2019-2020 Broadway/Musical/Operetta Rhythm Dance Suggestions

[Wyliefan]

I keep thinking some team could have a lot of fun with this little gem. It's from a musical version of Blithe Spirit.

"I Know Your Heart," High Spirits
https://youtu.be/AO31ZSV3Lvk

 

[chameleonster]

Will teams be allowed to mix rhythms? Obviously you have to stick to one of the five prescribed rhythms for the pattern type step sequence, but for the rest of the program could you skate to a waltz? Or something else?

 

[Orm Irian]

Oh, wow, I should have thought of this one before: 'Step in Time' from Mary Poppins. It's in the stage version, it's eligible. You could probably use 'Chim Chim Cheree' or 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious' too, or even 'A Spoonful of Sugar' or 'Practically Perfect', thinking about the rhythms.

And what about Me and My Girl? If the Disco Brits don't at least consider doing the Lambeth Walk I'll be very disappointed in them. Dress em' up as a Pearly King and Queen...

 

[starrynight]

I like Lion King and Moana. Denney/Frazier did a really good and classy Lion King program back in the 204/2015 season I think.

 

[VGThuy]

Maybe a fun team like Gilles/Poirier can do La Cage Aux Folles:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLw19vv4tUU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4SGTEv1164

 

[missing]

I saw the trailer for Bye Bye Birdie on TCM the other day and it made me realize how much Madison Hubbell looks like Ann-Margret (I think of it as the Playmate next door look). So I think she and Zach Donahue should do "Got A Lot Of Livin' To Do," shoving it into one allowed rhythm or another.

 

[bwayrose7]

If we're talking TV musicals, some (though definitely not all!) of the songs from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend could work. "Settle For Me" is styled as an old-fashioned Astaire/Rogers type of foxtrot and could be very fun.

 

[chantilly]

^ would love it as I live for that show.
Rachel Bloom is a genius, but some of the lyrics in that song might be too much out there for Ice Dance.

 

[Orm Irian]

...anybody who had the guts to skate to 'Pinball Wizard' would have my love till their dying day.

And if one of the Aus teams wanted to try something from Keating: The musical - well, I'm not sure most of the judges would get the joke, but everyone here would cry laughing.

 

[IloveFS]

We need to start a betting pool to see if P/C actually do something different or they just find something that fits the broadway/opretta theme thats their style.

It'll be an operetta for sure for them. I know I am being negative but they really NEED to change their look and try to be versatile. To me, every free dance is the same just to different music....

 

[IloveFS]

Piper and Paul - Rent/CATs????

 

[IloveFS]

Andrew Lloyd Webber will be quite popular with Cats, Evita, POTO(a skating staple) etc. I can also see some folks going for Hamilton. There is always Dirty Dancing and ABBA. The choices in this category are endless. It should be a fun RD to watch.

I could totally see Weaver and Poje doing their RD to Dirty Dancing! I'd love to see Hawayek and Baker do a RD to ABBA!!!

 

[IloveFS]

I don't think we can forget that a team will use La La Land - Chock and Bates? Soucisse Firus???

 

[Willin]

All I'm going to say at this point is that I expect there to be a million Send in the Clowns, West Side Story, and Les Mis programs because that seems to be the extent of Broadway that ice skating knows without a predefined (waltz, tango, etc) rhythm.

 

[peibeck]

During the NBC broadcast there was a brief clip of Madison Hubbell backstage talking to someone about the RD for next year. It sounded like she wanted to do a Fosse number but it was nixed.

I think Zach and Madi could make a fabulous dance out of "Falling Slowly" from "Once" and use one of the other quicker pieces like "Gold" as the required change of tempo.

"Rich Man's Frug" from "Sweet Charity" would be an amazing piece for very talented dancers as well, especially those who could work Fosse angular movements into the choreography. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-HDIMF344Y

And speaking of Fosse, please "Steam Heat" for Chock/Bates.

I see a few people mentioned "Sweeney Todd," but just... NO. While I think it is one of the most brilliant musicals ever written, nothing about that score screams "good for ice dance", especially out of context. And God forbid anyone would use the hideous film soundtrack. (I'm looking at you Stepanova/Bukin - and your apparently tone deaf choreographer!!!)

