SONG ANATOMY: preparing the role (MT, OPERETTA, OPERA)

Studio: Kristen Hedberg

SEE SCHEDULE FOR DEADLINES
Due via email to: yellowcatspeaksrussian@gmail.com No hard copies.

*Song/AriaTitle *Character Ann Mitchell

Im your Man

*Composer *Work
Andrew Gerle Meet John Doe

*Premiere *Librettist/Book Writer

New York Musical Theater Festival 2004 Eddie Sugarman

1. Give a brief summary of the plot.

Anne Mitchell loses her job in the Depression, and writes a fake letter from a man named John Doe. He
protests how society is damaged and says he will commit suicide by jumping off of the Brooklyn Bridge on
Christmas Eve. It becomes a big hit, and they find a ballplayer by the name of John Willoughby to pretend hes
John Doe. He becomes famous and a love triangle forms. They get too deep into the lie and eventually have to tell
the truth about John Doe.

2. On what is the work based? A play, novel, historical figure?

The musical is based off of the Meet John Doe 1941 film.

3. Explain the origin or the story, noting the differences and similarities between it and the musical/opera.
They followed the movie completely, besides Ann being a little bit older in the musical. The characters are
the same, but it is difficult to find anything on the musical except for the soundtrack.

4. Give a brief description of the composers historical background.

Andrew Gerle is a prodigy made by Marilyn Neeley and Robert Gerle. He started his career by playing
classical piano in Baltimore. He went to Yale University and won the Yale Symphonys concerto competition. He
won the 2012 Kleban Award for outstanding librettist for his show Gloryna. Gloryina also won a 2011 Richard
Rodgers Awards, as well as three other Richard Rodgers Awards for The Tutor. Meet John Doe won a Jonathan
Larson Award, and he received a Burton Lane Fellowship for Young Composers from the Theater Songwriters Hall
of Fame. He has worked on multiple off-Broadway productions as a musical director, and now he is on the faculty
of Yale University teaching musical theatre performance and songwriting.

5. Describe the composers style. What does that require of the singer? How does that relate to you?
Gerle has a catchy tune to all of his songs. They have a definite 40s vibe to the songs. Brass is used a lot
in the music, and if Ann was an instrument, I think she would be a trumpet. Shes loud, shes powerful, and she can
do it all. Having such a powerful song means Anne has to belt. It may not be high, but everything she sings needs
to be a bold statement. I believe I have a brighter sound to my voice when I belt, so this will be an exciting
challenge for me.

6. How does the accompaniment/orchestra relate to the vocal line?

The orchestra isnt very complicated for this song. Its staccato at times, and loud. I believe this is Anns
character, she tends to be loud and to the point, as well as being a bit brassy and in charge!

7. Describe the character. Give a complete description including age, personality, occupation, nationality, marital
status, education level, economic and social status, condition of health, relationship to other characters and basic
physical traits.
Anne is mid 20s, she is materialistic and likes security. She is desperate for money because of supporting
her mother and two younger sisters alone. She is sexy and likes to be in charge. Confidence is key for Ann, she
uses it to get what she wants. Shes white and single, although becomes in love with John. Shes a very healthy
woman, but can become sick when under a lot of stress.

8. Discuss the characters perceived posture. Relate it to your own.

Ann is an extremely confident woman, so she strands up straight and has good posture. She often has her
hand on her hip when she is annoyed or crosses her arms. I often do that too, however, my posture isnt that great.
How does your character fidget?
Ann talks with her hands most of the time! When shes nervous she twiddles her thumbs or clasps her hands. She
gets very tense in her shoulders. When I fidget I pick at my nails, unfortunately.

9. What journey does the character take in the story? How different is he/she at the end of the story as compared to
the beginning?
Ann becomes more and more vulnerable throughout the story. Once she fell in love she showed her girly self.
Her confident mask cracks. At the beginning, Ann is desperate for a job, but at the end she is desperate for her
loves life. In a way she becomes less superficial. She let her emotions finally show.

10. Describe the location of the story in general.

The location is in the heart of New York City.

11. Research and describe the social customs of the place and time in which the musical/opera the story - is set.
Assume you are in a traditional production.
People in New York are always on the go, so all of them are to the point, and if they are angry, they voice
their opinion. They tend to be rude, and not care what others think. They dressed modestly, and they didnt have
things like Iphones, so letters were still popular. Women were supposed to be dainty and at home, so when the
depression hit they were the first ones to be let go of work.

12. List famous authors/poets and visual artists from the time period in which the work was composed. What
conclusions can you draw about other art forms being created when this work is created? Are there any similarities?
Musicals: Bye Bye Birdie, Hair, Fiddler on the Roof, Pacific Overtures- all of these Broadway shows were
produced in 2004. There was obviously a theme of events in history as well as rebellion. That is most likely what
inspired Meet John Doe, because of the time period and a spunky female lead.

