[disneybeauty]

Okay, so I was asked to be in a professional production of Jekyll and Hyde as well as choreograph the entire show. I was so excited because I started choreographing professionally at a very young age, and it's a passion of mine. Then, last night at rehearsal I was informed that I am expected to take the Broadway choreography for the big numbers and basically steal them and teach it to the cast.
I am having a problem with this. As a choreographer, I feel it's in poor taste to ever steal someone else's work, especially if it is very noticable. This will be very noticable. The director's reasoning for doing this is that it makes blocking easier (which will also be stolen off the Broadway version). I have tried to tell him (very nicely, I might add) that it's a bad idea, and that the choreography I have already created will fit the cast better (Broadway dancer they are not), and won't interfere with blocking. Any ideas on how to get the director to see the light?

Plus, if this is what they do for every show (steal choreo), I don't know if I want to be associated with this theatre. Is that wrong?

[blue wind]

i can see both sides of this argument...idk much about this show in particular, but for example, a show like "a chorus line" is soooo much better when the cast can do as much of the original choreography as possible. my suggestion is, that if this is what the director wants, then you should go with it. if you really feel strongly against it, then don't do any more productions with them after this.

and he didn't say that every single little bit of choreography had to be the same right? i'm sure you'll be able to add some of your own stuff.

[Salome]

anything you do with J&H's choreograhy will be an improvement of the broadway versions high school dance coach choreography.

[disneybeauty]

His reasons for wanting the same choreo seem shallow to me. Don't director strive to direct a show from their point of view, and not just repeat what someone else has already done.
I agree the choreo for Bway was not the best. But both the director and the asst director are in love with it because it shows the bleakness of life. And they love the umbrellas is Murder,Murder. I thought they were interesting, but not particularly memorable.
Here's my major problem; don't ask me to choreograph a show, and then tell me that I have to use someone else's choreo. It's kind of a slap in the face.
So how do I make them step into the light?

[blue wind]

why don't, as you're working, ask if you can change things you don't like? as you go along i mean....

[Brigantine]

That is a rock and a hard place.

I know what I want to tell you to say and if I were in that situation what I wish I could say... but I'm too *nice*. I'd wish I could say, "Well, if all this show is doing is copying, then you really don't need a choreographer, do you?" and back out of the position. Or "You really didn't need a choreographer, but a dance instructor. Maybe next time you should make that clear, and next time I won't be taking that position." Or something snappy along those lines.
But...
Realistically all I would be able to say is maybe "Well, I will try to include elements that you really like, but because of talent and ability, we won't be able to do everything exactly the same. If that's not good enough then I don't know what else to do."
If the director has any sense, they would take that and be grateful, I should think.
Sorry for your plight...

[Dancediva19]

[disneybeauty]

Brigantine, that's what I treid to tell him last night, and his answer was that if I didn't do it exactly like the Bway production the rest of the blocking for the 2 big scenes would be off. I still don't quite understand how they could be off when they haven't been blocked yet . . . oh wait. . . the blocking was also ripped off from Bway.
I am trying to be nice to these people, because this could really open doors, or slam them shut. GAAHHH.

[disneybeauty]

Good news! I spoke with the asst. director, and she loved my concept for the choreography. We're going to present the finished choreo tomorrow to the direcor. I love it when I get my way.

[blue wind]

yay! that's great! congrats

[Dancediva19]

Good luck!

[disneybeauty]

Bad news . . . the director over-ruled the asst. director. So I have no choice but to give them warmed over choreo. They really like the use of umbrellas in the Bway production, so I have to find a way to make it work. The biggest problem is that all of the mics are suspended above the stage. They don't use body mics, so I am wondering how the mics will pick up the voices with the umbrellas in the way. Guess we'll see.