NuOrbis Brainstorming Thread - Project Five: Give My Regards to Broadway

Sharon&Susan

Sharon&Susan

Well-Known Member
AceAstro said:
What did we go with? Unless I missed it I’ve only seen a couple of one line pitches here with nothing set in stone.
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The story is to have Act 1 serve as a tour for the newcomer who is the replacement for the caretaker where we'll have bits with the ghosts and settings around the mansion. End of the act would be with Leota where she unleashes Constance because of a mistake the protagonist made.

Act 2 would involve the protagonist trying to figure out how to rid the Mansion of the antagonist and aiding with the ghosts that we saw in Act 1. The protagonist ends up in the graveyard where the solution is. End of Antagonist. Graveyard Jamboree Celebration with a reprise of Grim Grinning Ghosts.

Me and Outbound are still working on the details together.
 
pix

pix

Well-Known Member
I'm not sure I am following this at all considering it seems 2 seperate pairs have split off to plan things not with the group... @Outbound and @Sharon&Susan seem to be working out details for the Haunted Mansion but not on this thread, while @AceAstro and @montydysquith-navarro seem to be working on their own for a Dumbo plot and this project seems to have 0 actual TEAMwork going on and I am rather uncomfortable with this prompt already and not liking what seems to be going on... I know I was the final vote for Haunted but I am not a fan of this dynamic right now and don't really want to be a part of it...
 
Sharon&Susan

Sharon&Susan

Well-Known Member
gam3rprincess said:
I'm not sure I am following this at all considering it seems 2 seperate pairs have split off to plan things not with the group... @Outbound and @Sharon&Susan seem to be working out details for the Haunted Mansion but not on this thread, while @AceAstro and @montydysquith-navarro seem to be working on their own for a Dumbo plot and this project seems to have 0 actual TEAMwork going on and I am rather uncomfortable with this prompt already and not liking what seems to be going on... I know I was the final vote for Haunted but I am not a fan of this dynamic right now and don't really want to be a part of it...
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I'm putting my foot down right now and HM is the IP we're working with. I see no reason to go forward with Dumbo, HM won the majority vote and me and Outbound have created a plot that we're going forward with.

I'll still have a private discussions with Outbound, but mostly to not overly liter the main thread with pointing out plot holes and out of character moments. I'll still mainly post any updates on my progress with Act 2 and the art here.

Speaking of that I'm planning on posting my pitch for the character list by the end of the evening in this thread.
 
AceAstro

AceAstro

Well-Known Member
I am 100% fine with HM. I only mentioned the Dumbo thing as there was 0 communication that an HM plot was being worked on. There were a few minor pitches and then nothing. I am all for the people talking in DM's about a pitch but it would be nice for the team to know about it
 
Sharon&Susan

Sharon&Susan

Well-Known Member
AceAstro said:
I am 100% fine with HM. I only mentioned the Dumbo thing as there was 0 communication that an HM plot was being worked on. There were a few minor pitches and then nothing. I am all for the people talking in DM's about a pitch but it would be nice for the team to know about it
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I completely understand, I was a bit busy earlier in the day so I wasn't able to work on the story any further until about an hour after you posted your Dumbo proposal.
 
AceAstro

AceAstro

Well-Known Member
Sharon&Susan said:
I completely understand, I was a bit busy earlier in the day so I wasn't able to work on the story any further until about an hour after you posted your Dumbo proposal.
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And that's fair. I only mentioned the Dumbo thing because I was talking to a friend who mentioned how it could work. I saw no further plot ideas were mentioned here so just offered that as a possible way to pivot if we were truly stuck as switching a project late is better than having a project where we weren't happy with it.

Had I known y'all were discussing various plot ideas in DM's I would not even have mentioned Dumbo again
 
TheOriginalTiki

TheOriginalTiki

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
gam3rprincess said:
I'm not sure I am following this at all considering it seems 2 seperate pairs have split off to plan things not with the group... @Outbound and @Sharon&Susan seem to be working out details for the Haunted Mansion but not on this thread, while @AceAstro and @montydysquith-navarro seem to be working on their own for a Dumbo plot and this project seems to have 0 actual TEAMwork going on and I am rather uncomfortable with this prompt already and not liking what seems to be going on... I know I was the final vote for Haunted but I am not a fan of this dynamic right now and don't really want to be a part of it...
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Seems to be an unintentional communication breakdown. Really sorry you're not feeling comfortable. As a host the last thing I aim for these days is a stressful environment. (Not so much for season 8 and 9 era Tim, ammirite @JokersWild 😂)There will be a 24 hour break between this prompt and the next one, and I can promise you Project Six is going to be the most accessible and open ended prompt of the season. Hopefully between that and the communication issues being resolved it's enough to recharge your batteries going forward. I'm rooting for you! 😊
 
