's here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxYp4QXNj3s) (Dream Laurey appears at about 1:54) and here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFBX5CsNgi8) (aah, I could rewatch 0:21-0:44 for ages).
Oh, lovely! I think I will just add a little introduction and a "Watch for: full skirts and bright colors" kinda thiiing. I look forward to your comment!
Oh, poll, chart, graph, graphic, whatever you want/is easiest for you! But if you don't want to do it, pleaase don't feel you have to. I just thought it might be fun! If you do WANT to do it, let me know, and I'll wait to post my picspam. Also, the dance is here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gjsjsudv49o) (with Italian subtitles and all!)!
I am so glad the SfSB dance is on youtube because I have, in the time between this comment and my last one, realized that the version of it in That's Entertainment is trimmed to about two minutes. Which is almost as blasphemous but not quite as weirdly hilarious as that "Crank Dat" remix.
I can and would like to do something, I just don't know... what... yet. But I'll try to come up with something so you can post it tomorrow? I don't want to make you waaaait, but.
Oddly enough, that Italian one seems to be the only clip of the dance from the movie. Almost all the other hits were for school productions! I mean, I know SBfSB is no West Side Story in terms of popularity, but still!
The worst part about the "Crank Dat" remix is that it's not even all that catchy? I bet "Too Many Dicks" would have worked better, even if it's not exactly accurate (although I guess it kind of is?)
No, no, I can wait! I'm so excited to see what you do! That's not meant as pressure, just happiness (?).
(As a reward for your delightfulness, I give you this picture (http://www.mcshuibhne.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/howljpg.jpeg) of James Franco and AARON TVEIT, a.k.a. my new muuuusical crush, from the upcoming Howl. That sounded like an advertisement, but what can I do. WAIT, SERIOUSLY, I LOVE HIM (http://woodytondorf.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/0886c9bf5cb2ec97_aaron-tveit-gossip-girl-holley-fain-03preview1.jpg). And he was on Gossip Girl (http://woodytondorf.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/trippvanderbilt1.jpg)! Have we already had this discussion? I feel we might have. I JUST FIND HIM SO VERY ATTRACTIVE that I kind of have a one-track mind lately.)
I think the powers that be muted at least one of the English ones (the whole movie seemed to be up except for that one dancing sequence?). Maybe that scared off the rest?
Wellll, and also that whoever edited it didn't have an eye for choreography -- it's so very "LOL LET'S PUT THIS TO RAP MUSIC" when it should be about slick editing. AND AHAHAHAHA, actually, "too many dicks" would have been weirdly perfect. Twenty dudes in a conga line (well, fourteen, but still).
\o/
AHAHAH, Franco! He had to ruin their serious pose with his half-smile, aww. And I don't know, maybe we have! But I think it's actually you've talked about him, but... not to me, I just happened to read it? I READ A LOT OF COMMENTS, it's... kind of weird. But oh, he's the Next to Normal guy! I haaaaaave to say, I was really not that impressed by that Tony performance? I mean I half was and half wasn't -- the singing was spectacular, but the song itself was weird. Have you seen the actual play? What did you think?
Yeah, someone seems to have uploaded 90% of it, but not the dance sequence. Hmm.
YES, that's exactly the problem! I think there was one part (I'll admit I didn't watch the whole thing) where there's actual editing. Just putting a song to music isn't the same thing as editing a video to make it fit with music.
And I don't know, maybe we have! But I think it's actually you've talked about him, but... not to me, I just happened to read it? That's probably what it is. I mentioned him very briefly in my "about me" post I made a week or so ago, and I think I was talking about him with scout27. He is the Next to Normal guy! Alex, I love that you know that.
