Politics RUMOR: Lin Manuel Miranda and Weird Al to Redo Hall of Presidents

[Nunu]

When I go to a Broadway production I always at least read the libretto first. Even with non-rap productions, it's easy for me to miss words. And maybe it's just me, I always had problems hearing the words for songs. Which is why I always appreciated the Glee covers of pop songs. Whoever was Glee's musical director, they made darned sure there was no slurring and every consonant was properly articulated.

This is such a good tip! Specially for foreign visitors like myself.

 

[MisterPenguin]

The argument was over how this required for Hamilton in order to understand it, some people think going in blind is best but got lost in Hamilton, I was pointing out it’s a more widespread problem using Les Mis example not only because of my own personal experience but also because it’s so universally loved and “traditional broadway.”

The good form of singing over each other is when two or more melodies are sung first individually, and then are overlapped and sung as counter melodies of one another. If they keep the same works (as Hamilton did near the end of the first act), then it shouldn't matter if you can here every word, because you already heard it.

The bad form of doing this is when the words haven't been sung individually ahead of time and there is a lot of interruptions (o, hai, Sondheim!) or because the composer thought it was OK to have new words because we already heard the melody (Les Miz).

 

[Haymarket2008]

The good form of singing over each other is when two or more melodies are sung first individually, and then are overlapped and sung as counter melodies of one another. If they keep the same works (as Hamilton did near the end of the first act), then it shouldn't matter if you can here every word, because you already heard it.

The bad form of doing this is when the words haven't been sung individually ahead of time and there is a lot of interruptions (o, hai, Sondheim!) or because the composer thought it was OK to have new words because we already heard the melody (Les Miz).

Using the master of the craft (Sondheim) as an example of bad form........doesn't hold up, no offense haha. Again, it is just another level of complexity. It just is a matter of preference. But having multiple points of view being explained/sung at the same time is inherently wonderful for the people who want to listen to it more than once. And Sondheim does this in a way that makes them all form a whole. They aren't disparate harmony lines that don't fit.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Using the master of the craft (Sondheim) as an example of bad form..

He is a master. But, he can make missteps. Some of his shortest running plays point to that!

 

[Touchdown]

Using the master of the craft (Sondheim) as an example of bad form........doesn't hold up, no offense haha. Again, it is just another level of complexity. It just is a matter of preference. But having multiple points of view being explained/sung at the same time is inherently wonderful for the people who want to listen to it more than once. And Sondheim does this in a way that makes them all form a whole. They aren't disparate harmony lines that don't fit.

Thank you for making my point again.

 

[Haymarket2008]

Thank you for making my point again.

Right, but calling it a "problem" isn't fair, imho.

 

[Touchdown]

Right, but calling it a "problem" isn't fair, imho.

It’s a problem if you go in blind (which I advocate you should never do) but we can disagree on semantics

 

[TeriofTerror]

Using the master of the craft (Sondheim) as an example of bad form........doesn't hold up, no offense haha. Again, it is just another level of complexity. It just is a matter of preference. But having multiple points of view being explained/sung at the same time is inherently wonderful for the people who want to listen to it more than once. And Sondheim does this in a way that makes them all form a whole. They aren't disparate harmony lines that don't fit.

But seriously, do you know anyone who can sing all of "City on Fire"? I was in a production of Sweeney Todd, and literally no one in the cast could. But we've got the Hamilton soundtrack down!

 

[Haymarket2008]

But seriously, do you know anyone who can sing all of "City on Fire"? I was in a production of Sweeney Todd, and literally no one in the cast could. But we've got the Hamilton soundtrack down!

LOL fair. Well, those lyrics aren’t supposed to really make sense. They’re being sung by the inmates of an insane asylum! (Although, that song is genuinely bone chilling)

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

It’s a problem if you go in blind (which I advocate you should never do) but we can disagree on semantics

It’s a personal preference.

I prefer going in with as little knowledge as possible.

 

[WondersOfLife]

Going back to Les Mis, a big problem I had going in blind was all the songs where characters sung over each other, I couldn’t understand what either was saying because of it, and while Le Mis uses that technique more then most it crops up in other shows too (Prima Donna in Phantom as an example.) That’s why I don’t go in blind anymore, it’s not just a Hamilton problem.

Also even if I know the entire soundtrack and plot by heart I have no idea what the choreography, costumes or stage look like they are entirely new, as is every acting performance (the latter of which will always be true no matter how often you see the show.)

I disagree. In my personal opinion, show should be able to be enjoyed without having to spoil any of it beforehand.

I’ve never been a fan of operas so I never really enjoy Les Mis either.

 

[WDW Pro]

Bad news, peeps. An agreement may not happen with Miranda. Not sure about Weird Al, but one of my three sources says Disney and Manuel have amicably ceased negotiations on the project as of late Friday evening. I'll pass on more info as I get it, and update the original post once I get confirmation.

 

[britain]

Aww... Oh well. He’s got so much on his plate anyway. And, why sign up for a project that can’t possibly please everyone?

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

Not sure about Weird Al

Al Bundy may be available. Don't give up just yet.

An agreement may not happen with Miranda.

I'm sorry to hear that. Hopefully, it will not come down to a duel.

 

[Mainahman]

Al Bundy may be available. Don't give up just yet.



I'm sorry to hear that. Hopefully, it will not come down to a duel.

Naw it would likely be a cabinet battle.

 

[nickys]

In the words of KatieBug, how very “unmagical”.

 

[TiggerDad]

Naw it would likely be a cabinet battle.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have @MisterPenguin on your side for that?

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

Bad news, peeps. An agreement may not happen with Miranda. Not sure about Weird Al, but one of my three sources says Disney and Manuel have amicably ceased negotiations on the project as of late Friday evening. I'll pass on more info as I get it, and update the original post once I get confirmation.

@WDW Pro As always, thank you for all of your excellent insider information. This was an interesting project.

 

[No Name]

Talented writer. Horrible actor.

Love the guy, but he should’ve originally just cast an actually good actor to play Hamilton. His own acting ability was the weakness in the original show. (Obviously it didn’t hurt the show hardly at all but still! Coulda been perfect.)

I do think Michael Luwoye (the third actor in the role) was significantly better.

 

[larryz]

But seriously, do you know anyone who can sing all of "City on Fire"? I was in a production of Sweeney Todd, and literally no one in the cast could. But we've got the Hamilton soundtrack down!

Well, imagine the litany of presidents being sung in Hardware Store fashion...