june 4-16, 2013 - ponticlarocdn.ponticlaro.com/tuts/media/2015/02/flashdance_contentguide.pdf ·...

SAROF IM HALL

4-16 , 2013J U N E

AT THE HOBBY CENTER

2

THEATRE UNDER THE STARS · 2012/ 13 CONTENT GUIDEAbout TUTS

Founded in 1968, Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is Houston’s acclaimed non-profit musical theatre company. Since its founding by Frank M. Young, TUTS has produced more than 300 musicals including many local, national and world premieres. As a way to continue the tradition of musical theatre, TUTS’ Education provides barrier-free instruction and stage experience, through the Humphreys School of Musical Theatre and The River program for children

with special needs. TUTS also annually presents the Tommy Tune Awards, honoring the best and brightest in Houston’s high school theatre programs. TUTS is now housed in the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Glance towards the sky before you enjoy a performance at the Hobby Center; the fiber-optic ceiling keeps TUTS “under the stars” all year long. TUTS is pleased to present the 2012/13 sensational season From Camelot to Spamalot: A Lot to Love!

THEATRE ETIQUETTE

Save snacks for intermission.

Turn your cell phones and electronics off completely.

No texting!

Arrive about 30 minutes before the show starts.

Applaud at the end of songs and scenes. Otherwise, shhhhh!

COMI

NG U

P IN

THE

2012

/13 M

AINS

TAGE

SEA

SON JEKYLL & HYDE

PETER PAN

CAMELOT

MAN OF LA MANCHA

SPAMALOT

FLASHDANCE

October 9-21, 2012

December 11-23, 2012

January 22 - February 3, 2013

February 26 - March 10, 2013

May 14 - 26, 2013

June 4 - 16, 2013

...... 7-8

......... 9

....... 10

WHO’S WHO: THE CREATORSSTORY BEHIND THE STORY

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

4 .........5 ......... 6 .........

SUMMARY & RATING GUIDE CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONDETAILED SYNOPSIS

11 .........12 .........

12 .........13 .........

A BRIEF HISTORY PUTTING ON A SHOWTHEATRE ETIQUETTEABOUT TUTS

CURTAIN CALL: LEARNING ACTIVITIES

BACKSTAGE: ABOUT MUSICAL THEATRE

CENTER STAGE: WHAT A FEELING

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TUTS 2012/2013 STUDENT MATINEESLEGALLY BLONDE PG-13Sept. 14,2012at 10AM, Zilkha Hall

CAMELOT-MAINSTAGE GJan. 30, 2013at 10AM, Sarofim Hall

SCROOGE GNov. 27-30,2012at 9:30 & 11:15AM, Zilkha Hall

FLAT STANLEY GMarch 19-22, 2013at 9:30 & 11:15AM, Zilkha Hall

UNDER

$10

TUTS creates online content guides to further enhance students’ theatrical experiences. The content guides contain various discussion questions, projects and activities that encourage students to engage with parents and/or teachers that will hopefully foster a love and appreciation of musical theatre.

4

THEATRE UNDER THE STARS · 2012/ 13 CONTENT GUIDE

TEKS

Summary & Rating Guide

With electrifying dance at its core, FLASHDANCE-THE MUSICAL tells the inspiring and unforgettable story of Alex Owens, a Pittsburgh steel mill welder by day and a bar dancer by night with dreams of one day becoming a professional performer. When romance with her steel mill boss threatens to complicate her ambitions, Alex learns the meaning of love and its power to fuel the pursuit of her dream.

Please visit http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/ for more information.

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills

For a list of musical selections, see page 6 of this content guide.