Have you seen the actual play? What did you think? Yes, I have seen the musical (and luckily, I got to see it before Aaron left to go do Catch Me If You Can out in Seattle), and it was so wonderful. I'll admit that I was not all that into it for the first fifteen minutes or so, but then it really picked up. It is such a powerful work, with such strong performances from the entire cast (not just Alice Ripley). There's a surprise twist (or a couple) that would make the song they performed at the Tonys make more sense, and that could, possibly, change your opinion of it. And Aaron Tveit, as much as I adore him, kind of overdoes it with the sexuality (which, given that they are mother/son — not the spoiler — shouldn't be there). But I'm sure he and the director have their reasons. And as much as I love the song he sang with Stockard Channing, having him sing it with Stockard Channing was awkward. All the stroking of her fur stole and stuff weirded me out. I do really like that song, though. What a voice that man has. But yes! I loved it (the musical). My mom really liked it. It's not a "traditional" musical by far, but, as I said, it's really powerful. The song was weird, but I really do think that once you know the context, it makes more sense. I'd be happy to tell you more about it should you want to know (and I can also tell you the BIG SPOILER that would add insight, if you're actually interested).
The big spoiler is that he's actually been dead the whole time, right, and that plays into Alice Ripley's depression? (I was talking about this with stop_theworld right after the Tonys, ugh, you guys and your Broadway proximity). I do think I might feel different if I had actually seen the play, I just thought it was a very awkward choice for a Tony presentation. But it also seems like the kind of thing that only works as a whole, I mean, what else could they have chosen (I guess I don't know enough to make that statement, though, my rhetorical question could have an obvious answer)? And then I also tend to like classic musical stuff better -- I like orchestras and trumpets and big dance numbers, I can't help it.
AND YES, his song with Stockard Channing was TOTALLY awkward. There was a lot of awkward stuff going on -- why, why, why did they have to include the touring company numbers?
Yes, that's it. Goodness! I have two friends who have already figured it out through songs and *~*research*~*, and I've had to tell both of them, "Interesting theory! Wait until you see it."
I do think I might feel different if I had actually seen the play, I just thought it was a very awkward choice for a Tony presentation. Yeah, I think there were, as you said, a lot of awkward things going on at the Tonys (the piece they used to showcase Billy Elliot?). I think they probably wanted to make up for the fact that Aaron Tveit was the only one of the main four principals who wasn't nominated, and he's attractive, etc. But poor Jennifer Damiano, who was nominated (!), didn't even get to perform. And it was one of those songs that works better in context (which is what I've head about "Angry Dance" from BE). There were other songs they could have chosen; there was a lot of talk online (umm...) about it. The show has 37 songs; I'm they could have found something! Oh, but. A lot of the songs after the big reveal are very spoilery, so I think they had to pick a piece that was both intriguing and spoiler-free (unless you're paying really close attention). So that limits all of Act II and a good deal of Act I, actually.
I like orchestras and trumpets and big dance numbers, I can't help it. Oh, I do, too! But, for better or worse (and I've come to think of it as better), Next to Normal, the slightly smaller scale, less dancy and trumpety musical, is the future. And I guess I think of it as better because it means the art is developing? IDK what I'm saying anymore. I wish someone would write a West Side Story-scale musical these days, but I don't think that's going to happen. But take something like In the Heights! Totally non-traditional and really original. Is it different? Yes. But was it refreshing and great because of how different it was? Yes (I thought so).
ALSO, THE TOURING COMPANIES WERE AWFUL. I was bored during Mamma Mia!'s performance especially. And no matter what you think of ABBA, their songs are a good time. And I was not having that when I saw that.
I worry I sound really defensive in this. I'm sorry, I don't mean to! I love big, flashy musicals and am coming more and more around to these "new" ones.
In The Heights is a good example, that looked fantabulous. But I mean, in the end, it's hard for me to really comment on any of this new-direction-of-musical-theater stuff -- I am mostly looking through the lens of Tony Performances, plus sometimes reviews I've read and, occasionally, youtube stuff -- I mean, it isn't like Denver's a really happening theater town by anyone's definition. I DON'T KNOW. Someday, this Next to Normal/Spring Awakening style stuff (which I mostly do not have an issue with!) is going to be the norm for new musicals, and someone will want to subvert it by going back to the trumpets. I HOPE. MAYBE.
