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Message Icon Topic: Shows appropriate for 7th-12th graders(Topic Closed Topic Closed) Post Reply Post New Topic
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JShieldsIowa
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bullet Topic: Shows appropriate for 7th-12th graders
    Posted: 12/01/06 at 10:31pm
A theatre for youth that I've just become a board member for is researching doing an "older kids" show.  Presently the theatre does very juvenile shows shows for younger kids and some juvenile shows for mixed ages.  Needless to say, the 7th-12th graders are getting very bored with that and many are leaving the group.  At the same time the theatre is getting a reputation of doing young, childish shows.  Anyhow...  We're looking for shows that are more challenging for the older kids.  I'm already looking at Honk and High School Musical - but would LOVE some ideas on "straight plays" that 7th-12th graders might like. 
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ilove2act
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bullet Posted: 12/10/06 at 9:54pm
The theater group I am involved with has been around for 30 years.  We are joining efforts with a new theater group the next town over that stems from a local High School and we have just started rehearsing "Is There a Doctor in the House?" A modern adaptation of the farcical "doctor plays" of Moliere by Tim Kelly, thru Contemporary Drama Service.  MANY of the actors are High School kids just like yours who are probable just want to be challenged.  This is a great CLEAN script.  Very funny and fast paste short liners.  My husband and I are in it as well as some very distinguished members of the community.  It might be worth checking into if you want the to have a FUN experience.  The cast is 9 males and 14 females.
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suzecue1
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bullet Posted: 12/11/06 at 8:36am
In the summer I direct children's drama workshops.   Our numbers drop a little the years we do an "unknown" show.  I think that is human nature, if they haven't heard of it, it must not be much fun - right? Anyway, because of the higher costs associated with the well known shows,  we made a decision a long time ago to do an unknown show every other year.

The year that we do the "unknowns" the kids end up LOVING the shows.  More than the well knowns! Most "unknowns" are for larger casts (giving each child a more significant part) and it is a lot easier finding a script for more female than male cast members. 

Some of the best unknown shows we've done in recent years are: "All Aboard for Broadway", The Dracula Spectacula", "Lucky, Lucky  Hudson and the Twelfth Street Gang" and  "The Musical - The Bard is Back."  All are fun musicals, with reasonable royalties and large casts. Win - Win!

Sue
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Aimee
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bullet Posted: 12/12/06 at 8:46pm
I work with high school students, 
 As far as plays go,  We've done "Harvey" (it was AMAZING!) "Diary of Anne Frank" (very serious), "Henrietta the Eighth" (kind of fun and quirky), "You can't Take it with You", and our spring play will be "All Because of Agatha"
Musicals, recently were "Bye Bye Birdie" (very popular),  "Cinderella" (HUGE SUCESS), "Leader of the Pack" and "1940's Radio Hour"
Those are just some we've done recently, hope this helps.
Aimee
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Jim_L
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bullet Posted: 12/12/06 at 10:32pm
If you might be considering an unknown musical comedy (10m/5F), I offer my own humble 2 act script called 'The Tavern & The Storyteller' which I wrote for my son's high school.
-Jim
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charlz
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bullet Posted: 12/13/06 at 7:08pm
Our most successful shows:

Musicals:
Honk (sold out)
Grease (even though I really do not like the show, it sold out and the kids liked it- we did it at our High School, may not be right for 7th graders to do)
Once Upon a Mattress (Sold very well)
Leader of the Pack (Not a great show but many roles for girls)

Plays:
Cheaper by the Dozen (just did it, sold well, audience enjoyed it)
The Mouse That Roared (did very well)
The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood (the most successful non-musical we've ever done, sold out, added shows, everyone loved it)
Midsummer Night's Dream (we did a lot of magic throughout the show, it went over well)

Hope this helps.
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lwood
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bullet Posted: 2/10/07 at 6:25pm

Don't do "Honk". When I was in 8th grade, my local community children's theater did the junior version for one of our smaller productions. The little kids enjoyed it, but everyone 7th grade and up could not stand the show.  If you want your production to appeal to the older students, don't underestimate them.

 If you want a musical to appeal to the younger members of your group (as audience members) as well as the older kids as cast members, try "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown", "Snoopy!!! The Musical", "Seussical", "Cinderella", "Once Upon a Mattress", etc.
 
For plays, I'd reccomend "Arsenic and Old Lace", "Our Town", "The Odd Couple" or "Still Life with Iris"
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Lazy Bee
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bullet Posted: 2/25/07 at 7:18am
Joining this thread rather late, but for a straight play for older teenagers, try http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk/OneActPlays/WitchHunt.htm
or (if you want a controversial one), try http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk/FullLengthPlays/Thorn.htm

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Gaafa
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bullet Posted: 2/25/07 at 7:48am
Welcome Stuart!
      Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

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Lazy Bee
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bullet Posted: 2/25/07 at 9:37am
Hi Joe!  Saw you had arrived here (long) before me!
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