The Newsies

There's a very common improvised group number format, used for the opening number of many improvised musicals, which goes like this:

1. All improvisers take a position on the stage.
2. One improviser sings a chorus as a solo.
3. All improvisers repeat the chorus together.
4. One improviser sings a verse as a solo.
5. All improvisers repeat the chorus together.
6. Repeat steps 4-5 a couple more times, with new verse lyrics.

This is exactly how Wünderstudies started doing opening numbers. It worked well sometimes, but we ran into several issues with it:

• It felt more like a series of solos than a group number.
• Improvisers planted themselves on stage for each solo verse, which led to very little dynamic motion and dance.
• Choruses were either too complex to remember and repeat or too simple to start the song in an interesting way.

Here's an example from an early show, which exhibits the last problem with remembering choruses:


After one year of facing these issues, we debuted a new opening number format at our first anniversary celebration. Let's call it The Newsies, because it was inspired by the opening number to the Disney musical of the same name. Listen to the video below and see what you notice about the song structure:

Notice how the song begins with several characters bantering, building a verse together by trading lines, instead of letting any one person take on a long solo. This culminates in a big group chorus. The whole song is a group endeavor, trading lines during verses and singing in harmony during choruses.

This informed the following improvised group number format, which Wünderstudies has been using for the last year:

1. All improvisers take a position on stage.
2. Several improvisers sing the first verse, with each improviser singing no more than a single line per stanza.
3. After the first verse is wrapped up, one improviser initiates a very simple chorus, probably just 1-2 short lines.
4. All improvisers repeat the chorus together a few times.
5. Repeat steps 2-4 a couple more times, with new verse lyrics.

This format was an attempt to deal with all the issues mentioned above:

• There is no extended solo. The whole song is a group effort.
• It can be easier for the group to move around, without pressure to stop moving to sing an extended solo verse.
• Delaying the chorus encourages the group to find a simple and obvious chorus informed by the first verse, which is easier to remember because of both its simplicity and its obviousness.

Here's an example of The Newsies format from a much more recent show:

The observant viewer will notice that this diverges from the format described above in a couple of ways. First, there is a soundscape introduced in the beginning which returns after each chorus to provide a base layer of group sound. Second, there is a bridge in the middle, which provides a brief contrast to the rest of the song. These are just minor variations we've toyed with over the last year.

This format has not been without any issues of its own. The primary issue is the difficulty of trading lines with good timing. If you wait too long to respond to the previous line, there is dead air, the energy drops, and it seems like you've lost control of the song. If you respond too quickly to the previous line, two people might start singing at the same time, and the song could become jumbled and confusing.

It takes a lot of practice to get a good group rhythm where everyone can negotiate line trading together. It can help to set a pattern in the first verse and continue that pattern (e.g. trade lines in order of the way you're standing on stage). But ultimately, it comes down to careful attention to your partners on stage and willingness to jump in immediately when you feel that your contribution is needed.

This is an original song format created just for Wünderstudies, so I have never seen anyone else try it. I would love for another group to give it a try and report back with their experiences. I would love to see variations and improvements. Please try it out, and let me know how it goes for you in the comments below!