So as we announced the other night, we had to cut None of the Above, both because Act 1 was running long and because it just wasn’t earning its place in the show. There was a lot of distress from the students who love it and want it reinstated, so Rob and I recorded a conversation discussing why None of the Above is gone for good.
Category Archives: The Process
Making Scenes Move
Aaaand another post from me. So I just got through with the rehearsal & presentation of a new musical — my job at NYU is to be the faculty advisor to teams of graduate students who are writing musicals as their masters thesis. We hire professional actors, directors and music …
Cuts in “Help Me Help You”
Here’s another cut — we were on the lookout for repeated beats / repeated actions, and realized that in “Help Me Help You” Hannah tries to convince Mungus twice. So we’re making that just once (when she hypnotizes Mungus). The cut in the sheet music would essentially be cutting measure …
RIP None of the Above
Okay, gang, here’s the deal. As you may be aware, in the development process for almost every show, cuts and changes happen. This show is no exception. Act I is running quite long (it should be about an hour, and it was 1:25 today), and while a LOT of that …
Puppets!
This gallery contains 7 photos.
There are several points in the show that call for cobra puppets – little ones in the flashback, a giant one for the final battle – and the LCHS Stagecraft class have been busy building these awesome puppets!
Why High Schoolers?
Q: Okay here’s another question. Why does Hannah go for high schoolers to build her evil snake army instead of something like the government or the actual army? Also, this show would be so much scarier if Hannah went for little kids. Like a parent walks into the preschool class …
What’s The Timeframe?
After receiving the final (for this production) draft of the script, the LCHS students had a few more questions. We answered them as best we could on Facebook. Q: So what exactly is the time frame of the show? Like is it in High School Musical where in two hours they just …
The Power in the Process
This year, we and our students have had opportunities to experience the power of creativity, the power of design, the power of technology, the power of connections, friendships, collaboration and more. The process of bringing a new work to life – from page to stage – has been filled with …
Changing the Mascot?
Q: We were wondering how the humans are supposed to feel during fall in line. Like I’m confused if Mungus is totally stoked for the change or if she’s like, ” yo hannah, you changed the mascot bruh, not cool dawg.” Clarification? Katie: I think Mungus is not cool with it, …
Why not turn Mungus?
Q: Why doesn’t Hannah turn Mungus into a cobra? Why does she hypnotize her instead of just converting her? What’s the difference between the 2 things? KATIE: You know, I was waiting for that question. So, I’ve got a number of answers, none of which are THE answer. Rob might have …
Sense of self?
Q: Okay I thought of one last question, when you are a cobra, do you still have a sense of who your human self is? Or is your human self trying to get out of the cobrafied body? Because at the end Savannah knows who Kelly is? ROB: Here’s my thought about …
Physical Transformation?
Q: Is there a physical reaction when somebody goes from cobra back to human? How do we make the switch big enough for the audience to immediately grasp that they changed since it happens so fast (like Kelly grabs Rikki’s hand and BOOM she’s back to normal)? KATIE: Absolutely there …
Hoedown?
Q: In the hoe down will we be dancing with literal hoes? Because it can’t be a Hoe Down with no hoes. KATIE: First off, I’ve never actually been to a hoedown where there were hoes, but this would seem to necessitate at least a few of them. I don’t know …
Cobromance?
KATIE: I think what we’d had in mind is that, like, the human dots were green laser pointers and the cobras were red laser pointers, and we track them all through the maze, so if that’s what you’re thinking here, yes. I’m not sure if that’s possible (and I’m …
Snake?
KATIE: I think what we’d had in mind is that, like, the human dots were green laser pointers and the cobras were red laser pointers, and we track them all through the maze, so if that’s what you’re thinking here, yes. I’m not sure if that’s possible (and I’m …
Little Johnny didn’t pay attention in science class
Q: (This isn’t a question, it’s more like an idea of an unscripted thing I just want to say.) I really want Johnny to be vigorously shaking the goldfish while he’s singing before he finds out it’s dead, like Darla in Finding Nemo. KATIE: That made me laugh really hard, and …
Play the cobras the same?
Q: I want to know how you guys write such relatable stuff. KATIE: We are awesome. 😉 And you guys are good muses. Thanks for all your terrific and insightful questions! I think I’ve hit all of them, but if I missed something, let me know! (And I’m sure Rob …
When do I get turned?
Q: I want to know how you guys write such relatable stuff. KATIE: We are awesome. 😉 And you guys are good muses. Thanks for all your terrific and insightful questions! I think I’ve hit all of them, but if I missed something, let me know! (And I’m sure Rob …
How do you write relatable stuff?
Q: I want to know how you guys write such relatable stuff. KATIE: We are awesome. 😉 And you guys are good muses. Thanks for all your terrific and insightful questions! I think I’ve hit all of them, but if I missed something, let me know! (And I’m sure Rob …
Touch a cobra?
Q: How do the cobras grab the humans without touching them? KATIE: Like in “Mouse in a Maze”? Get creative! Also, as we said, it’s not just casual touch that does it, it’s deliberate, rescuing touch. That said. For a while, I was a music and engineering major in college. …