SEPTEMBER 14-16, 2012 ZILKHA HALL

Transcription

1 SEPTEMBER 14-16, 2012 ZILKHA HALL

2 THEATRE UNDER THE STARS 2012/13 CONTENT GUIDE About 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! Content Guide 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 in literary analysis, historical research and personal reflection with parents and/or teachers that will hopefully foster a love and appreciation of musical theatre. For a more detailed synopsis, see page 5 of this content guide. 2

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS CURTAIN CALL: LEARNING ACTIVITIES THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY STRONG WOMEN IN POLITICS THE UNITED STATES TRIAL PROCESS FASHION: ELLE MAGAZINE CENTER STAGE: WOODS -COMMA- ELLE DETAILED SYNOPSIS RATING GUIDE BACKSTAGE: ABOUT MUSICAL THEATRE A BRIEF HISTORY PUTTING ON A SHOW THEATRE ETIQUETTE ABOUT TUTS COMING UP IN THE 2012/13 MAINSTAGE SEASON JEKYLL & HYDE October 9-21, 2012 PETER PAN December 11-23, 2012 CAMELOT January 22 - February 3, 2013 MAN OF LA MANCHA February 26 - March 10, 2013 SPAMALOT May 14-26, 2013 FLASHDANCE June 4-16, TUTS 2012/2013 STUDENT MATINEES LEGALLY BLONDE Sept. 14,2012 at 10AM, Zilkha Hall FLAT STANLEY March 19-22, 2013 at 9:30 & 11:15AM, Zilkha Hall UNDER $10 SCROOGE Nov ,2012 at 9:30 & 11:15AM, Zilkha Hall CAMELOT-MAINSTAGE Jan. 30, 2013 at 10AM, Sarofim Hall

4 THEATRE UNDER THE STARS 2012/13 CONTENT GUIDE Summary & Characters When Elle Woods boyfriend dumps her for not being serious, she decides to win him back by following him to Harvard Law School. With the help of a hairdresser and a workout queen, Elle discovers what it takes to be so much better than before. Photo by Joan Marcus, Original Broadway Cast For a more detailed synopsis, see page 5 of this content guide. CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS Elle Woods: Heartbroken sorority girl who decides to attend Harvard Law to win back her boyfriend. Margot, Pilar, and Serena: Elle s best friends and Delta Nu sorority sisters. Emmett Forrest: Assistant to Professor Callahan; he motivates Elle to focus on her studies. Paulette Bonefonté: Hair dresser at the Hair Affair; befriends Elle. Professor Callahan: One of Harvard s toughest law professors; an internship with him will ensure you a job after law school. Warner Huntington III: Elle s ex-boyfriend who dumps her because she is not serious. Vivienne Kensington: Harvard Law student and Warner s new girlfriend. Brooke Wyndham: An exercise video trainer who is on trial for the murder of her 60-year old husband. Enid Hoopes: Harvard Law student, feminist and environmental activist; also chosen for Callahan s internship T E K S Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills English Language Arts English I: (13,15,21) English II: (13,15,21) English III: (13,15,21) English IV: (13,15,21) Social Studies United States History since 1877: (5,6,9,21,24,26,29,30) United States Government: (13,21) Theatre Level 1: (5) Level II: (5) Level III: (5) Level IV: (5) Music Level 1: (6) (6) (6) (6) Career and Technical Education Advanced Fashion Design: (11) Chutney Wyndham: Brooke s stepdaughter Please visit for more information. 4

