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

[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".