13. What was happening in history when the work the composer was writing this work? Wars, philosophical
movements, religious movements, etc (What is really happening in the world outside the walls in which the
COMPOSER lives and works?)
In the US, prices were going up in gas, news about Iraq and torture systems were published, and generally
more news about the Iraq war.

14. Answer the same question again and relate it to the time period in which the piece is set if it is different from the
time period of the composer. (What is really happening in the world outside the walls in which the CHARACTER
lives and works? How might this affect your characters responses to environment, other people, pressures,
conflicts, etc?
The major event happening during the 1940s was the Great Depression. Fortunately, it was beginning to
ease up at that time. However, Ann is having to support her mother and two sisters because the damage of the great
depression. During this time, it would be accurate to desperately need a job more than anything. Ann is also
obviously a feminist, and that is not something that was done in the 1940s, unlike today. Now, people are very
polite to each other at a work place, but in 1940 NYC, they were short and to the point.

15. Describe the situation of the character in each scene. (You will need to understand the entire story to accurately
answer this question.)
 Unfortunately, I couldnt find the musical anywhere. The only thing that is available to me is the
soundtrack.

16. What is the characters main goal/purpose/objective in each scene? In other words, what does the character
want? Take some time to think about this one. Does the character get what he/she wants? What new objective is
created for the scene following?

17. If you were the director of this production, what would you say in your program notes that would entice your
audience excite your audience that might take away intimidation, boredom, or any barrier that audience members
feel when they are in newer territory? This is important for the future of our art form, and for competing with the
shortened attention spans of todays audience members and their addictions to TV and phone screens, rather than
live theatre.
Imagine a feminist in the 1940s. That sounds ridiculous, but our heroine, Ann Mitchell, works at a
newspaper service in 1941. As she is about to be let go of her job, she does something crazy. She creates a fake
story from a man named John Doe. Shes spunky, witty, but just a little bit too confident at times. Watch the story
unfold as she gets herself into trouble with a whole nation.

*Write out all all lines of your song, leaving an extra line under each printed line. Underneath each printed line,
write the subtext. What is the character really saying? For example, someone saying Your hair looks good today
could mean a variety of things: You look like you need a compliment. Wow, what a copycat. I wish I had the
nerve to ask you out. Your hairdo is really a hair dont.

Line 1 Original Text

Line 2 Subtext: What the character really means

Ill write just what you say anyway that you want.
I will seriously do anything to keep this job

And when it comes to arguing, Im a savant.

I get what I want no matter what.

I need money, you need me to make a stir.

I really need money, I need you.

Rent my fingers, Ill throw in a Pulitzer!

Use my fantastic outstanding journalism skills!

You need someone with talent and passion and brains.

You need me as much as I need you.

You need someone with newspaper ink in their veins.

Ive been doing this for years, and I love this job.

My coffee cup has lipstick stains, but, Brother, Im your man.

Im sexy and a hard-worker.

Anything you need done Im the one for the job.

Im awesome and can do anything you ask.

You want corny? Ill type it right off the cob.

I can write cheesy stuff.

Use my column, any topic, take your pic.

I can write anything and make it amazing.
I can slalom back and forth on rhetoric!
I can write through anything!

You need someone who crosses her legs and her Ts.
Im a lady and Im smart.

Im so quick that Ive got my own personal breeze.

I write in superspeed.

Ive got high heels, and two of these but, Brother, Im your man.
Did I mention Im sexy? AND I work hard?

One day you will regret this, Dick.

Youre making the wrong choice, asshole.

You could have had me for cheap.

I was going to work for practically free.

Youll say Ann please forget this. But Ill say find a bridge and take a flying leap HA!
Youre going to come crawling back to me but itll be too late.

Ha. You want fireworks Ill give you the fourth of July.
I just got a brilliant idea that will knock your socks off.

Lots of luck finding somebody better than I.

No one will be better than me after you read this.

Who could do it? Maybe Dorthy Parkers free.

Who else could write for you? Maybe Dorthy Parkers free?

Chief, you blew it- she aint got a thing on me!

Shes incredible but shes nothing compared to me!

Front page headlines read: Mitchell will land on her feet.

Im gonna stay here once this goes public.

Come tomorrow, some editors in for a treat.

Everyones going to want to write about it.

Just say the word, and thats my beat!

Ill come back to you.
Brother, Im your man! Watch out New York, here comes ANN!
Look out New York! Im coming for you!

(Note that if the song is in a foreign language, you will have three lines for this exercise. The first line will be the
original text; the second the translation of the text; and the third line being the subtext or deeper meaning of the
poetry)

Be sure to consult the Tips for Doing Research form for scholarly web sources. Notice that wikipedia is not
one of them.
At the end of each song anatomy, list the sources from which you found your information. I may go back to
them and check for accuracy. Be sure to write information in your own words and use your own thoughts.
What you think matters. I am interested in those thoughts, assuming they are in harmony with the factual
reality of the work.

This research is crucial to understanding and building character. Find your authentic version of this
character while staying respectful to the writers truths and clues.