Sharon&Susan

Sharon&Susan

Well-Known Member
OK, here's the main (important to the story) characters:
Mike Campbell: A relative of the original caretaker, his biggest benefit and detriment is his bravery and courage. He is afraid of no ghosts, but he’s never careful and very trusting. He very often gets himself into trouble.

The Ghost Host: Seemingly a welcoming figure to the Mansion at first, but has a menacing side to him. He’ll serve as the tour guide for Mike at first until they accidentally “split up”. Has no allegiance to Mike or Constance, will reappear throughout the story and reunite with Mike to temporarily hurt or help the journey along.

The Hitchhiking Ghosts: They serve as the tour guides for the rest of the journey once Mike and the Ghost Host split off. They’re the comedic sidekicks of the musical.

Phineas: Bit of an idiot, but also a terrific salesman and fast talker.

Gus: A social outcast, will often throw out weird non-sequiturs. Talks like Peter Lorre.

Ezra: Serves as the straight man. He tries to make the Mansion look presentable but as a hothead spends more times insulting his companions.

Alexander Nitrokoff: Constance’s last husband. He was a Russian ambassador, who had a history of crime. Had a good relationship with Constance, and was killed by one of his enemies in a very humiliating way. Tricks Mike into bringing back Constance by giving him the wrong incantation to Madame Leota under false pretenses.

Madame Leota: A fortune teller in life, willing to help anyone who needs her assistance in the Mansion. She doesn’t trust Nitrokoff at all. At the end of Act 1, she’s duped into giving Constance form.

Constance: A very evil woman who desired to become rich. She died in her sleep in her 30’s and ever since has been in a purgatory like place. Once she is brought back she immediately wreaks havoc onto the Mansion. But, she has a weakness known only to one.

Hatbox Ghost: A hermit who lives in the attic. One of Constance’s former husbands, he is the only one in the Mansion that knows what will get rid of her once and for all.

I'm going to start writing in depth for Act 2 tomorrow.

Details will change for the story and characters, but I'll make sure to alert the entire team when they do happen.
 
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AceAstro

AceAstro

Well-Known Member
Dream casting (would love your thoughts @montydysquith-navarro ):

Mike Campbell: Mark Evans. I loved him in The Play That Goes Wrong and Waitress. Is going to be Stu in Mrs. Doubtfire but who says his contract has to be long there ;)

The Ghost Host: George Salazar. Known for Be More Chill. I think he is a very good singer and conveys emotion nicely. Feel like he can fit this role!

Phineas: Josh Gad. Easy. Literally fits your description to a T. Very similar to his Book of Mormon role

Gus: Andy Mientus. This one was tricky and cast on height alone. Shorter actors aren't very common so I went with Marius (Les Mis) since they have to be shorter for Valjean. 5'8" was good enough for me.

Ezra: David Josefsberg. Feels like a ghost version of Adam Maitland (a role I can say he does well live).

Alexander Nitrokoff: Brandon Victor Dixon. Was OUTSTANDING in Jesus Christ Superstar Live and was recruited by Leslie Odom to replace him in the show. So you know he is strong

Madame Leota: Jessie Mueller. Was outstanding in the Carole King Musical and Waitress. If Madame Leota is more "friendly", this is the perfect fit.

Constance: Krysta Rodriguez. Fell in love with her when she sang "I Won't Say" from Hercules (which she played Megara in its Manhattan run). I feel like she has the right attitude/ sass for the role.

Hatbox Ghost: Ben Fankhauser. One of my favourites from Newsies, I feel like this is a role he could definitely play, and play well.
 
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montydysquith-navarro

montydysquith-navarro

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
AceAstro said:
Dream casting (would love your thoughts @montydysquith-navarro ):

Mike Campbell: Mark Evans. I loved him in The Play That Goes Wrong and Waitress. Is going to be Stu in Mrs. Doubtfire but who says his contract has to be long there ;)

The Ghost Host: George Salazar. Known for Be More Chill. I think he is a very good singer and conveys emotion nicely. Feel like he can fit this role!