5 LEGALLY BLONDE RATING GUIDE Legally Blonde is not recommended for children under 13. TUTS gives the show a movie equivalent rating of PG-13. ADULT LANGUAGE The words slut, damn, whore, and butthead are all said once. The word bastard is said twice. The words skank, ass, and crap are all said at least 4 times. The word hell is said at least 9 times. VIOLENCE There is a rumor that Callahan bathes in sheep s blood. In Blood in the Water there is a hypothetical court case that mentions killing a nun and puppies. A violent metaphor is used to describe Elle getting kicked out of class. In Positive, Margot and the Greek chorus suggest acts of violence against Vivienne. Brooke is on trial for her husband s murder and was found covered in his blood. Brooke s workout videos teach self-defense. Kyle s nose is broken during the Bend and Snap. Elle slaps Callahan when he kisses her. Chutney intended to murder Brooke, but accidently murdered her father instead. Photo by Claire McAdams DRUGS/ALCOHOL Frat boys try to distract Elle by inviting her to the Spring Fling Beer Bash. In Blood in the Water there is a hypothetical court case that mentions heroin and getting high. In Ireland Paulette sings about drinking and its effects. Whitney has alcohol at her party. In Ireland (reprise) Ireland is referred to as the country of whiskey. Elle reminisces about Warner funneling beer. Paulette sees the Greek chorus and is confused because she has not had any Jager. They say the Bend and Snap will lead to a guy buying you a drink. Callahan s team celebrates with champagne. SEXUAL REFERENCES In Blood in the Water there is a hypothetical court case that mentions prostitutes, porn, and getting laid. Enid is a lesbian. In Positive, Pilar advises Elle to do sexually suggestive things to Warner. Vivienne invites Warner back to her place. Elle tells the Greek chorus that Harvard is not a stripper bar. Paulette asks if Vivienne has three tits. Paulette and Dewey lived together for 10 years. Paulette left Dewey because he cheated on her. Elle dresses as a Playboy bunny. One of the cases the class studies mentions sperm donation, sperm and masturbatory emissions, and sexual encounters. Elle reminisces about spending time in the hot tub with Warner. Elle says getting the internship feels better than making love. Brooke was married to her 60-year old husband. The UPS guy is described as walking porn. Paulette gives an example of cheerleaders suggestive behavior to get guys. The Bend and Snap is used to attract men. Nikos pool uniform is a tinythong (not worn, just shown). Nikos claims to be Brooke s lover. Nikos is proven to be gay in the song Gay or European? Carlos and Nikos are a couple. Warner twists a comment made by Callahan to make it sound suggestive. Callahan comes on to Elle and kisses her. Warner thinks Elle was sleeping with Callahan. In the end Paulette is married to Kyle and pregnant with their third child. 5

