musical theatre

[gilana]

My almost 16-year-old stepdaughter-to-be dances competitively, and she's looking for a song for her next Musical Theatre solo.  Should be upbeat and energetic, and something that you could build some character and story around.  Her strongest group number in her last recital was a French cabaret dancer sort of thing to "Speaking French" from Lucky Stiff (which I had never heard of before), and we'd love to find something that can use that same sort of saucy and playful character, since her last few solos have been more on the goofy side (a 50s high school dance wallflower to Dancing With Myself, and a number in pajamas with fabulous bedhead to a Bjork song). 

The songs don't have to be from Broadway shows, they can also be from TV or movies, although she is ideally interested in going a little more classic this time.  My thoughts so far have been The Stepsisters Lament from Cinderella, and That's How Young I Feel from Mame.

Any suggestions much appreciated!

Comments

[miss-chance.livejournal.com]

From the last person you'd expect a "favorite musical number"... :)

But how about "Lady is a Tramp"? It's a certain kind of feminist and spunky, can be saucy and grown-up at the same time. Plus apparently Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recently did a version of it, so it's classic and timely. (Or you can find versions of it from nearly any era in the past several decades.)

[muffyjo]

I should know some of these...and I do. It's going to take some brain wraking. I have vague memories of things from "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" (I AIn't Down Yet, Are you sure?) and "Annie Get Your Gun" but I can't suss them out at this hour of the morning. I will get back to you with more. This is a challenge I really like.

Oh! And Wicked! Defying Gravity is a good one. Oh, and from My Fair Lady, there are a couple...everything from "Just you Wait Henry Higgins" to "Show me!" (the latter of which is much faster and more energetic, of course, and would be fun to get all kinds of anger out in)

And although it's not a "female" song, there's always the show stopper from Guys and Dolls at the end, "Get Down You're Sinkin The Boat" which is fun and certainly tells a tale.

And there are a few Jill Sobule songs that might work, "Karen By Night" and "Good Person Inside" could all be fun in their own way.

[muffyjo]

Something's Coming (West Side Story)

[rebmommy.livejournal.com]

There are a number of good songs from "Wicked"

[gilana]

It's true, you are not the first person I expected to comment :) Will have to look into that! Might be a little too grown-up for her, but hey, they could also do it as a hobo number or something.

[aphrabehn.livejournal.com]

Whatever Lola Wants - Damn Yankees
Gypsy - almost anything
You Can always Count on Me - City of Angels - maybe too slow?
Almost anything from Chicago.
The Pajama Game has some great stuff, too.

[mizarchivist]

Oh, how about something from Dr. Horrible Sing-Along Blog? Not a classic, yet, but there's some great songs in there. But might also be better for a duo or trio...

[gilana]

I've listened through that trying to find something -- we'd all be very amused by that. But nothing quite seems to fit for what she's looking for, alas.

[mizarchivist]

Yeah, it's pretty much guy POV most of the time. All the power-house songs, for sure. But I had to throw that in there :)

[gilana]

I did think of Show Off, which is apparently done a lot, but had forgotten the other songs, thanks! I saw that show on Broadway, loved it so much.

[fenicedautun.livejournal.com]

Possibly too adult, but Dance 10 (Chorus Line) or Miller's Son (Little Night Music) are always fun.

Possibly a better singing audition, but Art is Calling for Me has a fun (G&S style) song.

[greenlily.livejournal.com]

You should definitely listen to 'Lucky Stiff', it has a song called I think "Times Like These" which is adorable. :)

Is she looking for a song where she actually dances/acts as the character who's singing? Like, something where the lyrics and the action are related? Or does she just want something with fun music to dance to?

[gilana]

The dance doesn't have to be performed as the character who's singing, and it doesn't have to be a literal interpretation of the lyrics, so I think more on the fun music to dance to side, although she and her teachers will work to come up with some sort of character and narrative for the dance.

[greenlily.livejournal.com]

I actually really like Jo's suggestion of the Big Showstopper [tm] from the end of "Guys And Dolls", which is called 'Sit Down You're Rockin' The Boat'. It has alternating slow and uptempo sections, which offers a ton of options for a dancer and choreographer, and it is painfully catchy.

'Show Me' from "My Fair Lady" is a great song if she wants a characterization of "start out angry, get angrier".

Another terminally catchy, very very fun song, is 'You've Got Possibilities' from "It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's Superman".

[hippie1025.livejournal.com]

How about "If My Friends Could See Me Now" from Sweet Charity? Or maybe "There's Got To Be Something Better Than This" from the same show.

I'll keep thinking, but that's what popped to mind first.