#the fantasticks

[doyouknowthismusical]

[shoemakerobstetrician]

This seems to me a perfect Aziraphale x Crowley song

They Were You

When the moon was young,

When the month was May,

When the stage was hung for my holiday,

I saw shining lights

But I never knew:

They were you.

They were you.

They were you.

When the dance was done,

When I went my way,

When I tried to find rainbows far away,

All the lovely lights

Seemed to fade from view:

They were you.

They were you.

They were you.

Without you near me,

I can't see.

When you're near me,

Wonderful things come to be.

Every secret prayer,

Every fancy free,

Everything I dared for both you and me.

All my wildest dreams

Multiplied by two

They were you.

They were you.

They were you.

[tobbogan-13]

is there a The Fantasticks fandom out there?

I need to talk to people about this show 😭🙏

[ablatheringblatherskite]

Okay but this picture of Hadley in the Fantasticks gives me Phantom vibes... 👀

[ethanfreemanappreciation]

Remembering Tom Jones, lyricist and librettist with this 2003 performance by Ethan and Pehton D. Quirante of "Beyond that Road/I Can See It" from The Fantasticks

(Ethan gives off a very big "Phantom vibe" during this performance.)

[hey-its-caiten]

Sketch from a cute moment in Clark College's "The Fantasticks"

I have some rainbow light catchers and the reflection was just too cute not to photograph. 🌈✨️

[sideshow-tornado]

Sigourney Weaver’s high school yearbook, 1967. And she’s quoting from The Fantasticks, perfect 🤩

[carolinanadeau]

No thoughts just They Were You from The Fantasticks

[owlpuddle]

What I've been listening to recently

Just to collect up stray thoughts every so often

- Sweet Smell of Success. The music is really fun, but I read the libretto too and it just... lacks narrative tension. Which is very weird for a noir adaptation. Anyway I picked this up because one of my favorite podcasts is Movie: the Musical (now defunct, rip) and they did an episode on it.

- See What I Wanna See. I incidentally picked this up at the same time and it also has some noir flair. LaChiusa's music is so satisfying to me.

- The Fantasticks. Because I really like the piano in it, and I love the overture, and I aspire to get a keyboard piano soon so I'm making a little list of pieces I'd like to learn.

- I Can Get it for You Wholesale. Already posted about it at length, very weird selection for a revival but I appreciate not just cycling through the same dozen shows to get revived.

- Bernarda Alba. More LaChiusa, really good. All his albums I know so far have this quality of sounding very... put-together, like the shows aren't sung through but may as well be. I read the play along with it and it's very good.

- title of show. Good lord my tastes have changed. I wrote recently that I don't like the musical sound or lyrics of contemporary theatre, and this is... exactly that. I do still like a few songs.

- House of Flowers. I tried this a few years ago and it didn't stick; I thought I'd try again now to see if my tastes have evolved. But the music is just sort of generic; sorry Harold Arlen. Anyway I've accidentally thought of it as House of Leaves a couple times, if someone wants to musicalize that instead.

- Dear World. No idea what's happening but I'm having fun! This show was first pitched to me as "Jerry Herman's version of Anyone Can Whistle," which I'm extremely here for.

- Seesaw. I love Cy Coleman, and Dorothy Fields and Neil Simon are also both here, so it's like getting a little more of Sweet Charity. Also reminds me of Promises Promises because of the brass orchestrations. Hilariously the album is just songs angling to become standards, I don't think I'd recognize it as being a musical at all if I didn't already know.

[pureanonofficial]

THE FANTASTICKS (1964)

[jgroffdaily]

Vanity Fair interview clip: What was your first audition song/monologue of choice?

[makeitpink57]

listening to old musicals is just a constant state of

that word meant something different... that word meant something different.. THAT WORD MEANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT

[found-the-secrets-in-your-eyes]

[yuzukahibiscus]

Aizuki Hikaru: Interview for “The Fantasticks”

(Note: If it’s not obvious, this is my third translation for Aichan, and my mutual very successfully converted me like. I work full-time for Rei and part-time for Aichan. My day has more than 24 hours, it’s a Hibiscus clock. Anyway, I’m amazed by her comments and just how it reminds me of Rei’s acting spirit sometimes about androgyny.) 

