Open Forum

Into the Woods Orchestration:
Synthesizer, Percussion, Piano, Flute/piccolo, Clarinet, Bassoon, Trumpet in C, Viola 1 & 2, and Violin 1 & 2.  The Sondheim music is very difficult to play.  As a Music Director, I would say that it is one of the hardest scores to sing and play.  I would not suggest to reduce this instrumentation.  Another alternative if you cannot afford to pay 11 professionals (because of the difficulty of the music) is to use prerecorded sound tracks. 

Fun, complex show, Break a Leg!

------------------------------
Corinne Walker
Private voice teacher
Musical theater director
Mesa, Arizona
corinnewalk4.wixsite.com/mesa
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-23-2019 11:15
From: Natalie Byler
Subject: Into the Woods

Hoping to produce Into the Woods this year... but our our orchestra is not able to work with us this year... so I am hesitant. I will need to recruit former students and hire a few semi-professionals who are willing to do it for not a whole lot of money. Would love to hear from some of you who have done it. What do you think is the bare minimum of musicians I could get by with? Any advice would be appreciated. I really do not want to use tracks and would really like to avoid much synth as well... your thoughts?

Thanks,

Angelene

I saw a recent production that used a very small combo...I believe four...and it worked fine. 💛

------------------------------
Garry Tiller
Theatre Arts Teaching Artist
Sidwell Friends
Washington, DC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-24-2019 14:15
From: Corinne Walker
Subject: Into the Woods

Into the Woods Orchestration:
Synthesizer, Percussion, Piano, Flute/piccolo, Clarinet, Bassoon, Trumpet in C, Viola 1 & 2, and Violin 1 & 2.  The Sondheim music is very difficult to play.  As a Music Director, I would say that it is one of the hardest scores to sing and play.  I would not suggest to reduce this instrumentation.  Another alternative if you cannot afford to pay 11 professionals (because of the difficulty of the music) is to use prerecorded sound tracks.

Fun, complex show, Break a Leg!

------------------------------
Corinne Walker
Private voice teacher
Musical theater director
Mesa, Arizona
corinnewalk4.wixsite.com/mesa

Original Message:
Sent: 08-23-2019 11:15
From: Natalie Byler
Subject: Into the Woods

Hoping to produce Into the Woods this year... but our our orchestra is not able to work with us this year... so I am hesitant. I will need to recruit former students and hire a few semi-professionals who are willing to do it for not a whole lot of money. Would love to hear from some of you who have done it. What do you think is the bare minimum of musicians I could get by with? Any advice would be appreciated. I really do not want to use tracks and would really like to avoid much synth as well... your thoughts?

Thanks,

Angelene

Original Message------

I saw a recent production that used a very small combo...I believe four...and it worked fine. 💛

------------------------------
Garry Tiller
Theatre Arts Teaching Artist
Sidwell Friends
Washington, DC
------------------------------

If you purchase the rights to a show, you have to legally put the correct title and other information provided by the publisher.  Buying the rights to the whole show and only performing Act One, which I believe it the Broadway Jr edition, it not legal.  Sorry
FYI  I love the Jr version because everyone doesn't die!

------------------------------
Corinne Walker 480.310.7206
Private voice teacher
Musical theater director
CorinneWalk4@gmail.com
Mesa, Arizona
https://www.voicelessonswithcorinne.com/
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-26-2019 11:25
From: Natalie Byler
Subject: Into the Woods

Hi,

Well that is a bit more encouraging... did you happen to notice what they used (deemed crucial).

Also, do you know if they use the Jr. version or the original? I do not want to have to put "Jr." on the program so I was going to buy the rights for the original... but now I am worried we will not be able to transpose as easily as I thought.

Angelene

Original Message------

I saw a recent production that used a very small combo...I believe four...and it worked fine. 💛

------------------------------
Garry Tiller
Theatre Arts Teaching Artist
Sidwell Friends
Washington, DC
------------------------------

Original Message------

Into the Woods Orchestration:
Synthesizer, Percussion, Piano, Flute/piccolo, Clarinet, Bassoon, Trumpet in C, Viola 1 & 2, and Violin 1 & 2.  The Sondheim music is very difficult to play.  As a Music Director, I would say that it is one of the hardest scores to sing and play.  I would not suggest to reduce this instrumentation.  Another alternative if you cannot afford to pay 11 professionals (because of the difficulty of the music) is to use prerecorded sound tracks. 

Fun, complex show, Break a Leg!

------------------------------
Corinne Walker
Private voice teacher
Musical theater director
Mesa, Arizona
corinnewalk4.wixsite.com/mesa
------------------------------

Original Message------

Into the Woods Orchestration:
Synthesizer, Percussion, Piano, Flute/piccolo, Clarinet, Bassoon, Trumpet in C, Viola 1 & 2, and Violin 1 & 2.  The Sondheim music is very difficult to play.  As a Music Director, I would say that it is one of the hardest scores to sing and play.  I would not suggest to reduce this instrumentation.  Another alternative if you cannot afford to pay 11 professionals (because of the difficulty of the music) is to use prerecorded sound tracks. 

Fun, complex show, Break a Leg!

------------------------------
Corinne Walker
Private voice teacher
Musical theater director
Mesa, Arizona
corinnewalk4.wixsite.com/mesa
------------------------------

You might try to contact the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. They are currently performing a production of Into the Woods with a very small combo...I think 4. They might be able to provide an orchestration, or the music director might be willing to advise you. 

Ron Sopyla
Teaching artist
\Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival

------------------------------
Ron Sopyla
Beacon NY
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-23-2019 11:15
From: Natalie Byler
Subject: Into the Woods

Hoping to produce Into the Woods this year... but our our orchestra is not able to work with us this year... so I am hesitant. I will need to recruit former students and hire a few semi-professionals who are willing to do it for not a whole lot of money. Would love to hear from some of you who have done it. What do you think is the bare minimum of musicians I could get by with? Any advice would be appreciated. I really do not want to use tracks and would really like to avoid much synth as well... your thoughts?

Thanks,

Angelene