There is a scene in "1776" that is reportedly the longest speaking sequence between songs in any Broadway musical. It is a scene where the many delegates of the Continental Congress are trying to voice their opinions about how to form a new nation. The scene is very important. But it is tough because it is just STATIC.
In other words, there is no singing, or dancing, or much in the way of movement. When it is staged in a community theater, this is always a tough scene to direct. The actors have to provide all of the moving interest with gestures and standing or sitting without the benefit even of musical underscoring to help drive the emotional pitch. It's just a tough scene to pull off satisfactorily.
In other words, there is no singing, or dancing, or much in the way of movement. When it is staged in a community theater, this is always a tough scene to direct. The actors have to provide all of the moving interest with gestures and standing or sitting without the benefit even of musical underscoring to help drive the emotional pitch. It's just a tough scene to pull off satisfactorily.
Shows with a lot of dialogue in Children's Theater are also difficult to direct. I recently saw a show where the "action" took place in a courtroom setting. Most of the characters stayed on stage for the duration of the show to listen to the many speeches. Already having all of the actors on stage, leaving little room for movement, meant that most of the show was STATIC. The few songs were performed with limited actual dancing or movement, so even they were rather STATIC.
Sometimes when a stage is decorated too much it can also contribute to the "NOISE" on stage. When watching a show, the audience needs to have periods of visual rest. This show had a beautifully decorated set, but it never changed. Once again STATIC. Then, add 75 kids onto that elaborately decorated set, each having a colorful costume, sitting there STATIC for 70 minutes... well there was little visual rest for the audience.
Then, there is the problem of teaching kids how to work with microphones. Even though this school had quite a few headset mics and handheld mics, the kids still didn't speak into the mics well enough to be understood. And some of the mics even picked up unwanted sounds like heavy breathing. STATIC of a different kind!
Directing shows to limit STATIC is tough. I salute clever directors that have the vision to pull it off!
Sometimes when a stage is decorated too much it can also contribute to the "NOISE" on stage. When watching a show, the audience needs to have periods of visual rest. This show had a beautifully decorated set, but it never changed. Once again STATIC. Then, add 75 kids onto that elaborately decorated set, each having a colorful costume, sitting there STATIC for 70 minutes... well there was little visual rest for the audience.
Then, there is the problem of teaching kids how to work with microphones. Even though this school had quite a few headset mics and handheld mics, the kids still didn't speak into the mics well enough to be understood. And some of the mics even picked up unwanted sounds like heavy breathing. STATIC of a different kind!
Directing shows to limit STATIC is tough. I salute clever directors that have the vision to pull it off!
I also wrote a show that has most of the cast on stage for the duration, but it has little dialogue and a lot of singing and dancing. No STATIC in that show! Enjoy everyone's favorite movement song from "The Tale of Chicken Licken"
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