I think the biggest challenge (like most RDs) will be finding pieces which can be mixed and cut, and also make some semblance of sense for the 2:45 +/- 10 second time requirement. The whole change in rhythm they require in dance is completely ridiculous to me.

Also, while I know many hate "covers," there are plenty of great stage singers out there who do magnificent covers of show tunes. (Streisand, Colm Wilkinson, Linda Eder, Betty Buckley come instantly to mind.)

 

[chantilly]

I think Sweeney would work for G and P or Fosse.

Too bad about no Fosse for H and D.

Would be great.

Wonder if C and B would resurrect remnants of their La la land.

I really hope for no Phantom, Les Miz or WSS. But I sincerely doubt I’ll get my wish.

Chicago would be great.

I expect some Greatest Showman.

Hairspray is great but seems like a junior team selection.

Wonder what a team could do with We will Rock you.

 

[Braulio]

Stepanova & Bukin most likely will do their thing and come out with a TANGO next season just because...

 

[Wyliefan]

Good catch there, @peibeck! The things you learn from little snippets of conversation on broadcasts . . .

 

[Debbie S]

Wonder if C and B would resurrect remnants of their La la land.

I hope so! Would love to see them skate to that, even just an exhibition.

 

[screech]

I will uber FOREVER any team that skates to something from Galavant.

I actually have the jester's intro recap song to the final battle in season 2 on my itunes playlist. Brilliant show!!

Piper and Paul - Rent/CATs????

I would fully expect Paul to be in proper costume. And if people do Cats, PLEASE do something like Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats, and NOT Memory!

I'd love for someone to do Book of Mormon or Avenue Q, but those are DEFINITELY too risque for the skating world. Robert Lopez may compose sappy child-appropriate songs for Disney, but get him involved with a broadway production, and you end up with things like "You Can Be as Loud as the Hell You Want (When You're Makin' Love)," "The Internet Is for Porn," and "Hasa Diga Eebowai" (which in Book of Mormon translates to F*ck You God).

It would be awesome to see someone come out in a costume depicting all 29 colours in Joseph's Coat. I'd also enjoy some Jersey Boys or maybe The Producers. But PLEASE!!! Someone give me some Newsies!! Bonus points for the Christian Bale version of Santa Fe. I won't be surprised to see someone do the final ballet from An American in Paris.

How many versions of Grease do you think we'll get?

 

[chantilly]

Oh Feck,
Forgot about Grease.

 

[chantilly]

Love the American ballet in Paris thought.
Speaking of Gene Kelly, would love Singin in the The Rain.
My favourite of all time movie musicals.
So much to choose from.

 

[snoopysnake]

Oh, PLEASE let Manta and Johnson do "Keep It Gay" from The Producers!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri2TplWqY1o

 

[Frau Muller]

No suggestions from operetta yet? There are so many Savoy Opera tunes that could work here, from 'With Cat-Like Tread' for a march on down...Orfee aux enfers is an operetta and if P/C want to get all French on us I could see them doing something can-can influenced for fun (imagine Guillaume doing can-can splits!)...and there's The Merry Widow and so many more...

Plus there are some more obscure musicals. I'm a big fan of A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder which has some lovely rhythms, though unfortunately the best ballad ('Sibella') is a waltz and the glorious bedroom farce number 'I've Decided to Marry You' is a three-hander that wouldn't necessarily translate well to a two-person routine. 'You're a D'ysquith' has potenital though! And I'd love to see some West End pieces get a look-in: Matilda might not work for an adult team but a pair just out of juniors could have some fun with it. And what about Hadestown or Groundhog Day, or some of the other newer shows?

There will definitely be at least one Hamilton piece, I'm sure.

Finally, I can't remember if the junior teams have the same requirements, but if they do some of them might find good material in some of the more innovative mash-ups from Glee (yes, I know, but consider the potential of, eg, the 'Rumour Has It/Someone Like You' mashup, or a younger team with 'The Way You Look Tonight/You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile').