In the Musical “The Fantasticks”, Aizuki Hikaru-san plays as El Gallo. Entered the Takarazuka Revue in 2007. Combined with both noble and wild qualities, with a three-set combo (singing, dancing, acting) power, she has charmingly acted as a wide range or roles, from Lucheni in “Elisabeth – The Rondo of Love and Death”, Eri Makropulos in “Immortal Thorns”, Bernardo in “WEST SIDE STORY”, Tybalt and Death in “Romeo and Juliette” and Rodrigo from “Manon”, and has acclaimed popularity as a male role (otokoyaku). She graduated on December 26, 2021 in “The Yagyu Ninja Scrolls” (Role: Ashina Dōhaku) “More Dandyism!” This will be her first musical since she graduated (taidanned).

When you knew about the offer of playing El Gallo, how did you feel?

— I was surprised. This time, knowing about the idea that the role El Gallo that was played by a man would change to be a woman playing as a man is really interesting. Also, I think it’s useful for me because I’ve already mastered being an otokoyaku, so knowing that I could revive that, I accepted the role.

When you accepted the offer, were you lost or confused by anything?

— After leaving Takarazuka, I didn’t have any thoughts of going back on stage, so I was lost and conflicted. But because El Gallo is not a role that has me “acting while wearing a skirt”, I thought that even though this was a quick timing since taidan, fans won’t be reluctant but also happy to see it, and therefore decided to take on the role. I’ve never seen “The Fantasticks” but knowing that it’s a famous work, I’m so blessed to be part of this.

What do you think you’ll work on for preparing the role El Gallo?

— I’m wondering if I had to act as manly as possible, but director Ueda (Ichigo)-san told me “There’s a meaning for a woman to play this, I want to see those betwitching charms presented, that I’d wonder if (El Gallo) is a woman or a man”, so I thought this is a vibe different from the otokoyaku in Takarazuka. Because I find it interesting to present those charms that attracts people regardless of age and gender, I hope to think and grasp those parts as I do rehearsal.

What do you think is the presence of El Gallo in this musical?

— The wanderer El Gallo is responsible for the story teller parts, there’s a scene where (El Gallo) tempts the heroine Luisa, a presence that hurls and messes around the characters, but also guides them. Different from the charms of protagonist Matt, I was thinking about performing (El Gallo) with more of a mature man’s appeals.

What’s your impression on the music?

— Since El Gallo is a man’s role, the songs have a low key, and it may be lower than I ever did in my otokoyaku times. Because this is a new challenge, I want to sing these wonderful songs firmly.

How do you think about this musical?

— I feel the presence and existence of the charms of this historical musical “The Fantasticks!”.

How do you feel about entering this world now the first time?

— It’s my first time meeting the staff members and cast members, how would it feel in rehearsal…it’s still an unknown world to me. I’m very nervous, but also excited. My classmate (douki) who just graduated from Takarazuka recently advised me, “It’s pretty embarrassing to go in rehearsal with those classy outfits you’d wear in Takarazuka, so be aware of that.” (LOL).

Is there something you want to do before you start rehearsal?

— I’d want to go to singing lessons first.

When you graduated from Takarazuka, did you take it slowly for a while? 

— I did take it slowly. In the latter half of being in the revue, because of the corona virus, I had a life where I couldn’t meet up with people, now I’ll still be careful, but I could meet up with people I want to see and have a great time with them.

How are your days in Takarazuka?

— They’re all of my youth. When I graduated from high school and entered (Takarazuka Music School), that’s all of my life. But, I still feel lonely sometimes.

After graduating, you’ve never thought about being on stage anymore?

— I have no interest in the stage apart from that of Takarazuka. I’ve gone to see some upperclassmen who taidanned appearing on different stages, but if it’s going on stage again apart from (Takarazuka), I’ve never pondered about this when I was in the revue. It’s because I only love being in the stage of Takarazuka.

What have you thought of doing apart from stage?

— I’d be happy doing modelling work in magazines. This is something that I would be the happiest in doing if I didn’t enter Takarazuka. Now I’m happy to do this kind of work.

Then, have you thought of any expectations in the future?

— I think this musical that I’m taking part in would act as a barometer for me. When “The Fantasticks” end, what would I think about myself? Will I be doing more (of stage) or is this enough? Then from this moment on, I’ll think about what steps I should embark on. I think it’s okay to decide after each and every time.

As “THE FANTASTICKS” will open soon, please give a message to the audience that are expectant of this!

— I never thought of being in this musical and playing this charming role of El Gallo, and I could meet with a role again to revive what I’ve learnt in Takarazuka, I’m already feeling looking forward now. Because I was thinking that the fans must be happy about this, with that thought, and since I’ll be asking for many people’s strength, I’ll hope to learn various things and also embrace the performance.