Let Me Entertain You: SAB Choral Octavo

This arrangement captures the theatrical DNA of the original by rotating through contrasting styles in a single piece—each section has its own character and energy. Larry Shackley's orchestration for three-part voices keeps the piece manageable for developing choirs while delivering the variety and impact that made the number a showstopper on stage. Directors get a complete performance package that sustains audience interest through shifts in tempo, feel, and choreographic potential.

Theatrical energy wrapped in accessibility. The piece opens with punchy directness, settles into a smooth swing groove, transforms into gentle waltz territory, and erupts into a high-spirited finale. You feel the hand of a seasoned Broadway composer who knew how to sustain theatrical excitement through contrast and pacing.

SAB choirs looking for a Broadway showpiece with genuine variety and choreographic potential. This arrangement works for community theater singers, high school choirs, and college treble or mixed ensembles seeking material that entertains both performers and audiences.

• Lock the meter and tempo changes in the rhythm section before rehearsing full voice parts. The transition from 2-beat to swing to waltz requires precision from your accompanist and confidence from your singers.
• Stage the contrasting sections visually. Each style shift invites different movement and energy; choreography or formation changes will amplify what's already in the music.
• Lean into the theatrical directness of the melody. This piece doesn't ask for subtle, introspective singing. Commit fully to the character and energy of each section.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to establish the style and groove before singers finalize their parts. Hearing a professional performance of each section will anchor their understanding of the arrangement's intent.

Program this as your finale or as the anchor of a Broadway-themed concert. It pairs naturally with other Styne selections or sits powerfully alone as a statement piece that showcases your choir's range and personality. The built-in staging and movement make it ideal for pops concerts, variety shows, or end-of-year celebrations where theatrical presentation is valued.

• Singing through meter changes (2/4, swing feel, 3/4 waltz, 4/4 finale)
• Sustaining rhythmic and stylistic unity while the accompaniment shifts
• Responding to choreographic cues and staging during performance
• Projection and vocal energy in a theatrical context
• Ensemble balance across three-part voicing with varying dramatic intensity