Mamma Mia! was the wooooorst, I just wanted it to END. And don't worry, you don't sound defensive at all!
Sometimes Tony performances are great; sometimes, they're not so much. I understand why they did the touring performances, but I think they were just not well executed. I'm very lucky living here and getting to see these shows in person, and I try not to forget how lucky I really am, but the Tony producers should try harder, I think, for those who don't live here. I think the Tonys this year – despite the sound issues, the touring performances, and the way-too-short play clips – were really good, but there are other ways to reach out to non-New Yorkers. But hey, you have DCPA, which is not too shabby at all.
I HOPE. MAYBE. I HOPE SO, TOO. Umm, I think there were trumpets in Legally Blonde? YEAH, I SAID IT. I never saw it, but I saw it on MTV, and I bought the soundtrack, and it is so silly, but it's fun! I can't deny that it's fun. Even though it's really silly.
(I love that icon, by the way! She looks so adorable!)
I understand why they did the touring performances too, but aside from the (admittedly poor) execution, they were just kind of out of place. But maybe there's a way to integrate them properly. I just hope they don't keep trying and failing.
HAHA OH GOD, The Search For The Next Elle Woods was totally my summer show last year. SO STRANGELY ADDICTING! And yes, they did have trumpets.
I love that icon too, which is... maybe part of why I use it so frequently.
Also oh god Claire, I don't know where this came from (except that's a lie, I totally know exactly where it came from)/if you can even use it for your post (it feels kind of... inside jokey), but um:
HAHA OH GOD, The Search For The Next Elle Woods was totally my summer show last year. That show was both addicting and awful. Did you see Legally Brown: The Search for the Next Piragua Guy? INGENIOUS.
ALEX, THAT IS AMAZING. It schools the "Crank Dat" video. SO MUCH WONDERFULNESS, I can't handle it. It works so well with the music and everything! I will definitely add it to the post and and make you a coooo-presenter!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Re: P.S.
Date: 2009-06-15 03:12 am (UTC)Re: P.S.
Date: 2009-06-15 03:20 am (UTC)I'm not really sure why that first part was in all caps? But really, I mean it. I already have the caps I have so far posted in a private entry. Whaaat.
P.P.S. I am smiling so much at the Lee Pace!iness of our icons.
Re: P.S.
Date: 2009-06-15 03:34 am (UTC)Too bad I have to break it all up with this icon! But only kind of! He looks appropriately lanky in this one.
Re: P.S.
Date: 2009-06-15 03:40 am (UTC)Re: P.S.
Date: 2009-06-15 04:04 am (UTC)The dream ballet will lend itself naturally to trimming, won't it? -- the sequence inside the saloon (?) is a lot of it.
I like this way, though, it spreads the joy! Plus oh, god, the colors. Technicolor is such a gift.
Re: P.S.
Date: 2009-06-15 04:22 am (UTC)he dream ballet will lend itself naturally to trimming, won't it?
Yeah, I think so. The saloon scene is kind of odd, so I probably won't do as much from that. Or willll I? We shall see.
OH, HEJ! I created a special custom friends group just for you (I called it elapses, lololololnot), so you should be able to see the entry if you want to offer any feedback before I post it for reaaaalz.
Re: P.S.
Date: 2009-06-15 04:41 am (UTC)C, it is SO pretty and perfect, I would not change it! I would say more but I feeeeeel like I should save it for an actual, picspam comment?
AND BY THE WAY, what were you thinking in terms of polls? One for each? I have to go find my That's Entertainment DVD, I have to resee the dance.
Re: P.S.
