(I realized that I havn't yet finished the musical characters series yet, but please bear with me, I want to give some credit to those we don't always see.)
Theatrical Properties (henceforth referred to as Props) is an important part of any performance. Props can be important in advancing the story in some shows (Once Upon A Mattress relies heavily on props) or just aids to the show (Finians Rainbow the only major props are a pot of gold and a guitar). Yet this position always needs to be filled. It is near essential to put on a show. Props masters have to coordinate themselves with costume and set designers, as well as the director and possibly music director if it is an in use instrument.
It's no easy task and I will be undertaking it myself in a production of Is He Dead? by Mark Twain, where the biggest and hardest prop is a full sized coffin.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Musical Charcters Part 4 of 6: Josh Baskin
Josh Baskin is the main character in the musical adaption of the movie Big. At the start of the show Josh is a 12-year-old boy living in a New Jersey Suburb. He has feelings of self conciseness whenever the girl he has a crush on, 13-year-old Cynthia Benson is near. He and his friends have no idea what is happening to them and their parents don't either, this feeling is expressed in the song "Can't Wait".
Josh's friend Billy later tells him the he has heard the Cynthia things he's "cute". Josh begins to worry what to say to Cynthia as Billy explains everything will go fine at the carnival that night, this dialog is heard in the song "Talk to Her".
At that carnival that night, Josh makes a fool of himself when he learns that Cynthia has an older boyfriend. He also is embarrassed in front of the roller coaster when the operator tells him he is to short to ride. Billy tries to talk to him but Josh speeds away on his skateboard to the abandoned warehouse.
At the warehouse, Josh finds an old arcade game called Zoltar Speaks it prompts him to put in a coin and make a wish. Josh does this makes his wish, a wish to be big. Zoltar replies "Your wish is granted" as Josh leaves to go home.
The next morning Josh realizes something is wrong ("This Isn't Me"). The machine has granted his wish and he is now a 30-year-old man. He realizes the machine has granted his wish and is scared and confused because, though he has the body of a 30-year-old, his mind is still that of a 12-year-old boy.
Josh than comes downstairs and scares his mother and runs off to the school and tries to get Billy to help him. Billy only believes it's Josh when they perform their secret had shake.
Without a plan, Billy and Josh take a bus to New York City after school. Billy wants to stay by Josh but has to catch the next bus home. Josh and Billy agree to meet at FAO Schwartz the next day. After Billy leaves, Josh gets frightened and has trouble falling asleep ("I Want to go Home").
The next day Josh goes to FAO Schwartz and is amazed by the multitude of kids having fun with toys ("The Time of Your Life"). Billy hasn't arrived so Josh kills time by walking around the store and starts to chat with an elderly man. It turns out that the man is Mr. Macmillan the CEO of Macmillan toys, he had come to the store to try and find out why so many companies are beating Macmillan toys in sales. Josh replies that Macmillan toys "Don't allow kids to have fun,". Instead of being angered by this comment Macmillan is intrigued by what Josh has to say about what makes a toy fun. They end up having a great time playing on a giant piano and he hires Josh as his assistant on the spot.
Later at a meeting at the Macmillan company, the vice-presidents are presenting their holiday toy ideas to Josh and Mr. Macmillan. Josh shoots all the ideas that are presented down which enrages the vice-presidents ("Josh's Welcome"). One of the vice-presidents, Paul is also upset over his relationship with another vice-president, Susan, suddenly ending.
Susan is working late that night when she realizes her feelings for Josh because he is so different from Paul. ("Here We Go Again").
Will Josh ever return to normal? Find out by either watching the musical of Big or the movie, staring Tom Hanks (While devoid of music it still is a quality film)
Josh's friend Billy later tells him the he has heard the Cynthia things he's "cute". Josh begins to worry what to say to Cynthia as Billy explains everything will go fine at the carnival that night, this dialog is heard in the song "Talk to Her".
At that carnival that night, Josh makes a fool of himself when he learns that Cynthia has an older boyfriend. He also is embarrassed in front of the roller coaster when the operator tells him he is to short to ride. Billy tries to talk to him but Josh speeds away on his skateboard to the abandoned warehouse.
At the warehouse, Josh finds an old arcade game called Zoltar Speaks it prompts him to put in a coin and make a wish. Josh does this makes his wish, a wish to be big. Zoltar replies "Your wish is granted" as Josh leaves to go home.
The next morning Josh realizes something is wrong ("This Isn't Me"). The machine has granted his wish and he is now a 30-year-old man. He realizes the machine has granted his wish and is scared and confused because, though he has the body of a 30-year-old, his mind is still that of a 12-year-old boy.
Josh than comes downstairs and scares his mother and runs off to the school and tries to get Billy to help him. Billy only believes it's Josh when they perform their secret had shake.
Without a plan, Billy and Josh take a bus to New York City after school. Billy wants to stay by Josh but has to catch the next bus home. Josh and Billy agree to meet at FAO Schwartz the next day. After Billy leaves, Josh gets frightened and has trouble falling asleep ("I Want to go Home").
The next day Josh goes to FAO Schwartz and is amazed by the multitude of kids having fun with toys ("The Time of Your Life"). Billy hasn't arrived so Josh kills time by walking around the store and starts to chat with an elderly man. It turns out that the man is Mr. Macmillan the CEO of Macmillan toys, he had come to the store to try and find out why so many companies are beating Macmillan toys in sales. Josh replies that Macmillan toys "Don't allow kids to have fun,". Instead of being angered by this comment Macmillan is intrigued by what Josh has to say about what makes a toy fun. They end up having a great time playing on a giant piano and he hires Josh as his assistant on the spot.
Later at a meeting at the Macmillan company, the vice-presidents are presenting their holiday toy ideas to Josh and Mr. Macmillan. Josh shoots all the ideas that are presented down which enrages the vice-presidents ("Josh's Welcome"). One of the vice-presidents, Paul is also upset over his relationship with another vice-president, Susan, suddenly ending.
Susan is working late that night when she realizes her feelings for Josh because he is so different from Paul. ("Here We Go Again").
Will Josh ever return to normal? Find out by either watching the musical of Big or the movie, staring Tom Hanks (While devoid of music it still is a quality film)