EnglishGrade 1: 110.13 (13, 15, 16, 20-23, 25) Grade 2: 110.32 (13, 15, 16, 20-23, 25)Grade 3: 110.33 (13, 15, 16, 20-23, 25) Grade 4: 110.34 (13, 15, 16, 20-23, 25)

Social StudiesUS History Since 1877: 113.41 (2, 3)

TheatreGrade 1: 117.64 (5)Grade 2: 117.65 (5)Grade 3: 117.66 (5)Grade 4: 117.67 (5)

RATING GUIDE

ADULT LANGUAGEMild adult language is used throughout the productions. The following words are saidseveral times: shit (Holy shit, Bull shit), damn (damned, damnit), goddamn (God, Jesus, Jesus Christ), Piss (pissed), Hell (Helluva, What the Hell) and ass.

VIOLENCEThere are small disturbances in and round the local bars.

DRUGS/ALCOHOLDrinking is prevalent within both bar establishments.

SEXUAL REFERENCESSexual innuendo is prevalent within both bars and the relationship between Alex and Nick caries sexual tension and innuendo.

Flashdance The Musical contains adult language, sexual references, and reference to drugs and alcohol. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. TUTS gives the show a movie rating of PG-13.

5

Alex Owens: Works as a welder for a Pittsburgh steel mill and dreams of becoming a professional dancerNick Hurley: Newest owner of the mill and the next in line to take over the family businessJoe: Mill foremanAndy Harris: Fellow steel workerSteel WorkersHurley’s SecretaryHarry: Owner of the barGloria, Kiki, and Tess: Dancers at Harry’s barJimmy: Harry’s nephew, Gloria’s boyfriend, works in the kitchen and the bar and aspires to be a comedianC.C.: Rival strip club owner; the ChameleonHannah Campanelli: Alex’s dance teacher and mentorLouise: Hannah’s home care nurseMs. Wilde: Administrator for Shipley Dance AcademyClassical DancersBallet MistressShipley Students: Academy dance studentsChameleon Girls: Candygirl, Destiny, Ferrari -DancersChameleon Patrons


FLASHDANCE production, photo by Kyle Froman


Character Descriptions

6

ACT ONE

Prologue............................................................................Alex, Ensemble

Steeltown Sky.......................................................... Alex, Nick, Ensemble

Just Out Of Reach...............................................................................Alex

Maniac........................................................................... Kiki, Gloria, Tess

Dealbreaker...............................................................................Alex, Nick

Put It On................................................................. Kiki, Gloria, Tess, Alex

Just Out of Reach (Reprise)................................................................Alex

Hannah’s Answer............................................................................Hannah

Inside.................................................................................Alex, Ensemble

Justice......................................................................Nick, Male Ensemble

I Love Rock And Roll.......................................................................... Tess

Remember Me.................................................................... Gloria, Jimmy

Manhunt............................................................................................ Kiki

Here And Now........................................................................... Nick, Alex

My Next Step.................................... Alex, Nick, Gloria, Jimmy, Ensemble

Maniac (Reprise)................................................................. Full Company




ACT TWO

Chameleon Girls...................................................... C.C., Gloria, Ensemble

Here And Now (Reprise).............................................................Alex, Nick

My Turn..................................................................... Alex, Nick, Ensemble

Where I Belong............................................................................... Jimmy

Enough................................................................................................Nick

Put It On (Reprise)............................................................Tess, Kiki, Harry

Gloria.............................................................................. Gloria, Ensemble

Where I Belong (Reprise)..................................................... Jimmy, Gloria

Hang On......................................................................................Alex, Nick

Let Go.................................................................................................Alex

What A Feeling.....................................................................Full Company

Musical Numbers

7


TOM HEDLEY(Book, original screen play for the Flashdance movie)