Date: 2009-06-15 04:55 am (UTC)Oh, lovely! I think I will just add a little introduction and a "Watch for: full skirts and bright colors" kinda thiiing. I look forward to your comment!
Oh, poll, chart, graph, graphic, whatever you want/is easiest for you! But if you don't want to do it, pleaase don't feel you have to. I just thought it might be fun! If you do WANT to do it, let me know, and I'll wait to post my picspam. Also, the dance is here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gjsjsudv49o) (with Italian subtitles and all!)!
AAAAAAAAAAAAH, WHAT IS THIS?
Re: P.S.
Date: 2009-06-15 05:10 am (UTC)I can and would like to do something, I just don't know... what... yet. But I'll try to come up with something so you can post it tomorrow? I don't want to make you waaaait, but.
Re: P.S.
Date: 2009-06-15 05:20 am (UTC)The worst part about the "Crank Dat" remix is that it's not even all that catchy? I bet "Too Many Dicks" would have worked better, even if it's not exactly accurate (although I guess it kind of is?)
No, no, I can wait! I'm so excited to see what you do! That's not meant as pressure, just happiness (?).
(As a reward for your delightfulness, I give you this picture (http://www.mcshuibhne.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/howljpg.jpeg) of James Franco and AARON TVEIT, a.k.a. my new muuuusical crush, from the upcoming Howl. That sounded like an advertisement, but what can I do. WAIT, SERIOUSLY, I LOVE HIM (http://woodytondorf.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/0886c9bf5cb2ec97_aaron-tveit-gossip-girl-holley-fain-03preview1.jpg). And he was on Gossip Girl (http://woodytondorf.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/trippvanderbilt1.jpg)! Have we already had this discussion? I feel we might have. I JUST FIND HIM SO VERY ATTRACTIVE that I kind of have a one-track mind lately.)
Re: P.S.
Date: 2009-06-15 05:55 am (UTC)Wellll, and also that whoever edited it didn't have an eye for choreography -- it's so very "LOL LET'S PUT THIS TO RAP MUSIC" when it should be about slick editing. AND AHAHAHAHA, actually, "too many dicks" would have been weirdly perfect. Twenty dudes in a conga line (well, fourteen, but still).
\o/
AHAHAH, Franco! He had to ruin their serious pose with his half-smile, aww. And I don't know, maybe we have! But I think it's actually you've talked about him, but... not to me, I just happened to read it? I READ A LOT OF COMMENTS, it's... kind of weird. But oh, he's the Next to Normal guy! I haaaaaave to say, I was really not that impressed by that Tony performance? I mean I half was and half wasn't -- the singing was spectacular, but the song itself was weird. Have you seen the actual play? What did you think?
Re: P.S.
Date: 2009-06-15 06:13 am (UTC)YES, that's exactly the problem! I think there was one part (I'll admit I didn't watch the whole thing) where there's actual editing. Just putting a song to music isn't the same thing as editing a video to make it fit with music.
And I don't know, maybe we have! But I think it's actually you've talked about him, but... not to me, I just happened to read it?
That's probably what it is. I mentioned him very briefly in my "about me" post I made a week or so ago, and I think I was talking about him with
Have you seen the actual play? What did you think?
Yes, I have seen the musical (and luckily, I got to see it before Aaron left to go do Catch Me If You Can out in Seattle), and it was so wonderful. I'll admit that I was not all that into it for the first fifteen minutes or so, but then it really picked up. It is such a powerful work, with such strong performances from the entire cast (not just Alice Ripley). There's a surprise twist (or a couple) that would make the song they performed at the Tonys make more sense, and that could, possibly, change your opinion of it. And Aaron Tveit, as much as I adore him, kind of overdoes it with the sexuality (which, given that they are mother/son — not the spoiler — shouldn't be there). But I'm sure he and the director have their reasons. And as much as I love the song he sang with Stockard Channing, having him sing it with Stockard Channing was awkward. All the stroking of her fur stole and stuff weirded me out. I do really like that song, though. What a voice that man has. But yes! I loved it (the musical). My mom really liked it. It's not a "traditional" musical by far, but, as I said, it's really powerful. The song was weird, but I really do think that once you know the context, it makes more sense. I'd be happy to tell you more about it should you want to know (and I can also tell you the BIG SPOILER that would add insight, if you're actually interested).
