{"id":4001,"date":"2020-03-26T13:04:49","date_gmt":"2020-03-26T17:04:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.theatreworldbackdrops.com\/blog\/?p=4001"},"modified":"2020-08-14T16:14:12","modified_gmt":"2020-08-14T20:14:12","slug":"singin-in-the-rain-going-beyond-the-script","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theatreworldbackdrops.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/4001\/singin-in-the-rain-going-beyond-the-script\/","title":{"rendered":"Singin’ in the Rain – Going Beyond the Script"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Going Beyond the Script<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Singin’ in the Rain<\/i> Backdrops<\/a> and Scenery Perspectives<\/h2>\n\n\n

Written by: Melanie Simmons<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

While there are many films based on popular Broadway musicals, Singin\u2019 In the Rain<\/em> is one of the rare gems that went the other direction. The movie musical was so universally beloved, it earned itself a Broadway adaptation. The original film was based on a library of songs written by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown, during the time when silent movies were giving way to talkies. Freed had the idea to tie them all into a musical movie based on that very era. He brought Betty Comden and Adolph Green in to write the story. The resulting 1952 cinematic masterpiece has been hailed as the greatest movie musical of all time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The stage adaptation of Singin\u2019 in the Rain <\/em>premiered in the West End in 1983. A Broadway run followed in 1985 and the show continued to find success internationally. The stage musical follows the film almost scene for scene and song for song. (This includes bringing the famed tap dance in a downpour onstage.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Singin\u2019 In the Rain<\/em> continues to delight audiences of all ages. Bring this multi-award-winning classic off the silver screen and onto your own stage  – and let TheatreWorld help you bring this beloved movie musical to life!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Silent Films Meet the Stage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Professional<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Singin<\/em>‘ in the Rain <\/em>is set in Hollywood in the 1920\u2019s, a time when silent film technology was rapidly being overtaken by the sensation of \u201ctalkies\u201d. (Films that had dialogue synced with the moving images, a magical feat at the time.) Don Lockwood, a preeminent leading man, is at the Hollywood premiere of his latest silent film, The Royal Rascal <\/em>, with his best friend Cosmo and his regular leading lady, Lina Lamont. Lina can\u2019t get a word in edgewise with the press as Don regales them with a flourished version of his humble beginnings and rise to stardom (\u201cFit as a Fiddle\u201d<\/em>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use this Chinese Theatre backdrop<\/a> as the perfect setting for a glamorous opening night. Pagoda-style pillars frame high walls, reminiscent of Grauman\u2019s Chinese Theatre in downtown Hollywood. Fiery uplighting and a dramatic sunset sky add depth and character to this beautifully detailed drop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boy Meets Girl<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Singin'<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Overwhelmed by the paparazzi, Don escapes the mob and jumps into a passing car, driven by vivacious young stage actress Kathy Seldon. Horrified, she tries to get rid of Don. Don uses his fame to try to smooth things over with her. Unimpressed, Kathy insists that only stage actors are real performers, amusing Don greatly. They part ways, but Kathy has left an impression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let this East Side Street – B backdrop<\/a> do all the work for you in this scene, setting this delicious verbal sparring against a darkened city street. The shading suggests nighttime and  downward light mimics street lights. (You can enhance this further with lighting effects.) The darkened windows and slightly grimy feel would be a nice contrast between want-to-be-starlet Kathy\u2019s experience of LA and Don\u2019s glittering world of Hollywood fame and fortune.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disaster on Set<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Don sees the writing on the wall and is determined to transition to talking films. He only has one problem: his leading lady, Lina Lamont. Lina is an insufferable narcissist and her ear-splitting, nasally New York accent is totally at odds with her lovely appearance. When their studio, Monumental Pictures, insists their next film The Dueling Cavalier<\/em> include sound, Don is at his wits end trying to manage his malignant screen partner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, at a studio party, Don is greatly amused when Kathy jumps out of a cake and begins singing and dancing as part of the evening\u2019s entertainment (\u201cAll I Do Is Dream of You<\/em>\u201d). Infuriated by Don\u2019s teasing, Kathy throws some cake at him, hitting Lina in the face instead. Lina\u2019s humiliations are just beginning, however. Their first talkie The Dueling Cavalier<\/em> proves to be an utter disaster at its first screening. Technical difficulties, combined with Lina\u2019s real speaking voice, have the audiences hooting with laughter. Unfortunately, the film was not supposed to be a comedy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Backdrops Fit for a Movie Premiere<\/h2>\n\n\n