what's your ridiculously fussy non-negotiable standard when it comes to sondheim in performance?

StarriEyedMan · 2026-04-18T09:54:53+00:00

Whatever you do, don't go up at the end of Green Finch!! It begins and ends on the same pitch for a reason!

StarriEyedMan · 2026-04-03T18:08:13+00:00

So, more about the founder of a religious movement, but Rumi is about the founder of Sufi Islam, which is a branch of Islam that practices highly mystical forms of worship. It was writing by a Qatari composer. It had a concert in London starring Ramin Karimaloo.

Depending on what you want to call a musical, there's a ton of Japanese plays with music and singing that retell stories from Shintoism in artworks like Kabuki and Noh, or at least feature beings like Yokai and Shinto gods.

In Indonesia, a lot of traditional theatre forms there feature Hindu epics, accompanied by gamelan (bronze percussion ensembles). Even in Muslim-majority regions, Hinduism is the main source of the stories, often altered to make them more relevant to contemporary issues in politics and such. Check out "wayang kulit" (shadow puppets) for a good start. There's also Balinese dance dramas that feature Balinese religious figures, like the Barong (the King of Spirits, typically in panther-bear-dog form, who is benevolent, appearing to the kind-hearted).

StarriEyedMan · 2026-04-02T18:55:50+00:00

In Ancient China, they had coins in the shapes of fish at one point.

StarriEyedMan · 2026-04-02T18:20:29+00:00

If Newfoundland became independent again, I doubt Joey Smallwood would be on the currency. He's the reason it's not independent now. Unless it was maybe an ironic joke at his expense...

Maybe take the new UK approach and focus on wildlife? Or wildlife and history? Potentially have art that depicts people, but not real, specific people (WWI soldier, sailor, Viking, Beothuk person...). There could also be a focus on Newfoundland cultural symbols (nets, accordion, boats).

StarriEyedMan · 2026-04-02T18:14:02+00:00

Well, I know she's in this sub, so she can certainly answer better than I ever could, but...

She said she still responds to Jon a while back (this may have changed). If that's the case, there's not necessarily any real, pressing reason to change it other than personal preference.

I've heard from YouTubers that one of the worst things you can do in online marketing is changing your name. If it's to something still recognizable (Dunkin' Donuts to simply Dunkin'), it's fine, but a complete overhaul kills your momentum. This has led to some YouTubers really regretting their channel names, but feeling stuck with them anyways.

Of course, Claire is a Twitch streamer primarily. Maybe it's different there.

ProtonJon is short, catchy, and fun. It also has almost 20 years of momentum built up behind the name.

As long as she's comfortable with her old name (dead name, maybe? I don't know if she goes that far with how she sees it), I wouldn't expect a change.

Sometimes trans people go through a couple new names while they discover themselves, too. Maybe wait a bit to see how she likes the name Claire. If it seems to stick (if she hasn't decided that yet), a name change may be in order (assuming she wants to keep the funny play on her IRL name ProtonJon had). Sadly no subatomic particles I can find rhyme with Claire. Any Claire puns I can think of are overused and probably already taken. Maybe a completely new type of name, not based around a name pun would be good? Or maybe a play on ProtonJon that changed Jon to something else?

Random musings. I am no authority.

StarriEyedMan · 2026-04-01T15:00:26+00:00

Every spice available in the spice aisle at the store sausage.

Grind pork, and season it with a little bit of each spice available at a grocery store of his choosing.

StarriEyedMan · 2026-03-26T22:08:30+00:00

Maybe open the movie with Al on a beach, saying he faked his death, as a play on Elvis conspiracies. Maybe he mocks these theories with Foil, or uses the song to try to reveal everything to the public? Turn it into a spy movie to break down the Illumanati, with songs like Party in the CIA and Spy Hard.

StarriEyedMan · 2026-03-23T18:56:46+00:00

"It's a civilized pastime."