6 CENTER STAGE: WOODS -COMMA- ELLE Detailed Synopsis Act One: At the Delta Nu Sorority House, Elle s best friends Margot, Serena, and Pilar are preparing to congratulate Elle on her upcoming engagement. When they discover she is not at the house the Delta Nus join Elle at the mall and help her find the perfect dress (Omigod You Guys). Warner takes Elle to a romantic restaurant. He begins talking about their future while Elle anxiously waits for his proposal (Serious). The moment Warner should be popping the question, he breaks up with Elle instead. Warner explains he cannot marry Elle because she is not serious. Back at the sorority house, Elle is upset about the break up. While flipping through a magazine she sees a picture of Warner s brother and his wife. Elle realizes that she must attend Harvard Law School and prove to Warner she is serious (What You Want). On the first day of law school, Emmett, a Harvard Law School Alumni and Professor Callahan s assistant, welcomes the new students. He listens to first years Aaron, Padamadan, and Enid share why they chose Harvard Law (The Harvard Variations). In criminal law 101, Professor Callahan greets the class by telling them what to expect in his class (Blood in the Water). Callahan directs a question to Elle, but she is unprepared. He asks Elle s classmate, Vivienne, for her opinion, and her decision leads to Elle s dismissal from class. After class, Elle runs into Vivienne and Warner and finds out Vivienne is now Warner s girlfriend. Elle s Greek Chorus, Margot, Serena, Pilar, and the other Delta Nus, appears and they attempt to comfort Elle (Positive). Elle enters the Hair Affair salon and meets Paulette. She sympathizes with Elle and offers her own story (Ireland). Vivienne and Whitney enter the salon discussing an upcoming party. Vivienne invites Elle to the costume party. They leave and Paulette pushes Elle to go and win Warner back (Ireland Reprise). Elle arrives at the party dressed as a Playboy bunny and discovers that no one else is in costume. Elle maintains her confidence, approaches Warner, and they reminisce (Serious Reprise). Warner tells Elle that he still does not think she is serious. Vivienne joins them, and she and Warner tell Elle she will not make it through the semester. Elle is infuriated and leaves the party. She runs into Emmett who encourages her to get focused (Chip on My Shoulder). Act Two: Callahan and his team are watching murder suspect Brooke Wyndham s exercise video while Callahan shares the details of the case (Whipped Into Shape). Callahan sends Emmett and the interns to the jail to get Brooke s alibi, but she refuses and tells them to leave. Elle stays behind and wins Brooke s confidence (Delta Nu Nu Nu). Elle assures Brooke that she believes in her innocence. Brooke tells Elle her alibi and Elle swears to never reveal her secret. When the rest of the team returns, Elle keeps her promise and refuses to tell the legal team the alibi. Frustrated, Callahan takes everyone back to the office except Emmett and Elle. Emmett again asks her for the alibi and she reminds him about the importance of trust between a lawyer and client. Elle thanks Emmett for his help by buying him a new suit (Take It Like a Man). Paulette and Elle are at the Hair Affair when the UPS guy, Kyle, delivers a package. Paulette confesses her feelings for him to Elle. The Greek Chorus arrives with advice on how Paulette can get his attention (Bend and Snap). It is day three of the trial and the pool boy, Nikos, claims he had an affair with Brooke. During a recess, Elle tries the Bend and Snap on Nikos. It fails to catch his attention, leading Elle to conclude that Nikos is gay. Callahan s team discusses whether this could be true (Gay or European?). Emmett questions Nikos and discovers he is gay. After celebrating their success in the trial so far, Callahan dismisses his team and asks to see Elle alone. Elle tries to thank Callahan for his help, but is interrupted when Callahan kisses her. Horrified, Elle slaps Callahan. She concludes that no one will ever take her seriously, so she might as well just go back to California (Legally Blonde). Elle goes to say goodbye to Paulette. Vivienne is at the salon and admits she has been wrong about Elle (Legally Blonde Remix). She convinces Elle to stay and fight. Once at the courtroom, Brooke fires Callahan and hires Elle. Elle calls Chutney, the late Wyndham s daughter, to the stand. Through questioning Elle discovers Chutney is lying and clears Brooke s name. Elle s win makes Warner want her back, but Elle realizes that she wants to be, and can be, so much more than Warner s wife (Find My Way). Time moves ahead to graduation day, and everyone s future is revealed (Finale). Thanksgiving and Christmas pass. In Callahan s class the students are discussing a case, and Elle s argument beats Warner s. Callahan compliments Elle on her work and asks for her resume. Elle, Emmett, and Paulette confront Dewey, Paulette s ex-boyfriend, and take back Paulette s dog. Elle discovers how good it feels to use the law to help the underdog. A student finds them with the news that Callahan has taken on a trial and chosen his four interns early. Enid, Warner, and Vivienne see that they have been chosen. Warner proposes to Vivienne and she accepts. Elle is crushed until she sees that she has won the fourth spot (So Much Better). Photo by Joan Marcus, Original Broadway Cast 6

