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pleasetakemewithyou

Prologue Singer

I'm getting ready to start rehersals for Godspell and I've been cast as the soloistin the Prologue. Ive seen very few mentionings (is that even a word?) of the prologue before the Tower of Babble, the female solo. Its pretty complicated, but have you cut it in your productions? Second, I'm the assistant musical director, and I was wondering if you had any tips on how to teach people to really feel their songs, as well as sing notes at the top end of their ranges...? Third and finally, I'm also the bass player for our pit (I feel like I'm doing lot here, lol) and we're considering putting the band onstage, and having me enter from the back of the theatre singing the solo, go to the stage and pick up my bass. Do you think this is a good idea, or do you have any other suggestions?


Thanks!!
DramaRobin2002

What exactly is this Prologue before Tower of Babble? Usually ToB is called the Prologue. I've never heard of any other.
milkywhite24601

^Same question. But I think it's a cool entrance idea for you! It sounds good.
MHoward

Prologue vs. Tower of Babble

Quote:
I'm getting ready to start rehersals for Godspell and I've been cast as the soloistin the Prologue. Ive seen very few mentionings (is that even a word?) of the prologue before the Tower of Babble, the female solo. Its pretty complicated, but have you cut it in your productions?


Technically the Prologue is the philosophers singing their parts and the Tower of Babble does not being until they bring everyone together. PLEASE, do NOT cut the song. I used to dread it, but fell in love with the song from the 2001 album ( I thinkt hat is the only CD I have ever heard it on). BTW, the best way to have the cast learn it is to listen to the CD a million times. If done well, it can be one of the highlights to the show. When it works it works great!


Quote:
Second, I'm the assistant musical director, and I was wondering if you had any tips on how to teach people to really feel their songs, as well as sing notes at the top end of their ranges...?


Spend some time with the cast members understanding the show. This is a show about building a community. The songs are a great place to show the emotional wherewithal of your singers. Talk about the back story and what the lyrics are really saying. They are super powerful!

Quote:
Third and finally, I'm also the bass player for our pit (I feel like I'm doing lot here, lol) and we're considering putting the band onstage, and having me enter from the back of the theatre singing the solo, go to the stage and pick up my bass. Do you think this is a good idea, or do you have any other suggestions?


Which solo do you have? I can be VERY effective. I usually have the cast members sitting in the audience in cognito when the house opens. Each soloist gets up from the audience and begins singing. It brings home the idea that the cast is actually part of the audience. Conversely, it forces the audience to be an active participant. Godspell is about breaking down barriers, throwing out the fourth wall and most of all building a community. The audience actually becomes vested in the show and becomes part of the cast.
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Monsieur D'Arque

I once saw a production with a cast of only six, with all the lines and songs split up between jesus, john/judas, and two men and women. The prologue was a flash animation, in an online style, and all the voices were recorded (i think) by the same cast member, who also did the animation. Different, but kind of fun.
pleasetakemewithyou

DramaRobin2002 wrote:
What exactly is this Prologue before Tower of Babble? Usually ToB is called the Prologue. I've never heard of any other.


Ok, sorry I wasnt terribly clear on that...I, in as many words, meant the female that sings during that song.

MHoward wrote:
Which solo do you have? I can be VERY effective. I usually have the cast members sitting in the audience in cognito when the house opens. Each soloist gets up from the audience and begins singing. It brings home the idea that the cast is actually part of the audience.


Brilliant. Thanks soo much for that suggestion, that would work really well...
DramaRobin2002

pleasetakemewithyou wrote:
DramaRobin2002 wrote:
What exactly is this Prologue before Tower of Babble? Usually ToB is called the Prologue. I've never heard of any other.


Ok, sorry I wasnt terribly clear on that...I, in as many words, meant the female that sings during that song.


Ha ha, no problem. So you mean the, "Wherefore, O man of Athens" section?
MHoward

Quote:
Ha ha, no problem. So you mean the, "Wherefore, O man of Athens" section?


That is the best part of the song. It is really quite nice. Are you guys doing the updated lyrics? If not, you really should look into it. Ours came with the score.
Gamma

I love the Prolouge. I play Satre in mine as well as Lamar in the actual musical. My director decided to include it, thank goodness! It's such an awesome song.
DramaRobin2002

Gamma wrote:
I love the Prolouge. I play Satre in mine as well as Lamar in the actual musical. My director decided to include it, thank goodness! It's such an awesome song.


I love that section! Our pianist/musical director always did this little shoulder bob with it and made us crack up during rehearsals. Unfortunately, we had our small chorus doing Tower of Babble and the rest of us waiting in the wings until Prepare Ye. I would have loved to do it.
broadwayfreak67

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCZAEwPAeDA
That is the link of our version of the Prologue.
I'm singing Martin Luther's part.
He is the third soloist, and if you still can't find me,
I'm the third from the right, the tallest boy.

:]
The Prologue/Tower of Babble is the best part of the show, in my opinion, and I'm so glad our director included it, and I got an opportunity to be apart of it!
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