Friday 14 December 2012

Feedback

The feedback from my last assessment as a group has helped me improve my singing for my solo because I have now been told how to breathe correctly when singing and the posture I need to have in order to deliver a good performance.

Also after my feedback from last time, I am now more confident with performing when singing. I just need to work on my characterisation and learning how to control this and make sure that it is obvious that I am in character through out the whole performance; not just show the character here and there - I need to be in character the whole way through the song.

Why have I chose this song?

I chose this song because I really like the musical Mamma Mia; it is one of my favourite (a long side Billy Elliot). I think that the song that I chose entitles me to portray a good sense of happiness and cheerfulness with the song as it's about 'Sophie' thanking someone that there is music in the world because without music and dancing, "what are we?"

When characterising the song I need to be happy and proud that I have a talent, playing the part of Sophie, who can sing and dance. Her personality is bubbly and smiley. I need to show this when performing and demonstrate it to the audience.

When this song is sung in the musical, when Sophie is at her wedding and her 3 potential dads turn up that her mum doesn't know about. In the musical, the song is sung by Sophie and her as the lead singer and her 3 potential dads singing the chorus in the background.

Sophie

Sophie is the girl in the musical that sings 'Thank you for the music'.
In the west end, Sophie is currently being played by 'Charlotte Wakefield' and in the film, Sophie is played by 'Amanda Seyfried'.

Charlotte Wakefield


Amanda Seyfried

Co-starred alongside Meryl Streep inMamma Mia!, a romantic comedy film adaptation of the 1999 musical of the same name. Mamma Mia! was Seyfried's first leading role. The film was the fifth highest grossing film of 2008, and as of March 2010 is the 49th highest grossing film of all time. Her musical performance in Mamma Mia! was released on the film's soundtrack, for which she recorded five songs. As part of promotion for both the film and its soundtrack, Seyfried recorded a music video of the song, entitled "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)".

Film production

Background:
Mamma Mia! (promoted as Mamma Mia! The Movie) is a 2008 British musical/romantic comedy film adapted from the 1999 West End/2001 Broadway musical of the same name, based on the songs of successful pop group ABBA, with additional music composed by ABBA member Benny Andersson. The film was directed by Phyllida Lloyd and distributed by Universal Pictures in partnership with Tom Hanks' and Rita Wilson's Playtone and Littlestar, and the title originates from ABBA's 1975 chart-topper "Mamma Mia". Meryl Streepheads the cast, playing the role of single mother Donna Sheridan. Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Stellan Skarsgård play the three possible fathers to Donna's daughter, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried).
Mamma Mia is the highest grossing musical film worldwide. Until the release of Avatar in 2009, it was also the highest grossing film in the United Kingdom. The film has also developed a cult following.

Cast:

All the songs in the musical


Act I
Act II
Accessed on: 14/12/12
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamma_Mia!#Original_London_production 

Plot of Mamma Mia

The story takes place on a mythical Greek island in the present day, and centers around a young girl named Sophie who dreams of a white wedding, with her father giving her away at the altar ("I Have a Dream"). Problem is, she doesn't know who her dad is - and she's getting married the next day. As the show begins, she explains to her chums that her mum, Donna, fell into the arms of three men within a short space of time. So she's got three possible dads, and has invited them all to the wedding ("Honey, Honey"). 

Sophie's mum, a tavern hostess, used to front a rock chick band called "Donna and the Dynamos." Her former bandmates - the tomboyish Rosie and the glamorous Tanya - show up for the wedding, and talk over how life has turned out for them ("Money, Money, Money"). They're not the only ones who turn up though - so do the three possible dads, whom Sophie convinces not to tell Donna that she invited them ("Thank You for the Music"). Donna is surprised, to say the least, at the sight of the new arrivals ("Mamma Mia"). 

Convinced that this new twist will ruin everything, she escapes to her room, where Rosie and Tanya do their best to cheer her up ("Chiquitita"). They discover momentos of their old rock band days, and try to see if they've still got it ("Dancing Queen"). 