As editor-in-chief of Toronto Life, Tom Hedley turned it into the “magazine of the year” and published, among others, Margaret Atwood, Leonard Cohen, Robertson Davies and won national magazine award for fiction by Alice Munro. He was the youngest ever editor of Esquire Magazine during the magazine’s golden age, working for the legendary Harold Hayes in New York. During his four-year tenure, he worked with important writers and artists of the time including Tom Wolfe, Michael Herr, Diane Arbus, Jean Genet, William Burroughs, Gay Talese and Robert Coover. He produced a number of celebrated cover-sections including: “The Decline and Fall of the American Avant Garde” in which he commissioned a play by Sam Shepard that was eventually performed at Lincoln Center, Claes Oldenburg’s last happening and a photographic essay on The New Theater by Andy Warhol. He commissioned and published essays by Fedrico Fellini, Francois Truffaut, Michelangelo Antonioni among others, and asked the great directors to direct their own self-portraits. He produced and directed four documentaries for the CBC’s flagship current affairs program and wrote a number of produced screenplays including, among others: Circle of Two, directed by Jules Dassin, starring Richard Burton and Tatum O’Neil,

Mr. Patman, starring Kate Nelligan and James Colburn, Double Negative, starring Michael Sarrazin, Tony Perkins and John Candy, Fighting Back, starring Patti LuPone and Tom Skerrit and Flashdance, an international hit which won an Academy Award for best-song and has since become a film classic. He has written screenplays for Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson, David Geffen, Jean-Paul Goude, Sean Penn, among others. In 2001 he completed a three-year period in London as an editor and publisher of Duckworth, the venerable publishers of Virginia Woolfe and D.H. Lawrence. His titles were generally well received and garnered both awards and books-of-the-year status in leading British journals and newspapers. He also created a new imprint called Duck Editions. Tom Hedley received the Humanitas Prize 2002 award as executive producer of the movie Iris, directed by Richard Eyre, starring Judi Dench, Jim Broadbent and Kate Winslet. The film won any number of international awards, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award. He is currently President of The Hedley Media Group LLC in New York City. He will both write and direct The Last Laugh, an independent film centered around the 1980’s comedy scene in Los Angeles.

Who’s Who: The Writer

8


ROBBIE ROTH(Music & Lyrics)

Robbie Roth’s music has been heard on stage, screen, and radio all around the world. His songs have graced the Billboard charts in America and appeared on record alongside Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Johnny Cash, and many others. His work has been featured on “Good Morning America,” NBC’s “Last Comic Standing,” and in a number of films and documentaries. Robbie is most often hired to write and produce for established and upcoming recording artists. In the theatre world, Robbie has been hired as composer on a number of new musicals and has written and produced records for Tony Award® nominee, Gavin Creel.

SERGIO TRUJILLO(Director and Choreographer)

Broadway: Choreographed the 2010 Tony Award® winning Best Musical Memphis (OCC Award, Astaire and Drama Desk Award Nominations); 2006 Tony® and Olivier Award winning Best Musical Jersey Boys (Olivier, Drama Desk, Dora, OCC Award nominations.); The Addams Family; 2010 Pulitzer Prize winning Next to Normal; All Shook Up, Guys and Dolls (Astaire Award nomination) and Leap of Faith. Off Broadway: Saved (Playwrights Horizon, Lucille Lortel Nomination); The Capeman, Romeo & Juliet (Public); A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Kismet (Encores!); Salome (NYC Opera). Regional: The Wiz, Zhivago (La Jolla); Mambo Kings; The Marriage of Figaro (L.A. Opera); Chita and All That Jazz. International: Disney’s Tarzan (World Theatre Award Nomination); West Side Story, The Sound of Music (Stratford); Peggy Sue Got Married (West End); Kiss Me, Kate (Japan). TV: Judging and choreographing on “So You Think You Can Dance: Canada” (CTV), “Broadway: The American Musical” (PBS), “The 14th American Comedy Awards” (ABC), “Triple Sensation” (CBC). Ovation Award for Empire: A New American Musical and four Dora Award nominations in Canada. Upcoming: Director/Choreographer: Havana; First National Tours: Memphis, Next to Normal and The Addams Family.

