mszue
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Post by mszue on Dec 27, 2017 15:50:35 GMT -5
JCS is the only show I have ever worked on with absolutely no stage set directions....the set was left to the discretion of the local director. Our set was primarily the cross laid out on the stage creating 4 spaces...and ready to be risen in the final scene. You did not realize that until the end as it sat flat on the stage....I don't even remember what else there was other than a set of steps and spaces a bit like scaffolding in the opening scenes. Our 'judas' fell in early rehearsals and played his part in a cast....it was still spell binding and one of my favourite productions. I remember our Mary Magdalen had really long hair so nothing to do for her...Jesus needed a perm and Judas a color....not much work for me at all, and all easily done ahead of time . The final scene was the crucifixion and 'Jesus" was placed on the cross then hauled up with ropes on pulleys. The fog creator [dry ice] got a little carried away but the scene created was spectacular with the spotlight cutting through the clouds....problem was those on stage were blinded and coughing!! haha....it never looked as good again...
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Post by bamafan on Dec 27, 2017 16:18:10 GMT -5
For those, who are interested in the timeframe of setting up a musical, this is what I‘ve learned about it: - First block: the (already casted) actors (aka singers) and musicians come together and learn to do the songs together. This part takes very long for new musicals, but can be very short for established ones (if you have actors, who already did them and you don’t want to change them up). - second block: when the songs are learned, they come to life. That means for every single scene the acting (often while singing) and dancing with everyone involved is developed and rehearsed. ( this part usually takes the longest time!). -Third block: the stage should be ready by now. So the show can be completely rehearsed on stage, where everybody must learn, where he has when to be (or not). Depending on how complicated the stage and the whole show is , this can take a few weeks or only a few days. -Last block: full production rehearsals: the whole crew (actors in costumes, musicians, technical crew and so on) rehearse everything together. All in all takes usually 2-3 months for a new production. But it might be possible to schedule the rehearsals in a way, that all scenes with Judas are rehearsed , when Adam is available. John‘s scenes though must be rehearsed, before he leaves for his concerts in March. The last few days would be production rehearsals. Do Jesus and Judas have many scenes together? Then it would be really tricky. Maybe someone, who knows JCS can answer that question. Judas and Jesus don't share much time in scenes together. In "Heaven on their Minds", Jesus is there, but doesn't sing...all Judas singing. There is no Jesus in "Damned for All Time"...that's all Judas, Same for "Judas Death"....all Judas. In "The Last Supper" both Jesus and Judas share that one....2 minutes belong to Judas. In "The Arrest", Judas only gives the kiss. In "Strange Thing Mystifing..Judas has about one minute of singing, Jesus the rest. In "EVerything's Alright", Judas has little less than one minute with Jesus and Mary Magdalene singing the most. In the feature song "Superstar"....that's all Judas. I think the most interaction between Judas and Jesus directly is in The Last Supper.
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nic42
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Post by nic42 on Dec 27, 2017 16:57:16 GMT -5
Regarding rehearsing for Judas: it is as far as I am concerned the main role in the musical. I asked my singing husband (who mainly sings musicals) who he would chose if he had a free choice of any of those two roles and he didn't hesitate: Judas.
If Adam gets it, that would mean he would have the lead, together with Jesus. Not a cameo or a little role. This would be Big.
He wouldn't have to learn the songs though, this is his favorite musical. I mean, even I could sing all Judas' parts (you wouldn't want to listen to it, but still, I know the words and melodies). JCS is one of my favorites, and it was at the top until I discovered RENT. Adam knows those songs, you can count on it. The rehearsal would be interpretation, stage play, dancing and movement, placement on the stage etc. Plenty to do, but I don't think he would need a teleprompter.
I did tell the story once that one year I had money for one musical only when I was younger, right?? And that meant I had to choose between Jesus Christ Superstar and Hair. I chose JCS. Epic epic fail.... That was the production of Hair that Adam was in.....
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Post by DancyGeorgia on Dec 27, 2017 17:25:37 GMT -5
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Post by nightowl on Dec 27, 2017 17:46:54 GMT -5
I did tell the story once that one year I had money for one musical only when I was younger, right?? And that meant I had to choose between Jesus Christ Superstar and Hair. I chose JCS. Epic epic fail.... That was the production of Hair that Adam was in..... But I‘m sure you enjoyed JCS back then.😉 I somehow feel the same, although I don’t think it was that close. Since I live in Berlin and use to go to musicals frequently, I remember quite clearly that I did see the advertisements for „Hair“ back then. But I never really liked the music and being a student without much money, I gave it a pass. 😏 I think, I saw „Cats“ that year, to which I was invited by my parents and my Dad hated it.😜 I surprisingly liked it.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2017 17:52:44 GMT -5
Agree that Judas and Jesus usually have large amt of time together on stage. (When they don’t it becomes more of a song showcase) Judas is indeed virtually the star of JCS. The show basically begins and ends with him - Heaven on their Minds and Superstar. (The last part w crucifixion just serves to button the show). Judas is in almost all of the numbers in act 1 and half the numbers in act 2, big ones. the show swirls around and is anchored by Jesus - he’s the Center, static and somewhat distant. Judas is the dynamic element and serves as the audience’s way in emotionally, with assist from Mary Mag. The story rests primarily on the tension between the two. I saw one of the best productions I’ve ever seen this year. Judas was in virtually every scene that Jesus is - even in the numbers he doesn’t sing. JCS is a sing through so no dialogue. The staging can vary, as mszue noted, but you need strong non verbal interaction between Judas, Jesus, and MM to really make the arc work. (Easter is kind of an odd time to stage this, but I’m assuming nbc thought otherwise lol)
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SophieB
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Post by SophieB on Dec 27, 2017 17:59:44 GMT -5
I did tell the story once that one year I had money for one musical only when I was younger, right?? And that meant I had to choose between Jesus Christ Superstar and Hair. I chose JCS. Epic epic fail.... That was the production of Hair that Adam was in..... 'Epic fail' gets the award for the understatement of 2017.....