Phineas: Josh Gad. Easy. Literally fits your description to a T. Very similar to his Book of Mormon role

Gus: Andy Mientus. This one was tricky and cast on height alone. Shorter actors aren't very common so I went of Marius (Les Mis) since they have to be shorter for Valjean. 5'8" was good enough for me.

Ezra: David Josefsberg. Feels like a ghost version of Adam Maitland (a role I can say he does well live).

Alexander Nitrokoff: Brandon Victor Dixon. Was OUTSTANDING in Jesus Christ Superstar Live and was recruited by Leslie Odom to replace him in the show. So you know he is strong

Madame Leota: Jessie Mueller. Was outstanding in the Carole King Musical and Waitress. If Madame Leota is more "friendly", this is the perfect fit.

Constance: Krysta Rodriguez. Fell in love with her when she sang "I Won't Say" from Hercules (which she played Megara in its Manhattan run). I feel like she has the right attitude/ sass for the role.

Hatbox Ghost: Ben Fankhauser. One of my favourites from Newsies, I feel like this is a role he could definitely play, and play well.
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Ooh, I like this dream casting! I do have some alternative suggestions though. I'll send some in later on once I've given more thought to the other roles, but for now:
  • The Ghost Host: Patrick Page. I'm still envisioning a Paul Frees-type voice for this character (you know, for familiarity's sake), and I think Patrick can convey that well with his acting alone. He's great at playing morally ambiguous characters (hello, Hades), so I feel that this character is right up his alley. I'm not sure if @Sharon&Susan and @Outbound are planning for The Ghost Host to make a physical appearance though.
  • I don't know why, but I think Jessie Mueller would be a better fit for Constance than Madame Leota. We've yet to see Jessie Mueller play an actual villain in a show (I mean she kinda did, depending on the audience vote every night during The Mystery of Edwin Drood), and with her vocal versatility (we love a classical soprano who's also a beltress), I think she can play the part.
  • Depending on the direction the story goes, I have two ideas for who can play Madame Leota (since I promoted Jessie from a supporting character to a principal one):
    • If she is an older character, I would cast either Mary Beth Peil or Victoria Clark. Both these women can bring so much gravitas to the role. Mary Beth played The Dowager Empress in Anastasia, who I think is a great character model for an older Madame Leota. Hopeful, yet realistic at the same time. Meanwhile, Victoria can bring so much color to the role. She can be funny and heartbreaking at the same time, as seen in her Tony Award-winning performance in The Light in the Piazza.
    • If she is a younger character (as old as Constance at least), I would cast either Kerry Butler, Laura Michelle Kelly, or Katrina Lenk. Both Kerry and Laura have friendly demeanors in real-life that I think would lend well to a friendly Leota. Katrina is a character actress, and I think she can elevate Madame Leota from technically a supporting role to a leading one.
 
AceAstro

AceAstro

Well-Known Member
montydysquith-navarro said:
Ooh, I like this dream casting! I do have some alternative suggestions though. I'll send some in later on once I've given more thought to the other roles, but for now:
  • The Ghost Host: Patrick Page. I'm still envisioning a Paul Frees-type voice for this character (you know, for familiarity's sake), and I think Patrick can convey that well with his acting alone. He's great at playing morally ambiguous characters (hello, Hades), so I feel that this character is right up his alley. I'm not sure if @Sharon&Susan and @Outbound are planning for The Ghost Host to make a physical appearance though.
  • I don't know why, but I think Jessie Mueller would be a better fit for Constance than Madame Leota. We've yet to see Jessie Mueller play an actual villain in a show (I mean she kinda did, depending on the audience vote every night during The Mystery of Edwin Drood), and with her vocal versatility (we love a classical soprano who's also a beltress), I think she can play the part.
  • Depending on the direction the story goes, I have two ideas for who can play Madame Leota (since I promoted Jessie from a supporting character to a principal one):
    • If she is an older character, I would cast either Mary Beth Peil or Victoria Clark. Both these women can bring so much gravitas to the role. Mary Beth played The Dowager Empress in Anastasia, who I think is a great character model for an older Madame Leota. Hopeful, yet realistic at the same time. Meanwhile, Victoria can bring so much color to the role. She can be funny and heartbreaking at the same time, as seen in her Tony Award-winning performance in The Light in the Piazza.
    • If she is a younger character (as old as Constance at least), I would cast either Kerry Butler, Laura Michelle Kelly, or Katrina Lenk. Both Kerry and Laura have friendly demeanors in real-life that I think would lend well to a friendly Leota. Katrina is a character actress, and I think she can elevate Madame Leota from technically a supporting role to a leading one.
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I love these choices! I definitely struggled with the ghost host casting but I think Patrick makes more sense. I like the idea of Jessie as Constance. I couldn’t see her play a more villain-y character but at the same time she could definitely play anything.