7 CURTAIN CALL: LEARNING ACTIVITIES The Story Behind the Story THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY The inspiration for Legally Blonde began as a daydream in a Stanford law class. Amanda Brown, author of the novel Legally Blonde, claims the idea just popped into her head while she was in tort class one day. From that, Elle Woods, the Malibu sorority girl turned Stanford law student, was born. The novel was based off funny experiences Brown had during her time at Stanford. In 2001, the book was turned into the film by the same name and featured Reese Witherspoon as Elle. The film moved the setting from Stanford to Harvard, but kept to the basic plot. After the movie s wonderful success, Legally Blonde The Musical became a Broadway production with the book by Heather Hach, music and lyrics by Laurence O Keefe and Nell Benjamin, and directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell. The original production opened on Broadway on April 29, 2007 with Laura Bell Bundy as Elle Woods. During its first year on Broadway in 2007, Legally Blonde The Musical earned seven Tony Award nominations, 10 Drama Desk Award nominations and an Outer Critics Circle Award. The show also ranked in the top 10 for the most requested Ticketmaster Arts & Theatre Events for MTV recorded the musical on stage with the original cast and aired it in October This made Legally Blonde The Musical the first musical to be recorded live on stage and later put on a major television network. Prior to Laura Belle Bundy s scheduled departure from the show on July 20, 2008, MTV aired their reality TV competition Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods. The competition started with 15 contestants who were eliminated over nine episodes. The winner was Bailey Hanks, who Photo by Joan Marcus, Original Broadway Cast Photo courtesy of Oddpedia.com replaced Bundy, and started her Broadway run on July 23, She was with the show until it closed October 19, In addition to its run on Broadway, there have been two national tours, the second ending in May of The production also started previews in London in 2009 and will run there until April 7, The movie Legally Blonde came out in 2001 and starred Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods. Some of her fellow cast members included Luke Wilson, Selma Blair, Matthew Davis, Jennifer Coolidge, and Victor Garber. The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Marc Platt Productions film was directed by Robert Luketic with the screenplay by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith. Despite the film s barely above average reviews, the movie was very successful at the box office and was nominated for two Golden Globe awards. It received nominations for Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical and for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical. Two movies followed the original. One was a sequel, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, and Blonde, that follows Elle to Washington D.C. where she develops a bill to ban cosmetic testing on animals. Reese Witherspoon reprised her role as Elle Woods, but the sequel was not as well received as the original. The third movie, Legally Blondes, went straight to video. It starred Camilla and Rebecca Rosso as Elle s cousins who move to California from England and have to stand up to bullies at their new school. 7

8 CURTAIN CALL: LEARNING ACTIVITIES Strong Women in Politics ARABELLA MANSFIELD Arabella Mansfield made history when she became the first female lawyer in the United States. She was born in 1846 in Burlington, Iowa. Her father became superintendent of the Bay State Mining Company and her family moved to Mount Pleasant, Iowa. While there she attended Iowa Wesleyan College and graduated valedictorian. She began teaching at Simpson College, but soon returned to Mount Pleasant to marry John Melvin Mansfield. She studied law in her brother s law office and went on to pass the bar in That same year Iowa ruled that women may not be denied the right to practice law and she was admitted and sworn in. Despite being admitted to the bar, she never actually practiced law. Mansfield instead concentrated on teaching and activist work. She went on to be the Dean of the School of Art and the Dean of the School of Music at DePauw University. Her activist work focused on women s suffrage, and allowed her to work with well-known suffragette Susan B. Anthony. Recently in 2002, the Arabella Mansfield Award was established by the Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys to honor outstanding women lawyers in Iowa. SANDRA DAY O CONNOR Sandra Day O Connor was the first woman to be appointed as a justice on the United States Supreme Court. She was born in El Paso, Texas in She attended Stanford University and graduated with a degree in Economics. O Connor continued her education at Stanford s Law School and graduated with her degree in She held various government positions including assistant to the attorney general and state senator. In 1974 O Connor was elected as a judge for the Maricopa County Superior Court. Her experience there led to her selection for the state s court of appeals and, eventually, a nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court by President Ronald Reagan. The approval from the senate made her the first woman to sit on the Supreme Court. During her time served, O Connor was the deciding vote in many cases. She held her position on the court until January 31, 2006 when she resigned in order to spend more time with her family. In 2009, President Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom for the work she did during her time on the bench ?page=1 HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON Hillary Rodham Clinton was First Lady, Senator from the state of New York, and the first major female candidate for President of the Untied States. She was born in 1947 in Chicago, Illinois. As a young girl she discovered her passion for politics at a young age when she heard Martin Luther King give a speech in Chicago. She studied at Wellesley College as an undergraduate and went on to get her law degree from Yale Law School. It was at Yale that she began dating Bill Clinton. She worked various jobs in politics throughout law school and following graduation. Rodham eventually ended up teaching at the University of Arkansas Law School where Bill was working as well. They were married in 1975, and he was elected governor of Arkansas in She joined the Rose Law Firm and was appointed to parttime chairman of Legal Services Corporation by President Carter just before Bill became governor. While First Lady of Arkansas, she also chaired various committees and sat on many legal and corporate boards. She became First Lady in 1992 when Bill was elected as President of the United States. While in the White House she stayed active in its political operations. After her time as First Lady, the people of New York elected her as a Senator, where she served until she began her own presidential campaign in Clinton competed against Barack Obama in the Democratic Party s primaries. Despite Clinton s strong start, Obama came out on top in the end and went on to win the main election. He nominated her for Secretary of State in 2009, and Congress approved her appointment that same year. campaign_of_2008 Hillary Clinton as the Secretary of State 8

