QUOTE(juliofrommississippi @ Jan 13 2008, 09:56 AM) 411511
One more note.... during the day round awards ceremony, when one groups name was called (I don't remember which group) members of Iowa City High were booing. I was sitting right next to their choir so I know it was coming from their section. Also, in finals, there were many members of Iowa City West's choir that were horrible audience members. There were people making fun of choreography and people calling girls fat, doing all of this while sitting in the second and third rows in the center. This type of unsportsmanship is completely unnecessary and I don't understand why people feel the need to do this. I know there were some issues with sportsmanship at Viterbo, so I really hope this doesn't become a problem this season...
I'm extremley sorry that you thought we were booing. we most defenitly weren't. I can't tell you what West was doing, but we were saying 2. some of the groups were sending up more than 2 people and we just shouted 2. so we didn't mean any disrespect or anything that the groups were making finals. but i can certainly see how you might have thought we were booing. we did realize it was unecessary though. Dr. Grove talked to us about it at rehersal on monday. so we'll be more careful about that. we didn't mean for it to sound like booing. we also talked about how most of the other show choirs stand up for every other choir, for whatever award, and we didn't. so we're going to be much more enthusiastic and better sports. we always clapped, but didn't stand, so we'll work on it. unsportsmanship hopefully won't be a problem at future competitions. it really brings down the mood of the awards ceremony.
We saw Burroughs in '01 at Branson, and at the time, their Uninvited felt very foreign to me- but its one of the only show choir pieces from my years in Company that has stuck with me so vividly. It was really dramatic,and quite dark and sophisticated- something we rarely saw back then. I was just curious as to how the two versions compared- they didn't tape the Cup back then, so I have no copy of Burroughs doing the song.
I'm very excited to see what you and Kennedy have put together for this song.
Since doing the song was my idea, let me answer. We were inspired to do it by the amazing version Burroughs did years ago (one of the most dramatic openers I've ever seen!), but wanted to take a different approach so there weren't a lot of similarities. If I recall, their version was largely a capella. Ours is fully accompanied, features fewer solo sections, is totally rechoreographed and was newly arranged by Anita Cracauer. God Bless, Damon Brown
Okay, I am not trying to be a spoilsport at all, this question is purely curiousity. Do you know if this Uninvited is similar to the one John Burroughs did in 2001?
4th Song: Uninvited. When Sam Marko came out on stage, she is rather diminutive, and one might expect a rather meek and mild sound. You would then be wrong. If you closed your eyes, you might thing it was Alanis singing, except it might even be better. She deserved every bit of the best female solo award and I would bet this isn't her last one of the year. The costumes are quite interesting. The girls are dressed in all white and have what I would call winged sleeves that Damon uses to their full advantage. The guys who, except for Sam, are the only ones on stage, are in black t-shirt and pants. Happiness singing this is quite haunting. A little bit like That's All from last year.
Okay, I am not trying to be a spoilsport at all, this question is purely curiousity. Do you know if this Uninvited is similar to the one John Burroughs did in 2001?
Opener: This is One of Those Moments. The show starts with just four female dancers on stage. Then there is a male solo. He is very good, if not great. I think he may steal a best male solo nod somewhere. The rest of the group comes on stage after the song starts, it's really striking to not start a show with everyone on stage and then come on later. It's not a real fast past opener, but rather, provides a nice preview of what is to come.
2nd Song: Toledo Surprise. I kind of found it odd that they went to their novelty in the second slot. It is quite funny, as Kennedy always is. First of all, the best transition I have ever seen. I don't remember who it is that does the speaking transitions, but I have always loved those. I had a little trouble getting all of the words, but they will get there. They have a %*%(* TON of props in this song including oversized baking ingredients among other things. Hilarious!
3rd Song: Follow Your Heart/Come What May. I had never heard Follow Your Heart until they had done it, but it is a very pretty song. I was a little worried about the transition from Follow to Come What May but it was done rather smoothly. Michael Reese did an excellent job arranging this piece.
4th Song: Uninvited. When Sam Marko came out on stage, she is rather diminutive, and one might expect a rather meek and mild sound. You would then be wrong. If you closed your eyes, you might thing it was Alanis singing, except it might even be better. She deserved every bit of the best female solo award and I would bet this isn't her last one of the year. The costumes are quite interesting. The girls are dressed in all white and have what I would call winged sleeves that Damon uses to their full advantage. The guys who, except for Sam, are the only ones on stage, are in black t-shirt and pants. Happiness singing this is quite haunting. A little bit like That's All from last year.
5th Song: Thataway! Interesting choice to go to a cowboy song following that song and I was worried about the transition, but it worked. It was the girls turn at the beginning of the show for a dance solo and now it is the guys. 6 of them. There is then a solo that is very good. The song just kind of works to wrap up the show. If I had to say, I would say that this is their weakest number, but not really a weakness. They are tired by the end of this song and the show, and the vocal energy has a tendency to drop just a bit.
Opener: "I still haven't found what I'm looking for" by U2
2nd: "Paradox" by Kansas
3rd: "Extreme Ways" by Moby
Ballad: Welcome to wherever you are" Bon Jovi
4th: Paradox Reprise
Boys: "Vertigo" U2
Girls: "Hole In Your Soul" ABBA
Closer: You're love keeps liftin me higher"
Thanks Linn Mar for a great competition. It was so well run and the competition was outstanding between the groups. I was impressed by many of the groups. Congrats to Urbandale on a well deserved win! I never got to see Happiness, but heard great things about your show. Our hosts were fantastic and soooooo helpful. Thanks again to everyone, Bemidji and myself look forward to seeing many more groups this year as well as some of you again at future competitions!
CONGRATS AGAIN TO ALL!
-Kevin Chase
Cedar Rapids Kennedy
This is One of Those Moments (From the Musical Yentl)
Toledo Surprise (From the Musical The Drowsy Chaperone)
Follow Your Heart/Come What May (From Mario Frangoulis/Moulin Rouge)
Uninvited (Alanis Morrisette)
Thataway! (From the musical Curtains!)
Cedar Rapids Kennedy
This is One of Those Moments (From the Musical Yentl)
Toledo Surprise (From the Musical The Drowsy Chaperone)
Follow Your Heart/Come What May (From Mario Frangoulis/Moulin Rouge)
Uninvited (Alanis Morrisette)
Thataway! (From the musical Curtains!)
QUOTE(juliofrommississippi @ Jan 13 2008, 11:56 AM) 411511
One more note.... during the day round awards ceremony, when one groups name was called (I don't remember which group) members of Iowa City High were booing.
From what we could here they were booing both bemidji and urbandale while participation awards were presented.
Linn-Mar Supernova 2008