And I agree that we need more details about Leota to cast better
 
Sharon&Susan

Sharon&Susan

Well-Known Member
AceAstro said:
@Outbound @Sharon&Susan any updates on plot? At least for @ThatGuyFromFlorida because making songs isn’t easy so the more time they have, the better!
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Haven't been talking with Outbound (yet). But here's what I'm thinking for Act 2:
Return of Constance with Leota's temporary second death and threatens the end of the mansion if she deosn't get the contents of the treasure room.
Nitrokoff tries to reunite with Constance, but soon gets "killed"/ vanishes.
Secondary Ghosts from the second act figure out with Leota gone that Hatbox is the only one that can stop Constance. (I see this as a musical number)
Mike climbs the Stretching Room to reach the attic
Mike finds Hatbox in the attic and Hatbox tells him the story of his relationship with Constance (insert song here)
Hatbox tells Mike that the only thing that can stop Constance now is the Amulet of the Heart hidden in the Mummy's Tomb.
Mike goes to the graveyard but Constance tries to stop him (possibly a lullaby here)
Mike defeats Constance, Grim Grinning Ghost jamboree in the graveyard.
 
Outbound

Outbound

Well-Known Member
And here are my initial thoughts for Act 1:
  • Grim Grinning Ghosts to start. The old caretaker is walking with his dog (a puppet) and they are scared away from what appears to be the ghosts of the Haunted Mansion (really the bad guys)
  • Some general song to introduce Mike, talking about he isn't afraid of any silly rumors about ghosts in the mansion (ends with the ghosts all revealing themselves)
  • The Ghost Host and the Hitchhiking Ghosts sing a song introducing Mike to the mansion, ending with the Ghost Host leaving the Hitchhiking Ghosts to continue the tour.
  • Guided by the Hitchhiking Ghosts, Mike is introduced to another room in the mansion (the ballroom?) basically a filler scene to add atmosphere.
  • Mike then asks what's in this room, and they begrudgingly take him to the Madam Leota, who sings a song about herself, backstory, and to fear Constance (when Mike asks who's Constance, all the other ghosts refuse to talk about it and run off). Madam Leota also reads Mike's mind, and finds he is still saddened by the death of a "loved one".
  • With the tour concluded, Mike sits in his makeshift bed/watch and gives a quiet reprise of his introduction song.
  • Once his song ends, Mike hears a loud banging and is then introduced to Nitrokoff, who explains his backstory and then tells him he knows of an ancient spell used by Madam Leota to restore the past to life. Nitrokoff thinks they can help each other restore their loved ones.
  • Mike and Nitrokoff return to Madam Leota, wake her up, and trick into performing the ritual (this is a big climactic scene). Stage to black.
  • When the lights return, all the ghosts arrive nervous, Mike asks what is wrong, and Nitrokoff reveals he was only using Mike to bring back Constance. The ghosts fearfully give Constance's backstory intermingled with a sinister variant of Grim Grinning Ghosts.
  • The Hitchhiking Ghosts admit they understand Mike's desire to restore the dead and ask what loved one he did it for. A lover? A mother? A child? Mike explains no, he was just feeling a bit sad for his dead goldfish. It died last week. This gets all the ghosts really upset.
 
Sharon&Susan

Sharon&Susan

Well-Known Member
Here's a rough version of Act 2, Scene 1:
Voice-over) Ghost Host:
Welcome back foolish mortals. Last act, Mike released the most dangerous ghost onto the Mansion. Undoubtedly she is planning to drag this house and everything in it to the depths of the earth! Will Mike be able to stop this doomed disaster from occurring? There’s only one way to find out!

(Curtains open and we see great mayhem. Musical Instruments and other objects like a candlestick are floating around in the air, the walls are cracking, and the bride Constance is cackling. Leota, Mike, and the Hitchhiking Ghosts all watch shocked.)