9 CURTAIN CALL: LEARNING ACTIVITIES The United States Trial Process If you are a United States citizen accused of a crime the Sixth Amendment gives you the right to a trial by jury. PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCE AND WITNESSES After the opening statements the prosecutor can start proving his case. The arguments on each side of the trial are proven by testimonial and physical evidence. Testimonial evidence is the statements made by the witnesses that either side may call to the stand for questioning. When a witness is called, the side who called them questions them first and the opposing can follow if they choose. Physical evidence includes physical items such as a weapon or photograph. The defense is not required to present any evidence themselves. Instead they must prove that the evidence presented by the prosecutor still leaves doubt in the case. The judge presides over the case ensure that the law is being upheld. He establishes what evidence legally pertains to the case and what must be thrown out and disregarded. Once all evidence has been brought to attention, each side rests their case. Photo courtesy of Seeing.Stars.com SELECTION OF A JURY The first step in a trial procedure is jury formation. A random pool of available jurors is selected from that court s county. Each juror is assigned a number, and numbers are drawn and assigned to jury pools. Before jurors are assigned to a specific case, they are questioned by the judge and attorneys in a process called Voir Dire. This process serves to evaluate potential jurors ability to deliver an unbiased decision or verdict. Following Voir Dire a jury of either six or twelve people is chosen, depending on the trial. OPENING STATEMENTS Once a jury is chosen and sworn in, the trial can begin. The prosecutor and defense attorney each give opening statements. These statements are usually an overview of what will be proven by each side during the trial. CLOSING ARGUMENTS In closing arguments, the attorneys summarize the evidence that has been brought forth throughout the trial and how it proves their positions. JURY INSTRUCTIONS At this time the judge informs the jurors of what laws pertain to the case and all that the jury must decide on. DELIBERATION The jurors gather in the deliberation room and elect a foreperson who leads the discussions and makes sure they are discussing all that they need to. If they find the defendant innocent, the defendant may never be put on trial for that case again. A jury that cannot come to an agreement it is called a hung jury. This can result in the trial being dismissed by the judge or a new jury being chosen for a retrial. If the jury decides the defendant is guilty, the judge will set a time for a sentence hearing, where the specific consequences of the offense are determined. 9