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Post by nightowl on Dec 27, 2017 18:08:25 GMT -5
Agree that Judas and Jesus usually have large amt of time together on stage. (When they don’t it becomes more of a song showcase) Judas is indeed virtually the star of JCS. The show basically begins and ends with him - Heaven on their Minds and Superstar. (The last part w crucifixion just serves to button the show). Judas is in almost all of the numbers in act 1 and half the numbers in act 2, big ones. the show swirls around and is anchored by Jesus - he’s the Center, static and somewhat distant. Judas is the dynamic element and serves as the audience’s way in emotionally, with assist from Mary Mag. The story rests primarily on the tension between the two. I saw one of the best productions I’ve ever seen this year. Judas was in virtually every scene that Jesus is - even in the numbers he doesn’t sing. JCS is a sing through so no dialogue. The staging can vary, as mszue noted, but you need strong non verbal interaction between Judas, Jesus, and MM to really make the arc work. (Easter is kind of an odd time to stage this, but I’m assuming nbc thought otherwise lol) That’s the idea I had of this musical. And that’s the reason I‘m sceptical that they would be able to put it together it a great way. About 6 whole weeks of rehearsals always with one of them missing?! That’s brutal. Even with substitutes, which they should have, in case one of them gets ill ( or breaks his leg-I guess they won’t let Judas play with a cast in this case😜). But let’s wait and see.
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mszue
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Post by mszue on Dec 27, 2017 18:24:46 GMT -5
Agree that Judas and Jesus usually have large amt of time together on stage. (When they don’t it becomes more of a song showcase) Judas is indeed virtually the star of JCS. The show basically begins and ends with him - Heaven on their Minds and Superstar. (The last part w crucifixion just serves to button the show). Judas is in almost all of the numbers in act 1 and half the numbers in act 2, big ones. the show swirls around and is anchored by Jesus - he’s the Center, static and somewhat distant. Judas is the dynamic element and serves as the audience’s way in emotionally, with assist from Mary Mag. The story rests primarily on the tension between the two. I saw one of the best productions I’ve ever seen this year. Judas was in virtually every scene that Jesus is - even in the numbers he doesn’t sing. JCS is a sing through so no dialogue. The staging can vary, as mszue noted, but you need strong non verbal interaction between Judas, Jesus, and MM to really make the arc work. (Easter is kind of an odd time to stage this, but I’m assuming nbc thought otherwise lol) That’s the idea I had of this musical. And that’s the reason I‘m sceptical that they would be able to put it together it a great way. About 6 whole weeks of rehearsals always with one of them missing?! That’s brutal. Even with substitutes, which they should have, in case one of them gets ill ( or breaks his leg-I guess they won’t let Judas play with a cast in this case😜). But let’s wait and see. It is a lot of work, no doubt. But in a 'from scratch' production, much of the time is spent with actors learning their roles and dialogue. In this case, because it is all in 'song' format, it is expected that professional singers will come in knowing their song/parts completely. Also, because of their centrality, the majors will do much of their rehearsals just working on their interactions and for lengthy stretches of time...they are professionals and should be able to do what needs to be done....it is the smaller parts that will take the most blocking and rehearsal times overall as each of them will spend much greater proportions of their time sitting around, and will have the least sense of 'continuity' to their parts...if that makes sense.
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nic42
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Post by nic42 on Dec 27, 2017 18:30:10 GMT -5
I did tell the story once that one year I had money for one musical only when I was younger, right?? And that meant I had to choose between Jesus Christ Superstar and Hair. I chose JCS. Epic epic fail.... That was the production of Hair that Adam was in..... But I‘m sure you enjoyed JCS back then.😉 I somehow feel the same, although I don’t think it was that close. Since I live in Berlin and use to go to musicals frequently, I remember quite clearly that I did see the advertisements for „Hair“ back then. But I never really liked the music and being a student without much money, I gave it a pass. 😏 I think, I saw „Cats“ that year, to which I was invited by my parents and my Dad hated it.😜 I surprisingly liked it. Yes, I liked it, it was a good production. Also great that you liked Cats! But.... we both missed Adam naked on stage...
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