ROBERT CARY(Book & Lyrics)

Robert Cary is the director of the feature films Ira and Abby, Save Me, and Anything But Love. Ira and Abby received the Audience Favorite Award following its premiere at the 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival and was released by Magnolia Pictures in 2007; Save Me, which premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and was released in the US 2008. Robert is also the director and co-writer of Anything But Love, starring Andrew McCarthy, Isabel Rose and Eartha Kitt, released by Samuel Goldwyn in 2003. Anything But Love appeared in over a dozen film festivals internationally, and received numerous audience and jury awards. In addition to his film work, Robert is co-book writer with ZZ Top of the musical Sharp Dressed Man, directed by Andy Fickman and the lyricist and co-librettist of Palm Beach, pro¬duced in 2005 by the La Jolla Playhouse and directed by Des McAnuff, and he is also the coauthor and lyricist of musical adaptations of The Thomas Crown Affair and Heartbreakers, both commissioned by MGM On Stage.

Who’s Who: The Creators

9


Celebrating its 30th Anniversary, Flashdance was originally released as a film in 1983 by Paramount Pictures. The story written by Thomas Hadley Jr. and Directed by Adrian Lyne became a worldwide smash hit that became a pop culture phenomenon, grossing over $150 million and featuring a Grammy Award-winning soundtrack. Flashdance-The Musical features a score including the hit songs from the movie, all of which became Top Ten hits on the radio around the world including the Academy Award-winning title song “Flashdance – What a Feeling,” “Maniac,” “Manhunt,” “I Love Rock & Roll.” In addition to these hits, 16 brand new songs have been written for the stage with music by Robbie Roth and lyrics by Robert Cary and Robbie Roth. The world premiere of Flashdance – The Musical will be held at Pittsburgh’s Heinz Hall. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl issued a proclamation naming January 1, 2013 as FLASHDANCE DAY.

When you hear the term “Flashdance” three things immediately come to mind; fashion, music, and dance. The story of young Alexis Owens, a steel worker/exotic dancer with dreams of joining a prestigious Pittsburgh Ballet Company has inspired generations. Yet the reality of backstory of the storyline is often overlooked as our attention and emotions are so closely bound to our heroine.

The story begins in a local steel mill in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Alex and several of her coworkers are locked in the day-to-day life struggles that defined the generational existence of steel working families. During the early 1980s Pittsburgh had slipped into a chasm of economic upheaval. The city had one major source of revenue. Steel was a family business and as the rest of the country diversified, Pittsburgh did not. The city continued to depend on steel as their sole source of profit. Slowly, then abruptly, the steel industry began to crumble like dominos; once the cycle began, it picked up speed.

Mills closed overnight, workers who had devoted their lives to steel were without work, and families were left without the means to support themselves. The economic situation was so dire; unemployment rates were skyrocketing and even surpassed those of the Great Depression. As of January 1983, the unemployment rate began to decline. The thriving industrial city turned into a ghost town as families migrated looking for work. As the decade progressed, so did the decline of the industry.

Pittsburgh, as it stands, now is only just beginning to regain some of its former glory. The population is gaining numbers and the city’s revenue is diversified. But nothing will compare to the devastation and hardship faced by several communities as that of the early 1980s. This is the reality of our heroine; Alex can fight for her dream or her job. There is a struggle at either door.

FILM VS MUSICAL

STORY BEHIND THE STORY


Story Behind the Story

10


RESOURCES:http://flashdancethemusical.com/http://www.inthe80s.com/timeline.shtmlhttp://www.endmemo.com/events/yearevt.php?yr=1980http://www.historyorb.com/events/date/1980

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1828&dat=19830818&id=4cwhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=m54FAAAAIBAJ&pg=4878,1079963

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/news/in-desperate-1983-there-was-nowhere-for-pittsburghs-economy-to-go-but-up-667537/

RESEARCH & DISCUSS:Women in a predominantly male industry; reflect on the character of Alex and her position as a welder in a steel mill. Research the roles of women within the steel industry. Prepare a presentation that incorporates technology focusing on the pros and cons of the work and what contributions women have made to the industry as a whole.