Leota
Who or what gave you that evil spell DARLING?!?
Mike
There was this ghoul, very devastated he was, Nitrokoff, bit of an odd fellow but he was looking for his old wife he must’ve given me the wrong--

(Leota interrupts Mike with a loud audible gasp)
Leota
You idiot, darling! That snake is a devil as the black widow bride, but far less dangerous. I should’ve sent them both to purgatory.
Gus
Is purgatory like a jail cell after the executioner set it ablaze?
Ezra
No you idiot not everything has to do with-
(Leota interrupts)
Leota
Actually it exactly like that,darling but-
(Light moves onto Constance)
Constance
Silence Fools! Your Time is up for your incessant chatting, especially you Madame Leota.I shall-
(As she starts speaking Phineas opens up his carpet bag and takes out a bouquet of flowers)
Phineas
I got some flowers for your next wedding miss, they’ve been dead for nearly a century.
Constance
How sweet of you, but I’m not planning on marrying another rich sap.I want everything in the treasure room by the stroke of 13 tonight. Otherwise this house will disappear just like Leota.

Leota
You won’t

(Constance points at Leota’s crystal ball, a puff of smoke surrounds it. Once the smoke dissipates Leota is gone and is now an ordinary crystal ball)

Constance
Bye, darling.

Mike
Oh no you don’t!

(Mike rushes at Constance, but Constance too disappears into a puff of smoke, before he can attack.)
Constance
Oh by the way Leota’s room will soon fall apart. You all better escape to tell all your little ghoul friends and gentle ghosts my demands.
(The room starts shaking furiously, the roof starts shattering)
Ezra
Let’s skedaddle out of this room, numbskulls or do we want to be crushed dead?

(The Hitchhiking Ghosts and Mike run quickly out of the room)

END OF SCENE
 
Outbound

Outbound

Well-Known Member
Sharon&Susan said:
Here's a rough version of Act 2, Scene 1:
Voice-over) Ghost Host:
Welcome back foolish mortals. Last act, Mike released the most dangerous ghost onto the Mansion. Undoubtedly she is planning to drag this house and everything in it to the depths of the earth! Will Mike be able to stop this doomed disaster from occurring? There’s only one way to find out!

(Curtains open and we see great mayhem. Musical Instruments and other objects like a candlestick are floating around in the air, the walls are cracking, and the bride Constance is cackling. Leota, Mike, and the Hitchhiking Ghosts all watch shocked.)

Leota
Who or what gave you that evil spell DARLING?!?
Mike
There was this ghoul, very devastated he was, Nitrokoff, bit of an odd fellow but he was looking for his old wife he must’ve given me the wrong--

(Leota interrupts Mike with a loud audible gasp)
Leota
You idiot, darling! That snake is a devil as the black widow bride, but far less dangerous. I should’ve sent them both to purgatory.
Gus
Is purgatory like a jail cell after the executioner set it ablaze?
Ezra
No you idiot not everything has to do with-
(Leota interrupts)
Leota
Actually it exactly like that,darling but-
(Light moves onto Constance)
Constance
Silence Fools! Your Time is up for your incessant chatting, especially you Madame Leota.I shall-
(As she starts speaking Phineas opens up his carpet bag and takes out a bouquet of flowers)
Phineas
I got some flowers for your next wedding miss, they’ve been dead for nearly a century.
Constance
How sweet of you, but I’m not planning on marrying another rich sap.I want everything in the treasure room by the stroke of 13 tonight. Otherwise this house will disappear just like Leota.

Leota
You won’t

(Constance points at Leota’s crystal ball, a puff of smoke surrounds it. Once the smoke dissipates Leota is gone and is now an ordinary crystal ball)

Constance
Bye, darling.

Mike
Oh no you don’t!

(Mike rushes at Constance, but Constance too disappears into a puff of smoke, before he can attack.)
Constance
Oh by the way Leota’s room will soon fall apart. You all better escape to tell all your little ghoul friends and gentle ghosts my demands.
(The room starts shaking furiously, the roof starts shattering)
Ezra
Let’s skedaddle out of this room, numbskulls or do we want to be crushed dead?

(The Hitchhiking Ghosts and Mike run quickly out of the room)

END OF SCENE
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How much detail are we putting into this? If we go scene by scene, we may have to rethink our playbill presentation method.
 

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