Sophie is not much happier - she'd been sure she'd be able to tell at first sight which one was her father, but she has no clue. Sky (her fiance) tries to cheer her up, while his friends try to steal him away for the traditional bachelor party, beginning with a deep-sea dive ("Lay All Your Love on Me"). 

At Sophie's own party, Donna, Rosie and Tanya make their triumphant return to the stage ("Super Trouper"). The three "dad"s, Sam, Bill and Harry, are also present, and as the only men there are subjected to the attention of the girls ("Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!"). Sophie talks to each of the men, and *all* of them become convinced that the reason he has been invited is because he is Sophie's father ("The Name of the Game"). Sophie returns hopelessly confused, while the party carries on ("Voulez-Vous"). 

The second act begins with Sophie's nightmare about her wedding, where there are three men fighting to give away the bride, who isn't what she seems ("Under Attack"). Sam is the first to try to speak to Donna about his suspicions, but all she can think of is the past ("One of Us"). It turns out Sam, who may have been the love of her life, left her. They both wish they could go back to the time when they were open with one another ("S.O.S."). 

Meanwhile, Tanya has been fighting off advances from one of the boys that works for Donna, and finally manages to put him down once and for all ("Does Your Mother Know"). Sam tells Sophie something about his failed marriage, trying to ensure she knows what she's getting into with Sky ("Knowing Me, Knowing You"). 

Harry has also decided to speak to Donna, and they begin to reminisce about the time they spent together ("Our Last Summer"). Sophie herself arrives and Donna helps her finish getting ready for the wedding, hardly able to believe her little girl is getting married ("Slipping Through My Fingers"). Sam returns again, emboldened by his talk with Sophie, but Donna still doesn't want to have anything to do with him, and asks him to leave ("The Winner Takes It All"). 

An attraction has been growing between Rosie and Bill, who find themselves alone in the church before the wedding. She decides to take matters into her own hands ("Take a Chance on Me"). The wedding begins, with Donna giving the bride away. However, Sophie's been doing some thinking, and puts an end to the proceedings, saying she's just not ready. But someone else is - Sam explains his desertion of 20 years ago and asks Donna to marry him. Shocked, but happy, she agrees ("I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do"). 

Content with having three dads rather than just one, Sophie leaves with Sky to find their future ("I Have a Dream").


Accessed on: 14/12/12
http://www.britinfo.net/theatre/story1000017.htm 

Broadway and London production of Mamma Mia

Original London Production of Mamma Mia

The musical opened in the West End at the Prince Edward Theatre on 6 April 1999 and transferred to the Prince of Wales Theatre on 9 June 2004, where it is playing as of 2012. Directed by Phyllida Lloyd with choreography by Anthony Van Laast, the original cast featured Siobhan McCarthy, Lisa Stokke, and Hilton McRae.


Original Broadway production

Prior to the musical's Broadway engagement, it made its US debut in San Francisco, California at the Orpheum Theatre from 17 November 2000 to 17 February 2001, moving next to Los Angeles, California at the Shubert Theatre from 26 February 2001 to 12 May 2001 and finally to Chicago, Illinois at the Cadillac Palace Theatre from 13 May 2001 to 12 August 2001.[12] The musical opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre on 18 October 2001 and is currently running, as of 2012. The director is Phyllida Lloyd with choreography by Anthony Van Laast.


Character
Original London Cast (1999)
Original Broadway Cast (2001) 
Current London Cast
Current Broadway Cast
Donna
Rosie
Lauren Cohn
Tanya
Sam Carmichael
David W. Keeley
William Tapley
Bill Austin
Nicolas Colicos
Ken Marks
Mark Gillis
Daniel Cooney
Harry Bright
Paul Clarkson
Dean Nolen
Graham Rowat
Sophie
Lisa Stokke
Tina Maddigan
Charlotte Wakefield 
Christy Altomare
Sky
Andrew Langtree
Joe Machota
Andreas Gyllander
Zak Resnick

Accessed on: 14/12/12
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamma_Mia!#Original_London_production