Well - it's that awful time of year again. High school musical anyone? The time when Ben and I are like two ships passing in the early evening (just before our 8pm bed time). THE WIZ is going to be an interesting production, no doubt. The music is hilarious - very seventies disco-ish. Gotta love the flute/synth duets with only background vocals! Actually this show has been a learning experience for me, because I am trying my hand at directing my first background singer group. I got to hand pick a group of choir kids that have learned all of the music from the show and are singing like R&B back up singers in the pit. Yours truly will also be a pit singer in the show (and playing keyboard the second weekend), so that should be kind of fun. The kids on stage are trying to make the best of it, but I can see how working for months on a show and only singing songs without words might get a tad frustrating. Speaking of words, here are a few of my fave's from the show...
The Wiz - from Ya'll Got It - "Now it's time for this here Wiz to wiz on himself... And I'm Whizzin'"
Full cast - from Who Do You Think You Are - "You turn us on, you turn us off, baby you're not for real"
(Shockingly, this number was cut. I wonder why...)
I know what you're thinking - It must make sense in the context of the show. NOPE. No sense at all.
Even though the music is weird and the story gets pretty crazy at points, I think it should be an entertaining show. We open in one week and counting. God help us all!!
