Broadway Gurus on the Board

[Appa23]

My daughter and the studio owner's son are going to perform a duet during the upcoming dance season. However, they need a song.

The initial thought was a musical theatre number. Keeping in mind that we are talking about six year-old kids, it can not anything too romantic or "adult-oriented".

Does anyone has any ideas? They are supposed to start rehearsing this Saturday.

[My initial thoughts were "Wherever We Go" from Gypsy or "Anything You Can Do" from Annie Get Your Gun. I also wondered if there was something from a Disney musical that would work.]

[2nd thing to keep in mind: They already are doing a partnering routine with two other young kids to "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps".]

[mellytu74]

Appa --

If they use Anything You Can Do, they'll have to change some of the words.

One exchange:
Frank: I can jump a hurdle
Annie: I can wear a girdle
Frank: I can knit a sweater
Annie: I can fill it better

That comes right before the "Can you bake a pie?" "No." "Neither can I." part.

[gsabc]

What kind of dance is planned? "You're the Top" comes to mind, but the references are largely archaic to modern audiences, and I don't see it as very danceable. Although BD's studio head once choreorgraphed a ballet number to "Stars and Stripes Forever", so anything's possible.

[BackInTex]

My daughter and the studio owner's son are going to perform a duet during the upcoming dance season. However, they need a song.

The initial thought was a musical theatre number. Keeping in mind that we are talking about six year-old kids, it can not anything too romantic or "adult-oriented".

Does anyone has any ideas? They are supposed to start rehearsing this Saturday.

[My initial thoughts were "Wherever We Go" from Gypsy or "Anything You Can Do" from Annie Get Your Gun. I also wondered if there was something from a Disney musical that would work.]

[2nd thing to keep in mind: They already are doing a partnering routine with two other young kids to "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps".]

A Whole New World - Aladin (great for boy/girl duet) <--BiT's pick
- already separated boy and girl parts
- he will call her 'princess'

[him]
I can show you the world
Shining, shimmering, splendid
Tell me, princess, now when did
You last let your heart decide?

I can open your eyes
Take you wonder by wonder
Over, sideways and under
On a magic carpet ride

A whole new world
A new fantastic point of view
No one to tell us no
Or where to go
Or say we're only dreaming

[her]
A whole new world
A dazzling place I never knew
But when I'm way up here
It's crystal clear
That now I'm in a whole new world with you
Now I'm in a whole new world with you


Unbelievable sights
Indescribable feeling
Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling
Through an endless diamond sky

[her]
A whole new world
[him]
Don't you dare close your eyes
[her]
A hundred thousand things to see
[him]
Hold your breath - it gets better
[her]
I'm like a shooting star
I've come so far
I can't go back to where I used to be

[both]
A whole new world
Every turn a surprise
With new horizons to pursue
Every moment red-letter
I'll chase them anywhere
There's time to spare
Let me share this whole new world with you

A whole new world
That's where we'll be
A thrilling chase
A wondrous place
For you and me

[nitrah55]

There's "Friendship" from "Anything Goes." Like "Anything You Can Do," it gets snarky in the last verse, but use your best judgement.

It's not written as a duet, but "Happiness" from "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" would work, too.

[nitrah55]

What kind of dance is planned? "You're the Top" comes to mind, but the references are largely archaic to modern audiences, and I don't see it as very danceable. Although BD's studio head once choreorgraphed a ballet number to "Stars and Stripes Forever", so anything's possible.

The worst show I ever saw on Broadway was "Teddy and Alice," a musical about the Roosevelts.

The gimmick of the show was that all the music was written to tunes by John Philip Sousa. Dreadful libretto, with unlistenable lyrics.

The first act closer was a campaign speech sung by TR (played by Len Cariou, to his lasting regret) to the tune of "Stars and Stripes Forever."

Usually, at the end of a first act, the lights go down and stay down for at least a few seconds because people applauding tend to stop when the lights go up. In this case (and it's the only time I've ever seen it in a Broadway house) they brought down the lights at the end of the song and then immediately brought them back up, knowing that the applause was going to stop, and that there's nothing more awful than people sitting in the dark, quietly.

Did I say I saw this show? Not entirely correct- I left after the first act.

[Appa23]

Thanks for the ideas! Keep'em coming!

I had forgot to note there is no issue with editing out parts, as the dance can not be longer than 2 minutes, 30 seconds.



