Enrolment/Induction task

Studying Nina Simone - Feeling Good


To start off my research on this song I used the website "song meanings" to find out other peoples views on what the song meant to them. (Source 1 )
Many saw the meaning behind the song as freedom and related to it whether they were starting a new job or recently out of a toxic relationship.

I also discovered that this song was originally part of a musical in the 1960s called 'The Roar of the Greasepaint the Smell of the Crowd'. Felling Good was written by two English composers named Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse. (Source 2)

Personally I see this song as a fresh start and I can relate to this because I'm starting at a new school and beginning my musical theatre journey.


Developing song into musical production

When listening to this song I can already imagine prancing out through my front door and singing it to the entire world. The song makes you feel like you can do anything you put your mind to and that's how I want the audience to feel. As I listened to the song I tried to play out different scenes in my head and plan backstories for those characters and why they related to this song.

Draft Characters:

1. Bonnie - Teenager, starting at a new school. 
2. Lizzie - Young adult, quitting job.
3. Tabatha - adult, escaped abusive marriage.

Draft Character Scenes and Brief Backstory:

      1. Bonnie - After her previous school didn't work out the way she'd hoped, Bonnie has to look for a new school which proves to be harder than she thought. Once she finds a new school she feels relived and excited to start fresh. This song takes place as she leaves her house the morning she starts her new school and progresses throughout her journey to school such as, on the bus and once she makes it to school.

      2. Lizzie - Lizzie hates her job in this boring company where the offices are cramped and everyone stinks of coffee. She always had dreams of making it as an actor however, these dreams appeared shattered after the countless auditions went wrong. After she meets someone at a party, her acting dreams could come true. She decides to chase her dreams and quits her job. Song starts as she walks out of her bosses office after quitting. This progresses onto the streets outside the office building and she dances with random strangers.

      3. Tabatha - After suffering in an abusive marriage for 4 years, she finally breaks free. This song takes place after she signs the final divorce papers and leaves the building. The sun appears to shine brighter than it had in previous scenes (brighter lighting). progresses to her dancing in the street around lamp posts and then chucking out her ex husbands possessions. 

Chosen Character:

I have decided that I will choose the character Lizzie as I have more of an idea set out in my head based around this scene and character.

How I have adapted Lizzie and her story line:

Lizzie Haynes is a 25 year old woman who works in a crowded office that she despises. Since a young age she had dreamed of becoming an actress. Once she was old enough she took part in drama clubs and studied hard at school, making sure that her dream would come true. When she was 18 she had her first audition. She was auditioning for the part of a teenager on a television show about school, however, she didn't get the part. She'd thought she'd aced it but clearly she hadn't. Her mother told her not to let it get to her and audition for something else. Lizzie tried to stay optimistic but after countless auditions gone wrong, she lost her confidence. She ended up getting a job in an office and tried to forget about her dream. A few years down the line she gets invited to a colleagues party and despite not usually attending these social gatherings, decides  to go. 

At this party Lizzie meets a young man called Jeremy. They begin talking and she tells him all about her long lost dream of being an actress. Jeremy seems quiet for the rest of the party as he studies her every move. By the end of the party Lizzie is pretty drunk and Jeremy offers to give her a lift home. They exchange numbers and Lizzie goes straight to bed. The next day she gets a call from Jeremy who tells her that he's an acting agent and can get her an audition if she hires him. Lizzie is shocked and suggests that she'll think about it and call him back later. She spends a while thinking about her dream and that it could actually come true. Eventually she calls Jeremy back and tells him they have a deal.

Once she goes back to work her boss pills stacks of paperwork on her desk and something inside her snaps. she gets up and walks into his office and announces that she quits. This is when the song 'Felling Good' starts.

Studying the Lighting

I found a website that explains the mood different colours of light gives off (Source 3). Yellow lighting gives off a joyful energy which reflects how Lizzie feels now that shes chasing her dream and quitting a job she hates. The bright lighting gives off a dramatic mood as the song gets more dramatic and the soft lighting compliments the slow parts off the song well.

Stage and Light Directions for the Song

(Lights dim and a soft spot light appears on Lizzie as she begins walking out of the office as music starts.)

(Everyone around Lizzie freezes in place as she sings)

"Birds flying high you know how I feel

Sun in the sky you know how I feel

Breeze driftin' on by you know how I feel

Its a new dawn

its a new day

its a new life

for me"

(She pauses and looks out until music starts again)

"And I'm feeling good"

(lighting tints yellow and brightens whole stage. Everyone unfreezes, few pushing away the setting props and some staying and walking around to make it seems like they are on the street. Lizzie keeps walking around)

"Fish in the sea you know how I feel" (Lizzie is dipped by a passerby)

"River running free you know how I feel

Blossom on the tree you know how I feel" (Lizzie continues dancing with people passing by)

(Light becomes more intense as the song becomes more dramatic)

"Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, don't you know

Butterflies all havin' fun you know what I mean

Sleep in peace when day is done

that's what I mean"

(Lizzie stops walking and stands in the middle of the stage as people walk all around her)

"And this old world is a new world

and a bold world

For me"

(Light around Lizzie dims slightly so shes in the spot light again)

"Stars when you shine you know how I feel

Scent of the pine you know how I feel

Oh freedom is mine

and I know how I feel."

(Music stops and lighting goes dark. End of scene)