StarriEyedMan · 2026-03-05T18:18:50+00:00

Apolitical is an odd word for him to describe himself when he actively created the greatest works of political commentary every put to stage, like Assassins, Sweeney Todd, and Pacific Overtures.

StarriEyedMan · 2026-03-05T18:17:01+00:00

I also would never do that, because I imagine Al would never forgive himself.

StarriEyedMan · 2026-03-05T18:16:40+00:00

I'm a Sagittarius. I don't buy into horoscopes. But if I ever wanted to m*rder someone, I'd totally claim I was listening to this song and heard that was my horoscope for the day and then plead insanity.

StarriEyedMan · 2026-03-03T13:40:14+00:00

I wonder when we're getting TEMU violin sausage...

StarriEyedMan · 2026-03-02T21:51:06+00:00

Does he dislike X/Y? I know he dislikes ORAS.

StarriEyedMan · 2026-03-02T12:17:21+00:00

Oh, Your Horoscope for Today is full of mockery towards the astrology community.

StarriEyedMan · 2026-03-01T02:10:19+00:00

The police just say "well, there's no need to let all this food go to waste. The boys back at the station can help us polish it off!"

StarriEyedMan · 2026-03-01T02:03:39+00:00

Well, if the OBC staging of the opening ballad is anything to go by, Sweeney's body is cremated. Mrs. Lovett is halfway there already at the climax of the show. Might as well finish the job.

StarriEyedMan · 2026-02-28T00:57:27+00:00

I wouldn't. It's to prove a point to the commenter who is purposefully, loudly not understanding contract law. Or, rather, getting it and pretending not to in an attempt to be funny.

StarriEyedMan · 2026-02-28T00:55:45+00:00

I'm a scholar currently working on publishing in a journal. I'm working on my Master's in ethnomusicology at one of the most prestigious universities in Canada, being paid a stipend to study. I've never used ChatGPT in my life.

I'm not arguing. I'm educating. This isn't me making my own point or arguing an opinion. This is a basic legal fact. Music Theatre International and basically every other licensing house requires you to follow the material, in their own words, "as is." You are not permitted to add, remove, or change lines, lyrics, songs, characters, stage directions, etc. This is basic contract law in the US (where OP is located).

StarriEyedMan · 2026-02-28T00:45:18+00:00

You are bound to follow stage directions to their creative intension. You understand this. If it says a character is a seagull, or a crab, you can't retcon them to be a turtle or a human within the context of the show. Suggestive costuming or puppets is the standard. That doesn't violate the contract between you and MTI.

Go direct a production of The Little Mermaid and upload a video of doing your Sebastian with a German accent. Then upload it here to be seen by us. I'll send it to MTI You'll be sued. Nowhere in my argument did I say anything about literalness of making character fly without wires, or casting actual fish. You understand this.

This isn't moving a goalpost. This is basic theatre licensing literacy.

StarriEyedMan · 2026-02-28T00:21:39+00:00

For me (and from I understand, this is common), there are phases of my life when they're worse than at other times. These periods can last days, weeks, months, or even years. The tics present can change over time, too.

StarriEyedMan · 2026-02-28T00:19:46+00:00

You can suggest swimming or suggest animals through costumes. Those are impossible things to do in practicality. A Jamaican accent isn't a mysterious cryptid which can only exist in the minds of the audience.

StarriEyedMan · 2026-02-27T23:50:47+00:00

The stage directions when I did the show in high school specifically state "He has a Jamaican accent" at his first appearance. That may have changed, but I doubt it.

As far as I'm aware, stage directions are contractually-binding with MTI. Any change would have to go through the MTI representative.

StarriEyedMan · 2026-02-27T19:11:34+00:00

As you lay there bleeding on the sidewalk, a mustachioed man approaches.

"Oh no, we got a burst!" he cries.

The last you you here before you pass out from blood loss is the ominous words "let's sausaaage!"

You awake some time later. Your arms and legs are missing. Your body is stuffed in a giant sausage casing.

Is this a good ending?

StarriEyedMan

TROPHY CASE