And yes, the Disney musicals - any one that's had a stage adaptation is available for use here, from Cinderella to Aladdin to Frozen (oh god, people, just let that one go). There's also a stage version of Anastasia to draw on.

I’d love to see fast side-by-side footwork to a patter song.

 

[VGThuy]

I’d love to see fast side-by-side footwork to a patter song.

Level 4 requirements destroyed "fast" footwork in ice dance outside the choreographed footwork sequence, which doesn't exist in the RD.

 

[Frau Muller]

Oh, PLEASE let Manta and Johnson do "Keep It Gay" from The Producers!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri2TplWqY1o

Hmmm...I’d hate to see them stick to one note/one theme. Manta/Johnson should totally surprise with something unexpected...from Rogers-Hammerstein, for ex: “Everything’s up to date in Kansas City. They e gone about as fer as they can go.”

 

[screech]

If people have to do Grease (which I fully expect), PLEASE let them realize there is a completely terrible, yet somehow more amazing sequel. The song choices include teaching about reproduction, bowling, 'doing it' for our country, and wanting a leather clad, 'cool rider'

But sadly, no matter what we want, I'm not expecting much creativity with what people choose. It'll be the tried, tested, and true for most (Phantom, Les Miserables, Grease, La La Land, West Side Story, Chicago, My Fair Lady, Man of La Mancha, Moulin Rouge which is opening on Broadway in the summer), with maybe a few popular shows thrown in (Wicked, Hairspray, Rent, Dear Evan Hanson, Cabaret, and maybe Hamilton). I'd immediately cheer for a team that goes Book of Mormon, Hedwig, Assassins, Falsettos, Newsies, Kinky Boots, Joseph, Music Man, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Producers, Rocky Horror, Threepenny Opera...

 

[Colonel Green]

But sadly, no matter what we want, I'm not expecting much creativity with what people choose. It'll be the tried, tested, and true for most (Phantom, Les Miserables, Grease, La La Land, West Side Story, Chicago, My Fair Lady, Man of La Mancha, Moulin Rouge which is opening on Broadway in the summer), with maybe a few popular shows thrown in (Wicked, Hairspray, Rent, Dear Evan Hanson, Cabaret, and maybe Hamilton). I'd immediately cheer for a team that goes Book of Mormon, Hedwig, Assassins, Falsettos, Newsies, Kinky Boots, Joseph, Music Man, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Producers, Rocky Horror, Threepenny Opera...

Perhaps this will be proved woefully naive come the fall, but I actually am hopeful for some variety among at least the top-level teams (I'm sure the Junior Grand Prix will be full of warhorses), as I expect many will be looking for distinctive music choices to stand out. If nothing else, be thankful that the existence of big training centers like Gadbois should keep many of the top teams from duplicating each other.

I'm also expecting that we'll be seeing a lot of "first mover" announcements in the immediate post-Worlds period from teams hoping to stake a claim to a particularly popular piece of music in the hopes of dissuading other big teams from also using it.

I'm sure Carol Lane's teams will be skating to some deep cuts, at least.

 

[sharsk8s]

Perhaps this will be proved woefully naive come the fall, but I actually am hopeful for some variety among at least the top-level teams (I'm sure the Junior Grand Prix will be full of warhorses), as I expect many will be looking for distinctive music choices to stand out. If nothing else, be thankful that the existence of big training centers like Gadbois should keep many of the top teams from duplicating each other.

I'm also expecting that we'll be seeing a lot of "first mover" announcements in the immediate post-Worlds period from teams hoping to stake a claim to a particularly popular piece of music in the hopes of dissuading other big teams from also using it.

I'm sure Carol Lane's teams will be skating to some deep cuts, at least.

What is the junior requirement for the RD next year?

 

[mjb52]

If people have to do Grease (which I fully expect), PLEASE let them realize there is a completely terrible, yet somehow more amazing sequel. The song choices include teaching about reproduction, bowling, 'doing it' for our country, and wanting a leather clad, 'cool rider'

Sounds like a program for Popova/Mozgov to me!