Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Show suggestion

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Nanette
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Joined: 8/01/06
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Posts: 399

Topic: Show suggestion
Posted: 5/13/11 at 10:10am

I 'm starting a new job next year as Drama Coach at the high school! The history of the theatre is great ... state-of-the-art facility, extremely talented kids, super support team. They've done the likes of 'State Fair', 'Annie', 'Oklahoma', 'Guys and Dolls', etc .... all the classics. I may (or may not) have access to the music teacher (it all depends on if she wants to take on another musical next year), but have directed musicals in the past myself.

I would like some suggestions for musicals and straight shows that would draw crouds, but not be so expected of the high school kids. I'm thinking 'Honk!', 'Into the Woods', or 'Secret Garden'. Ideas????

In a world of margarine, be butter!

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donzolidis
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Joined: 5/15/07
Location: United States
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Posted: 5/13/11 at 2:40pm

Into the Woods, though an incredibly awesome show, might be tough if your access to the music teacher is limited.

I'm a big fan of Thoroughly Modern Millie - (great roles for girls, really fun singing and dancing) probably my favorite among the shows I've been involved with.

Little Shop of Horrors is fun too, although the plant can be tricky (there are services that rent them, but it can get quite expensive), and the end of the show is kind of weak.

For Straight plays, there are a bunch. Sometimes a good place to start is the list of the most-produced plays in american high schools, here:

http://schooltheatre.org/education/play-survey

--if you look real close, you'll see my name at #6 in the one-acts list.

I also have a ton of full-length plays I've written that get done at hundreds of high schools around the country. Here's a link to my page through Playscripts, inc. I can recommend something specific if you'd like.

http://www.playscripts.com/author.php3?authorid=426

Hope that helps!

Don

www.donzolidis.com

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donzolidis
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Posted: 5/13/11 at 2:41pm

Oh and the best way to draw a crowd for a straight play is either to do Shakespeare (extra credit from English classes!) or do a play with a mammoth cast, (all their friends and parents come.)

www.donzolidis.com

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Rorgg
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Joined: 2/10/09
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Posts: 151

Posted: 5/20/11 at 11:59am

Yeah, the music for Into the Woods is EXTREMELY hard, so I wouldn't do it without an experienced vocal director/accompanist. I love it, but you're asking for trouble without the right personnel for that.

As for shows you should do... I'm not a HUGE fan of it, but Grease is usually a favorite, and it's a show ABOUT high schoolers -- let them do it now when they can.

If you want something unexpected ... my HS did Cabaret 3 years after I graduated (due to illness, I filled in in a total emergency a week and a half before open). It was a bit edgy for high school, and it's a kind of dark show, but it's educational, a good show, and can certainly be done without the elements that put the original production beyond the pale.

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sguti39
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Joined: 8/02/09
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Posts: 24

Posted: 5/24/11 at 9:53pm

I like Zombie Prom, its not well know, but it has a sizeable cast and with the right marketing can be well promoted. The Who's Tommy is also a great show. You can get us 60's/70's/80's people to come hear the exceptional music of the Who and you can also get that group of auditioners out that are more commercial than us musical theater geeks--expand your audience base. Just a couple of less conventional ideas.

S.G.

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Ogreking4
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Joined: 2/25/08
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Posts: 22

Posted: 6/17/11 at 3:19pm

You might try "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" or "Fiddler on the Roof"... "Anything Goes"...

Good luck!

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SamD
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Joined: 6/25/09
Location: United States
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Posts: 39

Posted: 6/18/11 at 10:01pm

Hairspray!

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Rorgg
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Location: United States
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Posts: 151

Posted: 6/23/11 at 12:47pm

Hairspray has a rider that requires a racially diverse cast, so there's a possible roadblock.

Thumbs up for Fiddler -- IF you have someone you know can pull off Tevye. No Tevye, no show.