COMPARE & CONTRAST:Compare Pittsburgh’s current economic climate to that of the economic climate of the early to mid-1980s.

•What was the unemployment rate? •How were communities affected? •How has Pittsburgh diversified over the decades?

WRITE: Write an essay discussing the importance of the steel industry to the growth of Pittsburgh as a commercial city.

CREATE & PRESENT:Flashdance is a cult classic film. It influenced fashion, dance styles and music of the 1980s. Create apresentation that demonstrates the significant influence film has on pop culture.

HISTORY OF THE EIGHTIES1980

1981

1982

1985

1986

1989

PACMAN: A landmark video game, Pac-Man was released in Japan on May 22, 1980.

AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) first appeared in the U.S. in the early 1980s. While it was first thought to only affect the gay community, we now know AIDS does not discriminate; the virus is spread through contact with bodily fluids. It currently affects over 33 million people worldwide.

RONALD REGAN: On January 20, 1981, former actor and Governor of California Ronald Reagan took office. His campaign promises included lowering taxes to stimulate the economy, less government interference in people’s lives, states’ rights and a strong national defense.

AMERICAN CONSUMERISM: Madonna sang, “We are living in a material world, and I am a material girl.” In the 1980s, shopping became the national pastime of the Baby Boomers. Shopping malls, once only in suburbs, moved closer into the cities and featured movie theatres, food courts and arcades.

MTV DEBUTS: MTV popularized music videos and brought music to a broader audience. It continues to define youth culture today.

STEVEN SPIELBERG’S ET: The Extra-Terrestial premieres in June.

FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL: On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall, which separated West and East Germany, officially fell. Leonard Bernstein gave a concert in Berlin celebrating the end of the Wall in December of 1989.

LIVE AID CONCERT: On July 13, 1985, simultaneous concerts in England, United States and around the world occurred in hopes of raising funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. Performers included The Beach Boys, Run-D.M.C., Madonna, Mick Jaggar, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, U2, The Who, Elton John and Paul McCartney.

CHERNOBYL DISASTER: The Chernobyl Disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred in the Ukraine on April 26, 1986. The resulting fire from the explosion carried radioactive fallout over an extensive geographical area, which raised concerns about the safety of nuclear power.

CHALLENGER DISASTER: The Challenger Disaster was a spacecraft accident that occurred on January 28, 1986. The American shuttle orbiter broke up 73 seconds after liftoff, bringing a devastating end to the spacecraft’s 10th mission. The disaster claimed the lives of all seven astronauts aboard.

Learning Activities

11


Live theatre is a unique experience that engages the audience much more than movies or TV. Musical theatre is the only genre of performance that fully utilizes acting, singing and dancing together to further the development of the plot.

Musical theatre’s roots can be traced back to ancient times, where

the Greeks used music and dance in their tragedies and comedies. Next, fast forward to the 1700s where comedic

operas were popular in Europe. In 1866, the first “musical” by modern definition, The Black Crook, opened in New

York City. In the 1920s, Florenz Ziegfeld’s famous Follies showcased star actors and actresses with extravagant sets and

costumes but was mainly a musical revue of popular songs.

The end of the 1960s saw changes in Broadway, like HAIR, one of

the first rock musicals. Unusual concept musicals such as Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban’s A Chorus Line and Sondheim’s

cynical Company led to big-budget musical operettas like Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil’s

international hit Les Miserables and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera. Well known movie and

literature favorites like Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (which premiered at TUTS in 1994) and Stephen

Schwartz’s Wicked have been adapted into family-friendly, special effect spectaculars. At the same time, in reaction

to the rising ticket cost and flashy spectacle of Broadway, shows like Jonathan Larson’s RENT aim for a less

polished, more personal theatre experience. TUTS was a part of the production enhancement team that moved

RENT from off-Broadway to Broadway, and continues to benefit from that association, presenting the original

Broadway and film leads in a special engagement in 2009.

