Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Musical Theatre Suggestions for high school?

Message

      I am looking for a musical to produce with my high school actors, singers, and dancers for this coming school year. Recent successes have included Wizard of Oz (RSC) (2012), Guys and Dolls (2011), Fiddler on the Roof (2010), The Music Man (2009), My Fair Lady (2008) and now I am researching shows before my students come back to campus, and I would like to pick the brains of the fine folks who stop in here with good ideas, suggestions, and advice. As you can see, we are a pretty traditional Broadway standards type of program.  I am looking for a cast size between 25-35 folks.

     This year, I am looking for a show with a strong male lead that also has large singing company numbers. Ensemble heavy with a male lead. That's what I need. Unfortunately, I do not have really strong women this year but a decent sized female and male company.  Any suggestions?  I am considering Joseph and Seussical this week, but would love to have some other titles as well to ruminate over. While I enjoy How to Succeed in Business, the creepy and sleazy boss and secretary relationships would not go down well with my audience.

    What have you produced lately or seen lately that would fall into this category? 

Thanks. Enjoy your August days.

Martin

Author	Message
Martin Player Joined: 4/02/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 13	Topic: Musical Theatre Suggestions for high school? Posted: 8/02/12 at 2:30pm
	I am looking for a musical to produce with my high school actors, singers, and dancers for this coming school year. Recent successes have included Wizard of Oz (RSC) (2012), Guys and Dolls (2011), Fiddler on the Roof (2010), The Music Man (2009), My Fair Lady (2008) and now I am researching shows before my students come back to campus, and I would like to pick the brains of the fine folks who stop in here with good ideas, suggestions, and advice. As you can see, we are a pretty traditional Broadway standards type of program. I am looking for a cast size between 25-35 folks. This year, I am looking for a show with a strong male lead that also has large singing company numbers. Ensemble heavy with a male lead. That's what I need. Unfortunately, I do not have really strong women this year but a decent sized female and male company. Any suggestions? I am considering Joseph and Seussical this week, but would love to have some other titles as well to ruminate over. While I enjoy How to Succeed in Business, the creepy and sleazy boss and secretary relationships would not go down well with my audience. What have you produced lately or seen lately that would fall into this category? Thanks. Enjoy your August days. Martin

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David McCall Celebrity Joined: 1/28/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 299	Posted: 8/02/12 at 10:39pm
	We recently did King and I and it seemed well received. Seussical was also a winner for the middle school a couple years back. There is always Annie, but that is better if you have access to younger kids. It's good to have some younger kids for King and I, but you could probably get by with the younger high school kids. Last year we did Legally Blonde and had less than 2 weeks to tech it (sets and all) it was OK, but they took out the funniest song (Gay or European). I never completely understood why. Who cares if we piss off the Europeans.
	David M
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edh915 Celebrity Joined: 11/19/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 325	Posted: 8/03/12 at 11:51am
	You can always go for one of the "Big 3" Gilbert and Sullivan productions: "HMS Pinafore", "The Pirates of Penzance", or "The Mikado." If you feel they've been done too much, you could get really good mileage out of "Patience" or "Princess Ida." Or an evening of two one-acts: "Trial By Jury" coupled with "Box and Cox". ("Jury" is G&S, ""Box" is Sullivan only.) From the traditional Broadway repertoire you might go with "The Scarlet Pimpernel" by Frank Wildhorn and Nan Knighton. Maybe "Damn Yankees" or "Pajama Game". The recent stage version of "Irving Berlin's White Christmas" might do well. "She Loves Me" is great. "No, No, Nanette" is wonderful if you can get people who dance well. How about "Bye Bye Birdie" "Kiss Me Kate" "Kismet" Student versions of "Les Miserables" and "Phantom of the Opera" are available. Edited by edh915 - 8/03/12 at 11:53am
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