Input on American Musical in Australia
Sun, 20 July 2003, 11:23 pmWalter Plinge4 posts in thread
Input on American Musical in Australia
Sun, 20 July 2003, 11:23 pmHi folks,
I'm curious how Australian audiences might react to an original show called, "Viva Los Alamos...a-Theatrical-Parody-Purporting-to-be-a-Previously-Unreleased-Film-Starring-the-Late-Great-King-of-Rock-and-Roll-Unlicensed-by-or-in-Any-Way-Afilliated-with-his-Estate...in 3-D" We staged it in Atlanta, GA twice and in New York for the NYC Fringe Festival 2000. The title is self explanatory but it goes beyong just an Elvis movie parody with the premise that the audience is watching a screening that is going horribly wrong. The film breaks, foreign language versions are added in - one scene was reshot so the audience is given a choice between the young and old Elvis - all this along with about a dozen songs. It's been compared to Rocky Horror and during its fringe run was noted favorably in Time Out, the Village Voice, and the New York Times.
At any rate, I'm wondering if the pop culture and 50's cold war references would translate to an Australian audience and if anyone had any suggestions about potential commercial or non-profit producers who might be interested.
Thanks for any assistance you can offer...
VivaOz@sensurroundstagings.com
I'm curious how Australian audiences might react to an original show called, "Viva Los Alamos...a-Theatrical-Parody-Purporting-to-be-a-Previously-Unreleased-Film-Starring-the-Late-Great-King-of-Rock-and-Roll-Unlicensed-by-or-in-Any-Way-Afilliated-with-his-Estate...in 3-D" We staged it in Atlanta, GA twice and in New York for the NYC Fringe Festival 2000. The title is self explanatory but it goes beyong just an Elvis movie parody with the premise that the audience is watching a screening that is going horribly wrong. The film breaks, foreign language versions are added in - one scene was reshot so the audience is given a choice between the young and old Elvis - all this along with about a dozen songs. It's been compared to Rocky Horror and during its fringe run was noted favorably in Time Out, the Village Voice, and the New York Times.
At any rate, I'm wondering if the pop culture and 50's cold war references would translate to an Australian audience and if anyone had any suggestions about potential commercial or non-profit producers who might be interested.
Thanks for any assistance you can offer...
VivaOz@sensurroundstagings.com
Walter PlingeSun, 20 July 2003, 11:23 pm
Hi folks,
I'm curious how Australian audiences might react to an original show called, "Viva Los Alamos...a-Theatrical-Parody-Purporting-to-be-a-Previously-Unreleased-Film-Starring-the-Late-Great-King-of-Rock-and-Roll-Unlicensed-by-or-in-Any-Way-Afilliated-with-his-Estate...in 3-D" We staged it in Atlanta, GA twice and in New York for the NYC Fringe Festival 2000. The title is self explanatory but it goes beyong just an Elvis movie parody with the premise that the audience is watching a screening that is going horribly wrong. The film breaks, foreign language versions are added in - one scene was reshot so the audience is given a choice between the young and old Elvis - all this along with about a dozen songs. It's been compared to Rocky Horror and during its fringe run was noted favorably in Time Out, the Village Voice, and the New York Times.
At any rate, I'm wondering if the pop culture and 50's cold war references would translate to an Australian audience and if anyone had any suggestions about potential commercial or non-profit producers who might be interested.
Thanks for any assistance you can offer...
VivaOz@sensurroundstagings.com
I'm curious how Australian audiences might react to an original show called, "Viva Los Alamos...a-Theatrical-Parody-Purporting-to-be-a-Previously-Unreleased-Film-Starring-the-Late-Great-King-of-Rock-and-Roll-Unlicensed-by-or-in-Any-Way-Afilliated-with-his-Estate...in 3-D" We staged it in Atlanta, GA twice and in New York for the NYC Fringe Festival 2000. The title is self explanatory but it goes beyong just an Elvis movie parody with the premise that the audience is watching a screening that is going horribly wrong. The film breaks, foreign language versions are added in - one scene was reshot so the audience is given a choice between the young and old Elvis - all this along with about a dozen songs. It's been compared to Rocky Horror and during its fringe run was noted favorably in Time Out, the Village Voice, and the New York Times.
At any rate, I'm wondering if the pop culture and 50's cold war references would translate to an Australian audience and if anyone had any suggestions about potential commercial or non-profit producers who might be interested.
Thanks for any assistance you can offer...
VivaOz@sensurroundstagings.com
crgwllmsTue, 22 July 2003, 07:09 pm
Re: Input on American Musical in Australia
As far as the American pop-culture and 50's references....
A good many of us grew up watching Sesame Street, Happy Days, Days of Our Lives, Oprah, CBS news, Bruce Willis movies...etc etc, listening to Elvis and every other American musician... there's not much of American culture that would be hard to translate.
However, the Australian sense of humour is not only spelt differently but it is something American comedians need to brush up on....that's the bit that might not translate.
Sounds like it's a bit of a piss-take though, which usually goes down well.
Cheers,
Craig
[%sig%]
A good many of us grew up watching Sesame Street, Happy Days, Days of Our Lives, Oprah, CBS news, Bruce Willis movies...etc etc, listening to Elvis and every other American musician... there's not much of American culture that would be hard to translate.
However, the Australian sense of humour is not only spelt differently but it is something American comedians need to brush up on....that's the bit that might not translate.
Sounds like it's a bit of a piss-take though, which usually goes down well.
Cheers,
Craig
[%sig%]
LabrugFri, 25 July 2003, 08:08 am
Re: Input on American Musical in Australia
In agreement with Craig. Many productions have been effectively brought across with little or no translation what-so-ever and successfully so.
On good example I can think of was a production of Grease starring some Aussie Actor whom (I am embarressed to say) I have forgotten the name of. While they did add a few extra gags, some Ozzie and some generic, the basic story was left intact and everyone loved it.
All right, Grease is quite well known, but does that make a difference?
Jeff "Americanised" Watkins
[%sig%]
On good example I can think of was a production of Grease starring some Aussie Actor whom (I am embarressed to say) I have forgotten the name of. While they did add a few extra gags, some Ozzie and some generic, the basic story was left intact and everyone loved it.
All right, Grease is quite well known, but does that make a difference?
Jeff "Americanised" Watkins
[%sig%]
archie cravenWed, 3 Sept 2003, 03:18 pm
Re: Input on American Musical in Australia
I have recently moved over to perth from working in NZ & USA , under the umbrella of an american theatre company . And do agree with you too a point as the pro , of leaving it as it is , is that it shows us a bit of american culture, The cons is that we dont understand the history some time.