Re: P.S.
Date: 2009-06-15 06:42 am (UTC)AND YES, his song with Stockard Channing was TOTALLY awkward. There was a lot of awkward stuff going on -- why, why, why did they have to include the touring company numbers?
Re: P.S.
Date: 2009-06-15 07:12 am (UTC)I do think I might feel different if I had actually seen the play, I just thought it was a very awkward choice for a Tony presentation.
Yeah, I think there were, as you said, a lot of awkward things going on at the Tonys (the piece they used to showcase Billy Elliot?). I think they probably wanted to make up for the fact that Aaron Tveit was the only one of the main four principals who wasn't nominated, and he's attractive, etc. But poor Jennifer Damiano, who was nominated (!), didn't even get to perform. And it was one of those songs that works better in context (which is what I've head about "Angry Dance" from BE). There were other songs they could have chosen; there was a lot of talk online (umm...) about it. The show has 37 songs; I'm they could have found something! Oh, but. A lot of the songs after the big reveal are very spoilery, so I think they had to pick a piece that was both intriguing and spoiler-free (unless you're paying really close attention). So that limits all of Act II and a good deal of Act I, actually.
I like orchestras and trumpets and big dance numbers, I can't help it.
Oh, I do, too! But, for better or worse (and I've come to think of it as better), Next to Normal, the slightly smaller scale, less dancy and trumpety musical, is the future. And I guess I think of it as better because it means the art is developing? IDK what I'm saying anymore. I wish someone would write a West Side Story-scale musical these days, but I don't think that's going to happen. But take something like In the Heights! Totally non-traditional and really original. Is it different? Yes. But was it refreshing and great because of how different it was? Yes (I thought so).
ALSO, THE TOURING COMPANIES WERE AWFUL. I was bored during Mamma Mia!'s performance especially. And no matter what you think of ABBA, their songs are a good time. And I was not having that when I saw that.
I worry I sound really defensive in this. I'm sorry, I don't mean to! I love big, flashy musicals and am coming more and more around to these "new" ones.
Re: P.S.
Date: 2009-06-15 08:07 am (UTC)Mamma Mia! was the wooooorst, I just wanted it to END. And don't worry, you don't sound defensive at all!
Re: P.S.
Date: 2009-06-15 05:06 pm (UTC)I HOPE. MAYBE.
I HOPE SO, TOO. Umm, I think there were trumpets in Legally Blonde? YEAH, I SAID IT. I never saw it, but I saw it on MTV, and I bought the soundtrack, and it is so silly, but it's fun! I can't deny that it's fun. Even though it's really silly.
(I love that icon, by the way! She looks so adorable!)
Re: P.S.
Date: 2009-06-15 07:56 pm (UTC)HAHA OH GOD, The Search For The Next Elle Woods was totally my summer show last year. SO STRANGELY ADDICTING! And yes, they did have trumpets.
I love that icon too, which is... maybe part of why I use it so frequently.
Also oh god Claire, I don't know where this came from (except that's a lie, I totally know exactly where it came from)/if you can even use it for your post (it feels kind of... inside jokey), but um:
Re: P.S.
Date: 2009-06-15 08:04 pm (UTC)That show was both addicting and awful. Did you see Legally Brown: The Search for the Next Piragua Guy? INGENIOUS.
ALEX, THAT IS AMAZING. It schools the "Crank Dat" video. SO MUCH WONDERFULNESS, I can't handle it. It works so well with the music and everything! I will definitely add it to the post and and make you a coooo-presenter!