Prop-oriented choreography?
Prop-oriented choreography?
aces25
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/13/04
#1Prop-oriented choreography?
Posted: 5/2/09 at 3:57pmWhat choreography have you seen with heavy uses of props? What made it work and what did you like about it?
#2re: Prop-oriented choreography?
Posted: 5/2/09 at 3:59pm
Sounds like an essay question on an exam. 
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#2re: Prop-oriented choreography?
Posted: 5/2/09 at 4:08pmI would say the little old ladies using their walkers in The Producers would probably my favorite example of prop-oriented choreography. It was a hilarious visual, very creative, and surprising.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#3re: Prop-oriented choreography?
Posted: 5/2/09 at 4:09pmOne of the most (if not THE most) famous examples I can think of is "If MY Friends Could See Me Now" from Sweet Charity.
"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.
#4re: Prop-oriented choreography?
Posted: 5/2/09 at 4:18pmFor all of Cry Baby's faults, it's license plate-tap dance number was pretty awesome.
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#5re: Prop-oriented choreography?
Posted: 5/2/09 at 4:22pm
The guys' bit with the tires during the "Greased Lightnin'" number in the 1994 Tommy Tune revival of GREASE! Those tires were being swung less than 5 feet from the front row audience's faces. Insane!
#6re: Prop-oriented choreography?
Posted: 5/2/09 at 4:28pmI loved Stroman's use of the rope and the girls to make big string basses for the guys to play in Crazy For You.
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#7re: Prop-oriented choreography?
Posted: 5/2/09 at 4:47pm
Susan Stroman is known as the Queen of Prop Choregraphy.
Examples:
in the Kander & Ebb revue THE WORLD GOES ROUND:
"Me and My Baby" - banjos
"Pain" - crutches
"Sara Lee" - shopping carts and pie boxes
in CRAZY FOR YOU:
Slap That Bass: ropes used to turn girls into bass fiddles
I Got Rhythm: gold miner's pans, corrugated tin panels, pick axes
What Causes That - Chairs
#8re: Prop-oriented choreography?
Posted: 5/2/09 at 7:25pm"The Cop Song" in URINETOWN (flashlights)
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
husk_charmer
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#9re: Prop-oriented choreography?
Posted: 5/2/09 at 10:42pm"Peach on the Beach" in the 70s Nanette revival had girls walking on beach balls.
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
#10re: Prop-oriented choreography?
Posted: 5/2/09 at 10:47pm
Anything that Stroman choreographs.
To quote Jeffrey Denman in his book, "when you do a show for 'Stro, you're gonna dance with everything not nailed down."
timesquare01
Stand-by Joined: 10/6/07
#11re: Prop-oriented choreography?
Posted: 5/2/09 at 10:47pmA lot of the dances in Billy Elliot made use of props and acheived many desired affects. The ballt studio prop usage felt fun and innocent, while the police's use of props was quite scary and looming. In particular, however - The Angry Dance (Act 1 Finale) used a combination of dance, props and set to tell the sheer frustration felt, not just by Billy, but by the entire community during the strike. What was also quite cool was the 'police blockades' (i believe thats what they should be called) turned into a wall which Billy proceeded to tap on and throw himself on. AMAZING.
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#12re: Prop-oriented choreography?
Posted: 5/2/09 at 11:38pm
"One Brick at a Time" in BARNUM cleverly used clowns dressed as brick layers juggling "bricks" (actually carboard boxes - "cigar box stacking/juggling" is a popular circus act).
"Where You Are" in Kiss of the Spiderwoman had Aurora's "boys" grabbing jail bars that popped off to be used as canes.
Has no one mentioned the Bottle Dance from Fiddler?
Updated On: 5/2/09 at 11:38 PM
#13re: Prop-oriented choreography?
Posted: 5/3/09 at 1:08am
The big fans in "All I Care about is Love" from CHICAGO.
Kitri's Wedding in DON Q....if ballet counts.
Some people paint, some people sew, I meddle.
#14re: Prop-oriented choreography?
Posted: 5/3/09 at 1:20amWhen I saw MY FAIR LADY (National Tour) last year, Doolittle and the cockneys (during "With A Little Bit Of Luck") strapped trash can lids to their feet and then proceeded to do a sort of tap dance number. They also used the lids as cymbals, and Doolittle even used a bunch of closed barrels as a drum set. Think STOMP.
Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiae
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra
Salve, Salve Regina
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
O clemens O pia
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra
Salve, Salve Regina
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
O clemens O pia
#15re: Prop-oriented choreography?
Posted: 5/3/09 at 2:37am
"Gaston" from Beauty and the Beast used beer mugs during the dance break.
~Steven
#16re: Prop-oriented choreography?
Posted: 5/3/09 at 9:07amHats ..... what would Bob Fosse have done without 'em!
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broadwayboy522
Leading Actor Joined: 5/6/06
#17re: Prop-oriented choreography?
Posted: 5/3/09 at 11:36amJump ropes in Whipped Into Shape from Legally Blonde, Despite some of the shows flaws that was a great number to watch. Once again the beer mugs in Gaston from Beauty And The Beast.
#18re: Prop-oriented choreography?
Posted: 5/3/09 at 11:39am
"Hats ..... what would Bob Fosse have done without 'em!"
Can't forget chairs, either!
I know you.
I know you.
I know you.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#19re: Prop-oriented choreography?
Posted: 5/3/09 at 11:56am
The waiters in Hello, Dolly.
The chairs in Crazy for You.
The brooms for the Chimney Sweeps in Mary Poppins.
(I am LOUSY at remembering song titles -- sorry about that.)
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#20re: Prop-oriented choreography?
Posted: 5/3/09 at 2:10pmHard Knock Life uses mops buckets sponges and other cleaning items.
"i had no idea billy elliot was about one boy's triumph over epilepsy."-FindingNamo
#21re: Prop-oriented choreography?
Posted: 5/3/09 at 2:10pmoops didn't mean to double post
"i had no idea billy elliot was about one boy's triumph over epilepsy."-FindingNamo
Updated On: 5/3/09 at 02:10 PM
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#22re: Prop-oriented choreography?
Posted: 5/3/09 at 7:30pmAlso in Stroman's "The World Goes Round", The Money Song (from Cabaret) had the cast using top hats with lights inside. When they shook the hats, they jingled, indicating they were full of coins. One of the men then became a "thief" who stole money from the hats - making the light in each hat go out as he took the money.
