Other than playing the flute in a pit orchestra, I've never been involved in a local community theater production. Imagine my surprise last summer when Becky Bell-Greenstreet, Artistic Director for the Logos Players, invited me to choreograph her spring 2016 production of Fiddler on the Roof. I love that show! The music is fabulous - the dancing is exciting!
I agreed that if the actors need to learn a traditional Israeli folk dance, I could surely help with that! Want the actors to learn Zemer Atik? I'm on it. But beyond that... I didn't feel qualified for the job. Looking back now, I don't remember exactly what Becky said to convince me that I could take on the challenge of being the choreographer for her show. Rehearsals started in December; opening night is in five short days.
I agreed that if the actors need to learn a traditional Israeli folk dance, I could surely help with that! Want the actors to learn Zemer Atik? I'm on it. But beyond that... I didn't feel qualified for the job. Looking back now, I don't remember exactly what Becky said to convince me that I could take on the challenge of being the choreographer for her show. Rehearsals started in December; opening night is in five short days.
When The Logos Players rented the rights to this musical production, it came with a choreographic manual. The 200+ page manual a blow-by-blow description of the original Jerome Robbins choreography. The requirement when renting the rights to perform the show is that THIS is the choreography that will be used in the production. For me, that was good news (I didn't have to create any original choreography) and bad news (who in our little, rural shtetle on the south coast of Oregon can do this level of dancing?).
In addition to the manual, I turned to YouTube to see examples of other productions. I found a delightful video of the musical number "Tradition" and excitedly showed it to the director. Becky, in her typically generous and kind way, pointed out to me that I was looking at a video of the Broadway show featuring Topol. She reminded me that while the dancers/actors/singers in the video rehearse every day, our cast has other full time jobs. She advised me to simplify.
"Simplify" became my mantra as I did this work. My first job was to find bottle dancers... people who would be able, willing, available to work on the challenge of dancing with a bottle perched on their heads. Hats off to Jeff, Kay, Pam and Anna! They have worked hard! Sure, bottles have fallen. Hopefully none will during the performances.
In addition to the manual, I turned to YouTube to see examples of other productions. I found a delightful video of the musical number "Tradition" and excitedly showed it to the director. Becky, in her typically generous and kind way, pointed out to me that I was looking at a video of the Broadway show featuring Topol. She reminded me that while the dancers/actors/singers in the video rehearse every day, our cast has other full time jobs. She advised me to simplify.
"Simplify" became my mantra as I did this work. My first job was to find bottle dancers... people who would be able, willing, available to work on the challenge of dancing with a bottle perched on their heads. Hats off to Jeff, Kay, Pam and Anna! They have worked hard! Sure, bottles have fallen. Hopefully none will during the performances.
There are 30 people in the cast. The large all-cast numbers are exciting. It has been a challenge to teach dancing to this group of folks. I have come to admire and appreciate them over and over. They look adorable in their costumes, and I can't wait to see them perform!
And as for me, I must be doing an okay job - one of the cast members approached me to choreograph a spring 2017 production of HMS Pinafore. Simply... simplify...
And as for me, I must be doing an okay job - one of the cast members approached me to choreograph a spring 2017 production of HMS Pinafore. Simply... simplify...
RSS Feed