S T A G E S - - - a l l n e w . a l l n o w .

interpreting Sondheim


With musical theatre leaping in popularity and more and more local companies producing increasingly-challenging musicals; it has become important for aspiring performers to gain skills in presenting musical theatre. This course is designed to help hone these skills through detailed study and performance of the songs of Stephen Sondheim, widely regarded as the most important musical theatre composer of our time.
the short story about this course ...
status	over :(
course writeup	With musical theatre leaping in popularity and more and more local companies producing increasingly-challenging musicals; it has become important for aspiring performers to gain skills in presenting musical theatre. Paramount among these are the analytical, musical and dramatic skills that will enable them to maximize the dramatic potential of musical numbers, whether in audition or in performance. This course is designed to help hone these skills through detailed study and performance of the songs of Stephen Sondheim, widely regarded as the most important musical theatre composer of our time. His songs present great musical and dramatic challenges to performers at all levels, and by learning to understand his style and the range of performance approaches best suited to his work, participants will learn to maximise their potential in musical theatre presentation. The course is conducted by NIDA trained director/actor Jonathan Lim (Into The Woods, Dick & Ja : The Early Years, Women On Canvas) and musical theatre composer/arranger Bang Wenfu (Forbidden City, Chang & Eng, The Fantasticks). In 8 sessions, participants will be taken through various strategies of analyzing Sondheim musical and lyrical choices, probing his characters and subject matters, and exploring interpretive choices for a range of his songs. Each session involves detailed study and workshopping of at least 2 songs, which are to be learnt before the commencement of the session. The process of this course emphasises homework, group work, peer appraisal and the development of each participant’s unique strengths while addressing his or her weaknesses. The course culminates in a showcase in which participants will present prepared songs to an invited audience, and feedback will be sought from invited industry professionals. Apart from aspiring performers, this course is also ideal for those keenly interested in gaining a deeper understanding of contemporary musical theatre in general, or Sondheim’s works in specific. Some of the topics dealt with in INTERPRETING SONDHEIM include : • Love Is In The Air – Understanding Sondheim in Love • It Takes Two – Approaching Duets • Children Will Listen – songs of instruction • Every Day A Little Death – Fear and loathing in Stephen Sondheim • Acting By Numbers – Creating characters for Sondheim’s songs • Songlines - Creating a song’s journey • One two three... four - Understanding Sondheim’s tempos Some of the songs to be workshopped in INTERPRETING SONDHEIM include : Children Will Listen and No One is Alone from Into the Woods Your Eyes Are Blue from Marry Me A Little Unworthy of Your Love from Assassins Send In The Clowns from A Little Night Music Another Hundred People from Company
the real dirt
title	Interpreting Sondheim
instructor	Jonathan Lim & Bang Wenfu
dates	Start date : 2nd July 2003 (Wed)
duration	8 week course, 2 sessions weekly (one weeknight, one weekend) 2.5 hours per session
time	To Be Confirmed
venue	Siglap South Community Centre [see how to get there]
class size	5 or 6 max
fee	$300 (without administration fee)
contact	info@nowstagethis.com
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report card (only available after the course is over)
report card by Jonathan Lim 17 Sept 2003	The course was a great success ! Because of its high-contact nature, we kept it small, taking in only 8 students whose varying levels of experience would shake comfort zones and challenge each other to explore different approaches. One participant had time clashes, so 7 continued through and graduated with a very impressive showcase on 18th August 2003 at SSCC that wowed friends, peers and organizers alike. Here’s the showcase invitation that went out to our guests…
	SUDDENLY SONDHEIM ! an Interpreting Sondheim class showing featuring Daphne Chang, Hoang D’uc, Dwayne Tan, Andy Tan, Eleanor Tan, Tan Shou Chen and Andrea Yip directed by Jonathan Lim music arranged and performed by Bang Wenfu dear friends and lovers, On 6th July 2003, an unsuspecting group of young men and women stepped into the woods, seeking to interpret Sondheim better, more richly, more variedly, more adventurously… They survived. In fact, they did damn good. And here are the results…. STAGES proudly presents a classroom showing of Sondheim songs by the participants of the first Interpreting Sondheim workshop by STAGES. In 8 sessions, these brave young souls have journeyed thru song after song to explore how best to bring out the textures and twists of Sondheim’s complex numbers; and now they’re dying to share what they’ve discovered with you. They are not all singers, not all musically-trained, not all performers – they are defense scientists and army boys and proud new mothers and lawyers – but they have all experienced Sondheim’s urbane epiphanies and they are eager to share them with you. So join us on a trip thru Sondheim’s woods with your new guides, as they bring you songs from Sondheim gems like Into The Woods, Company, Assassins and more.
	Here are some pix of the course participants in action…. << insert pix>> Shou Chen, Du’c and Daphne went on to participate in the Sondheim section of Forbidden CC, the open house. And there are plans for a musical revue that might feature some of the course participants…

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