10 CURTAIN CALL: LEARNING ACTIVITIES Fashion: Elle Magazine In the musical, Elle Woods eventually discovers her passion for law, but from the beginning she always had a passion for fashion! One of the most respected voices of fashion is Elle Magazine, and it is even mentioned by Elle and her sorority sisters in the musical. Elle Magazine, the largest fashion magazine in the world, is published on six continents in thirty-six different editions. It was first published in the 1940s in France. The magazine was started by Helene Gordon-Lazareff with the support of her husband Pierre Lazareff. Pierre Lazareff was already very established in the journalism world and Helene decided to follow in his footsteps. The couple moved to Manhattan during World War II, and during their time there Helene worked for Harper s Bazaar, Vogue, and The New York Times. When they returned to France in 1944, Helene was ready to start her own fashion magazine. The first edition of Elle was published in France in The magazine made its American debut in 1985 and continued expansion from there. Its continuing success owes a great amount of credit to the magazine s online presence. On the website you can find content on topics from the printed magazine as well as archives from previous years. Recently, Elle has utilized social media and A -List celebrities to draw customers back to purchasing the printed copy of the magazine. Elle continues to focus on their main idea of fashion, beauty, and style with a brain -just like Elle Woods. Reese Whiterspoon on the Elle Magazine cover magazine-the-history.php wordpress.com/2012/05/02/elle-uk-magazine-makeshistory-and-embraces-social-media-to-keep-readership/ RESOURCES: The_Search_for_Elle_Woods VOCABULARY 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. 10

11 CURTAIN CALL: LEARNING ACTIVITIES Learning Activities STRONG WOMEN IN POLITICS WRITE & EXPLAIN Reflect on the character of Elle Woods. Do you think her character exemplifies the traits of a strong women? Write an essay explaining your opinion. Research a strong woman from the past or present. Prepare a presentation that incorporates technology, graphics, and music and addresses the following aspects of your subjects life: early life, education, significant contribution to society, obstacles overcome in life. Some suggested topics appear below. Eleanor Roosevelt Oprah Winfrey Susan B. Anthony Ida B. Wells FASHION: ELLE MAGAZINE LOOK & CREATE Rosa Parks Betty Friedan Frances Willard Jane Addams Helene based her magazine on what she loved. If you were developing a magazine what would it focus on? Create a two page layout spread that would appear in your magazine. Write at least one article for you magazine and include other elements such as photos, diagrams, captions, surveys, etc. Look at the content of other magazines with similar content to help you determine possible content and features. THE UNITED STATES TRIAL PROCESS RESEARCH & DISCUSS Research a milestone court case and find how it contributed to the interpretation of the law. Pretend you are a court reporter from a local newspaper. Use your research to write an article that covers the important elements of the case. Marbury v. Madison Gibbons v. Ogden Dred Scott v. Sandford Gideon v. Wainwright New York Times v. Sullivan Brown v. Board of Education Plessy v. Ferguson Miranda v. Arizona United States v. Nixon Roe v. Wade Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission Sweatt v. Painter Mendez v. Westminister Elle magazine keeps its readers up to date on all the latest trends. Research the fashion in a specific era and create a posterboard with words and images that represent the trends in that era Early-mid 30s Late 30s Early 50s Mid 50s Early 60s Late 60s 1970s 11

12 BACKSTAGE: ABOUT MUSICAL THEATRE A Brief History 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. ORIGINS & FOLLIES 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. CONTEMPORARY & MEGA-MUSICALS 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 EARLY YEARS & THE GOLDEN AGE 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). WHERE ARE WE TODAY? 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. 12

13 BACKSTAGE: ABOUT MUSICAL THEATRE Putting on a Show 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. GATHERING THE CREATIVE TEAM 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. PERFORMING FOR AN AUDIENCE 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. FINDING THE PERFECT MUSICAL 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 Please visit NAMT.org for more information. CASTING AND REHEARSAL 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. THEATRE ETIQUETTE Arrive about 30 minutes before the show starts. Applaud at the end of songs and scenes. Otherwise, shhhhh! Turn your cell phones and electronics off completely. No texting! Save snacks for intermission. 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. 13

14 TUTS CONTENT GUIDE Thank you! 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 Caitlin Donahoe, edited by Katie Curry, and supervised by Scott Howard and Mandi Hunsicker-Sallee. Please feel free to copy and distribute. Printed in the United States of America. Updated Digital Edition: April SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS any questions, concerns or comments to CONNECT WITH TUTS Theatre Under the Stars Bagby Suite 200, Houston, TX twitter.com/tutshouston 14