Small Musicals w Minimal Sets

[jdftba]

Hello!

I'm an undergrad theatre lover going to a college where the theatre professors don't really like (or respect) musical theatre. They're a bit eletist in their art but hey they put on good plays so I'm not gunna judge too hard. But I'd love to get a student run musical happening here. But because of the lack of infrastructure or much support, I basically need something I can do [title of show] style with "four chairs and a keyboard."

 

So if you have some examples of shows with casts of less than 10, which dont need much of a set or a band or super complex costumes, I'd love to hear it. Things like [title of show], Spelling Bee, Last Five Years, ect. 

 

Thanks!

[AngusN]

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. 

I Love You Because.

[thirtythirtyninety]

Fantasticks

[thebookofwhizzer]

Falsettos?

[bdn223]

next to normal

[Rainah]

Depending on your theater, Next to Normal has a very bare set and a cast of six.

21 Chump Street is super short and simple too, cast of six.

 

But really, in terms of set? Depending on how creative your team is you can strip pretty much any musical down.

[BroadwayRox3588]

Songs for a New World

[dramamama611]

You're a Good Man Charlie Brown

Godspell

 

[BuddyStarr]

Closer than Ever

And the World Goes Round

 

[PatrickDC]

Can't basically any musical be performed concert style, which it sounds like what you'll be doing. Well, except for complex musicals where more elaborate sets and costumes are pretty much necessary to tell the story. 

Is ROMANCE/ROMANCE available for licensing? I've never seen it performed but I listened to the album (yes, it was that long ago) so much I basically wore it out. True, it only has the two actors, and the two dancers, so there is not much opportunity for students. But if you're trying to prove something to the faculty, maybe simple is better? 

SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD is also another favorite recording from a while ago. Minimal set but again, a small cast (four actors). 

 

[jacobsnchz14]

Student-run musical? Will it also be funded by the students? So long as you're aware you'll end up paying for the royalties to do the show and that could be pricey.

[Alexander Lamar]

The greatest musical ever written - Brooklyn.

[Valentina3]

Violet can be done with a fairly small number of actors and musicians. It's the kind of show many of your elitist colleagues would like as well, if it's done well.

[Laurapattifan]

title of show 

[perfectliar]

Thrill Me

Jacques Brel is Alive and Well...

The Last Five Years

[BuddyStarr]

Baby is also another one with minimal sets/costumes and can be done on a small budget.

[TooManyLegs]

BED AND SOFA (an oddity, but I enjoyed it. Also, possibly GOBLIN MARKET by the same writer, though I don't know the piece.)

[Wildcard]

Tick… Tick… Boom!

[thommg]

Tintypes. 5 people (2 Men, 3 Women). I've done the show with just a piano player on a set with flags colors in vertical banners across the back of the stage and a few prop pieces.

[Alex Kulak2]

Calvin Berger - 4 Actors, Table + Chairs Set, A Combo with a Keyboard, Drums, Bass, Violin and Cello

Golden Boy Of The Blue Ridge - 10 Actors, Unit Set, Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar, Fiddle, Bass, Played by the Actors

Things To Ruin - 9 Actors, Concert Set, Guitar, Bass, Drums, and Piano

[ilonaritters]

Ordinary Days

[icecreambenjamin]

Falsettos

She Loves Me (I did it with very limited sets and just a piano and it worked beautifully)

A New Brain

Grey Gardens

Sweeney Todd

IMO, it would be more intriguing to choose a full musical rather than more of a song cycle such as Songs for a New World or Ordinary Days and stage it in a simple, intimate way.

[SporkGoddess]

I've recently fallen in love with Pasek and Paul's Dogfight, which is a small chamber musical.

[MackTheKnife2]

The Cradle Will Rock, Jacques Brel..., Threpenny Opera, Company, Assassins, Chicago, Sweeney Todd, Falsettos, Man of La Mancha, Zorba

Really, most great musicals don't need big sets and costumes, they can stand only on their book, music and lyrics.

Good luck!

[broadwayindie]

Working

Sweet Charity

Merrily We Roll Along

But really you can do many musicals with minimal sets. The only thing you cannot do is a musical that is set specific (i.e. Sunday in The Park or Phantom) but not many musicals have that. What I think may be more challenging is getting the right balance of talent if you are at a school that does not focus on musical theatre. I would then pick a show depending on that. Best of luck!