Innovative new musicals like the PG-13 “student” musical 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and hip-hop musical In the Heights have been attracting and pleasing younger audiences. These often start off-Broadway and become so popular they switch venues. There are also an increased number of revivals, often driven with Hollywood star power like A Little Night Music with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Landsbury. But between movie and book adaptations, revivals of past favorites and contemporary boundary-breakers, there’s no doubt the Broadway musical is here to stay.

ORIGINS & FOLLIES

EARLY YEARS & THE GOLDEN AGE

CONTEMPORARY & MEGA-MUSICALS

WHERE ARE WE TODAY?

In 1927, Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II’s Show Boat premiered, which featured complete integration of book, music and score to tell a story. During “The Golden Age of Broadway,” famous composers and lyricists churned out hits, like George & Ira Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess (1935), Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! (1943), Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun (1947), Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s West Side Story (1957), and Cole Porter’s Kiss Me, Kate (1948).

A Brief History

12


Whether you’re a stage manager, actress, director, costume designer or composer, when it comes to putting on a musical, all roles are important. Here’s a roadmap for getting a musical to Broadway.

Producers must find a show that their audience will enjoy and will want to purchase tickets to. They also need to plan the budget for the production. Producers rent a theatre and pay royalties to the composer, lyricist and writer of the musical’s book for the rights to perform the show. One resource for discovering new musicals and connecting with the world of musical theatre is the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT), which was founded by TUTS’ Frank Young in 1985. Please visit NAMT.org for more information.

The creative team includes the director, set designer, costume designer, choreographer and music director/conductor. Together with the producers, they discuss their vision for the show and how they will bring it to life on the stage.

The director and choreographer will hold auditions for the parts in the show. For most Broadway shows and tours, actors must be a part of the Actors Equity association and have an appointment, but sometimes an open call will be held. After the cast has been chosen, rehearsals begin. Actors must memorize their lines, songs and choreography before dress rehearsals and the show’s opening. For information about auditioning for shows at TUTS, please visit TUTS.com.

If the show looks good after previews, it will open. Most Broadway shows perform several times a week at night and usually have a few matinees as well. Some shows have a specific closing date; other shows will continue performing as long as people are buying tickets.

GATHERING THE CREATIVE TEAM

CASTING AND REHEARSAL

PERFORMING FOR AN AUDIENCE

•

•

•

•

FINDING THE PERFECT MUSICAL

Choreographer – the person who creates the dances and movement patterns for the show

Stage Manager – the person who manages and takes care of the stage, sets and all special effects; directs the stage hands

Stage Hands – technicians and trained individuals who work side stage and back stage before, during and after the show to make all special effects, scene changes and clean-ups happen.

Prop Master – the person in charge of getting, storing, maintaining and sometimes creating the props used in the show.

VOCABULARY Audition - a tryout for performers.

Open call - a casting open to anyone without appointment

Dress rehearsals - rehearsing in full costume and full tech as though there is an audience.

Previews - performances before the show opens for a limited audience to test public opinion.

Matinee - an afternoon or early evening show.

Putting on a Show

13

Thank you!

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

CONNECT WITH TUTS

TUTS CONTENT GUIDE

You are the only person qualified to determine what is appropriate for your child(ren)/student(s), but we hope the information and rating system in this guide were helpful. This content guide was designed by Gaby Quintana, written by Christina Martinez, and supervised by Scott Howard and Mandi Hunsicker-Sallee. Please feel free to copy and distribute. Updated Digital Edition: February 2013.

Email any questions, concerns or comments to Mandi Hunsicker-Sallee at [email protected].

Theatre Under the Stars • 713.558.2600 800 Bagby Suite 200, Houston, TX. 77002

www.tuts.com • twitter.com/tutshouston www.facebook.com/TheatreUnderTheStars

june 4-16, 2013 - ponticlarocdn.ponticlaro.com/tuts/media/2015/02/flashdance_contentguide.pdf ·...

Documents