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Melvin
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Joined: 4/02/09
Location: United States
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Posts: 36

Posted: 6/29/11 at 10:25am

For a straight play involving lots of student actors A Midsummer's Night Dream is hard to beat. If you want a shorter version (hour and a half) of the show which still has no royalties, go here - http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk/YouthTheatre/A_Midsummer_Nights_Dream_GM.htm

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Play Suggestions
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Play Suggestions

Author	Message
Nanette Celebrity Joined: 8/01/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 399	Topic: Show suggestion Posted: 5/13/11 at 10:10am
	I 'm starting a new job next year as Drama Coach at the high school! The history of the theatre is great ... state-of-the-art facility, extremely talented kids, super support team. They've done the likes of 'State Fair', 'Annie', 'Oklahoma', 'Guys and Dolls', etc .... all the classics. I may (or may not) have access to the music teacher (it all depends on if she wants to take on another musical next year), but have directed musicals in the past myself. I would like some suggestions for musicals and straight shows that would draw crouds, but not be so expected of the high school kids. I'm thinking 'Honk!', 'Into the Woods', or 'Secret Garden'. Ideas????
	In a world of margarine, be butter!

	IP Logged

donzolidis Celebrity Joined: 5/15/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 156	Posted: 5/13/11 at 2:40pm
	Into the Woods, though an incredibly awesome show, might be tough if your access to the music teacher is limited. I'm a big fan of Thoroughly Modern Millie - (great roles for girls, really fun singing and dancing) probably my favorite among the shows I've been involved with. Little Shop of Horrors is fun too, although the plant can be tricky (there are services that rent them, but it can get quite expensive), and the end of the show is kind of weak. For Straight plays, there are a bunch. Sometimes a good place to start is the list of the most-produced plays in american high schools, here: http://schooltheatre.org/education/play-survey --if you look real close, you'll see my name at #6 in the one-acts list. I also have a ton of full-length plays I've written that get done at hundreds of high schools around the country. Here's a link to my page through Playscripts, inc. I can recommend something specific if you'd like. http://www.playscripts.com/author.php3?authorid=426 Hope that helps! Don
	www.donzolidis.com
	IP Logged

donzolidis Celebrity Joined: 5/15/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 156	Posted: 5/13/11 at 2:41pm
	Oh and the best way to draw a crowd for a straight play is either to do Shakespeare (extra credit from English classes!) or do a play with a mammoth cast, (all their friends and parents come.)
	www.donzolidis.com
	IP Logged

Rorgg Celebrity Joined: 2/10/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 151	Posted: 5/20/11 at 11:59am
	Yeah, the music for Into the Woods is EXTREMELY hard, so I wouldn't do it without an experienced vocal director/accompanist. I love it, but you're asking for trouble without the right personnel for that. As for shows you should do... I'm not a HUGE fan of it, but Grease is usually a favorite, and it's a show ABOUT high schoolers -- let them do it now when they can. If you want something unexpected ... my HS did Cabaret 3 years after I graduated (due to illness, I filled in in a total emergency a week and a half before open). It was a bit edgy for high school, and it's a kind of dark show, but it's educational, a good show, and can certainly be done without the elements that put the original production beyond the pale.
	IP Logged

sguti39 Player Joined: 8/02/09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 24	Posted: 5/24/11 at 9:53pm
	I like Zombie Prom, its not well know, but it has a sizeable cast and with the right marketing can be well promoted. The Who's Tommy is also a great show. You can get us 60's/70's/80's people to come hear the exceptional music of the Who and you can also get that group of auditioners out that are more commercial than us musical theater geeks--expand your audience base. Just a couple of less conventional ideas.
	S.G.
	IP Logged

Ogreking4 Player Joined: 2/25/08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 22	Posted: 6/17/11 at 3:19pm
	You might try "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" or "Fiddler on the Roof"... "Anything Goes"... Good luck!
	IP Logged

SamD Lead Joined: 6/25/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 39	Posted: 6/18/11 at 10:01pm
	Hairspray!
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Rorgg Celebrity Joined: 2/10/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 151	Posted: 6/23/11 at 12:47pm
	Hairspray has a rider that requires a racially diverse cast, so there's a possible roadblock. Thumbs up for Fiddler -- IF you have someone you know can pull off Tevye. No Tevye, no show.
	IP Logged

Melvin Lead Joined: 4/02/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 36	Posted: 6/29/11 at 10:25am
	For a straight play involving lots of student actors A Midsummer's Night Dream is hard to beat. If you want a shorter version (hour and a half) of the show which still has no royalties, go here - http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk/YouthTheatre/A_Midsummer_Nights_Dream_GM.htm
	IP Logged