Mildly related note: I should tell you about the cool dance that my son is doing with a group of young teens and older tweens. It is a step/tap routine to music from the movie "Drum Line". As choreographed, there is a segment where he is drumming out a beat with a couple other boys while the rest of the group is tapping.

[Catfish]

it can not anything too romantic or "adult-oriented".

[My initial thoughts were "Wherever We Go" from Gypsy

So your first thoughts are about a show about a stripper with mother issues?

[etaoin22]

The worst show I ever saw on Broadway was "Teddy and Alice," a musical about the Roosevelts.

The gimmick of the show was that all the music was written to tunes by John Philip Sousa. Dreadful libretto, with unlistenable lyrics.

The first act closer was a campaign speech sung by TR (played by Len Cariou, to his lasting regret) to the tune of "Stars and Stripes Forever."

Usually, at the end of a first act, the lights go down and stay down for at least a few seconds because people applauding tend to stop when the lights go up. In this case (and it's the only time I've ever seen it in a Broadway house) they brought down the lights at the end of the song and then immediately brought them back up, knowing that the applause was going to stop, and that there's nothing more awful than people sitting in the dark, quietly.

Did I say I saw this show? Not entirely correct- I left after the first act.

By cracky, I think this is the WORST idea for a musical I have ever heard of. It is worse than Springtime for Hitler. It is worse than Rockabye Hamlet. Worse than all those musical openings of the Oscars. Worse than the comic song with Miss Daisy and her knickers above her head, at the Oscars.

[Appa23]

it can not anything too romantic or "adult-oriented".

[My initial thoughts were "Wherever We Go" from Gypsy

So your first thoughts are about a show about a stripper with mother issues?

Actually, my first thought was about Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett, doing the song dressed as (IIRC) hobo clowns on a variety show.

I really like the "Friendship" idea.

[T_Bone0806]

"Consider Yourself" from "Oliver"

[etaoin22]

As far as the original question, ""Do" a Deer" and "Kids" (Bye Bye Birdie), Hernando's Hideaway (Pyjama Game) come to my mind, but my taste is way way out of date. The modern six year old is probably singing tween material.

Here is the essentially same ? answered on Yahoo, FWIW.


Drip. The cache has to be accessed because the primary site is taking a breather. let me put it thru tinyurl.



http://tinyurl.com/6kvjps

Nopefully better.


(my mind also went to a Kevin Smith film called Jersey Girl which probably justifiably noone went to (not true, it turns out -- fairly large IMDB response 6.3/10), , but I liked -- bad taste again. If you have not seen it, I will not explain the relevance, except to say wonderful performance by Raquel Castro, 9 I think at the time of filming. In a movie in which everyone else was nominated for Razzies.)

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

What about "Surry With The Fringe On Top"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz-ky8qqKMg

[Appa23]

As far as the original question, ""Do" a Deer" and "Kids" (Bye Bye Birdie), Hernando's Hideaway (Pyjama Game) come to my mind, but my taste is way way out of date. The modern six year old is probably singing tween material.

Here is the essentially same ? answered on Yahoo, FWIW.

http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:0R ... ent=safari

I like the idea of "Kids". I can see the overall production (though I would leave the steps to my wife and studio owner.)

Btw, I think gsabc asked what style of dancing. It would be closest to Jazz/Broadway. I think that they are allowed some acrobatics, so maybe my daughter would do a cartwheel. I can see a lift perhaps.

The two kids are "goofy buddies", so that is why I said that "relationship"/dating songs were not the initial thought. (Although, the idea of an arranged marriage has been raised. )

[gsabc]

"Consider Yourself" from "Oliver"

Good one! I'll second it!

[gsabc]

Another good "buddy" song - If I Didn't Have You, from Monsters, Inc.

[etaoin22]

If i have ruined the line length I apologize.

Goofy buddies brings in much of Lieber and Stoller.
I am thinking Yakety Yak alternating lines or couplets.
I dont think it needs to be bowdlerized "hoodlum friends" is OK.

Goofy buddies can lead to warped buddies.

Seymour and the Plant from Little Shop.
Not that much different from the average fairy tale before W. Disney got to them.

[Appa23]

Thjanks, thanks, a million times thanks to everyone!

I imagine that this duo will re-occur as they get older, so I have many, many ideas for this year and coming years.


BTW, if you want a glimpse into the future, I am hoping that Princess Peanut will do her first solo in a year or two with "Show Off" from The Drowsy Chaperone.

[mrkelley23]

Done wrong it would be creepy.

Done right, it could bring the house down.

"Sixteen, going on Seventeen" from Sound of Music.