Community Theater needs Holiday shows!
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Play Suggestions
Forum Discription: Need help finding a show that's right for your theater? Ask here.
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3654
Printed Date: 11/24/24 at 4:07am
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Topic: Community Theater needs Holiday shows!
Posted By: patrickcolvin
Subject: Community Theater needs Holiday shows!
Date Posted: 12/11/08 at 1:37pm
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I work for a community theater in Minnesota, and every year we face the same issue: finding a show for the Holiday season.
This year we are doing a non-musical adaptation of It's a Wonderful Life.
Past productions include: Scrooge: The Musical; Hello, Dolly!; A Christmas Story; Fiddler on the Roof; The Best Christmas Pageant Ever; The Sound of Music; Annie; and Cinderella (R&H).
That should give you a feel for what we're looking for. The ideal holiday show involves quite a bit of spectacle, music (although not necessarily a musical), a fairly large cast, and few or no children in the cast. It should be uncontrovercial, extremely funny and/or heartwarming, have universal appeal, and be appropriate for ages 5-95. An actual Christmas theme is not necessary, although it would help.
For next year we're looking at some old standbys, like Annie, Fiddler, and South Pacific (I would love to do that one, but it seems the impending national tour will interfere with our ability to secure the rights to perform it). But we're looking for something other than the same-old-same-old, every-community-theater-in-the-country-has-done-it-twice kinds of shows we have on our plate right now.
Any suggestions?
Thanks! --Patrick
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Replies:
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 12/11/08 at 6:08pm
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How about "Here's Love" - the Meredith Wilson's musical version of Miracle on 34th Street? ... it's even got Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade for spectacle! I've also seen (though never worked on) a really beautiful NON-ballet version of The Nutcracker...it was wonderful. |
Posted By: KEB54
Date Posted: 12/12/08 at 10:10am
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"Here's Love" has been re-titled to "Meredith Wilson's It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas". FYI
------------- KEB |
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 12/12/08 at 10:23am
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Really? When did that happen? And why? 
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Posted By: patrickcolvin
Date Posted: 12/12/08 at 12:47pm
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How is "Here's Love"? I've read mixed reviews. I'll send for a perusal anyway. I was actually looking for it on MTI's website the other day - thanks for the info that the title had changed! And do you know where I can find this version of "Nutcracker"? Is it a musical? Thanks! --Patrick
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Posted By: KEB54
Date Posted: 12/12/08 at 4:33pm
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Yeah, I don’t know when but I think a couple of years ago. And I don't know why, but I bet a guess would be pretty close – “Here’s Love” has no recognition as a Christmas show and you have no idea what it’s about. Plus "Meredith Wilson's It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” not only tells you the author but also the only recognizable song in the show: http://www.mtishows.com/show_home.asp?id=000042 - http://www.mtishows.com/show_home.asp?id=000042 I’ve never seen it, but my bet is that it would be a draw. The music for the most part is reminiscent of Music Man, much of it Sousa-like without the Music Man appeal. I don’t imagine it is very good, but would still draw. I mean the musical version of "Miracle on ------------- KEB |
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 12/12/08 at 6:00pm
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I've seen several productions of "Here's Love" - before the title change - and it was a perfectly nice musical. Not a smash hit type like "Hello Dolly" or "Annie" - but still, nice. It's got a nice message, of course - and I personally enjoyed the music (of course, it is Meredith Wilson). There is lots of color and dancing and CHristmas-y feeling ... and of course, the Natalie Wood role for that charming little girl. This is a review of the production I was thinking of ( http://chicagolandtheaterreviews.com/10.html ) ... I'm not sure where it's available, but you could probably contact The Steppenwolfe Company in Chicago for information. Good luck. |
Posted By: patrickcolvin
Date Posted: 12/14/08 at 4:31am
| Thanks for the info... I work with someone who interned at Steppenwolfe, maybe she knows something? |
Posted By: chelserin
Date Posted: 12/14/08 at 11:13pm
| My new favorite holiday show is "A Christmas Carol: A traveling Travesty in two tumultuous Acts" (sorry for spelling errors). It is Hillarious! Non-musical (although there is an unforgetable caroling scene) and about 7 characters. The premise is a run down traveling troup putting on A Christmas carol, but they don't have enough actors so they all have several parts. The two divas are fighting for the lead role and the understudy doesn't know her lines so has to hide them on props. We did it last year and it was so much fun for those on stage and the audience. |
Posted By: John Luzaich
Date Posted: 12/17/08 at 1:07pm
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patrick, Inspecting Carol is a great show. great parts for actors, very funny, sold really well. There is more on the show in other posts in this forum. It was written by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan and started at the Seattle Rep. It's a spoof on a small regional equity theatre producing A Christmas Carol for the 12th year in a row. It's just a hoot.
Also, look at Plaid Tidings. It's the Christmas version of the popular musical comedy Forever Plaid. I tried to get the rights several years ago and Stuart Ross pulled the show off the table because he went back and re-wrote the show. When he was happy with it, he directed two of the three equity productions (first being at the Passadena Playhouse). We were one of the firrst theatres in the midwest to get the rights to it and had a very successful run. I see many theatres are looking at it for next year now. ------------- John cfct@cfu.net http://www.osterregent.org http://www.facebook.com/osterregent |
Posted By: patrickcolvin
Date Posted: 12/18/08 at 3:31pm
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Thanks for the tip on Inspecting Carol. We actually have it in our script library - I'll read it tonight!
As for Plaid... I HATE Forever Plaid (it's right up there with Grease and Joseph for me), so I couldn't in good conscious recommend it the committee. We all have our cross to bear!
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Posted By: John Luzaich
Date Posted: 12/18/08 at 5:03pm
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Hey Patrick,
Inspecting Carol was refreshing and a very different choice for people that are tired of the same small handful of Christmas Plays that you read about on other threads in this forum. Anyway, it's like the movie "Waiting For Guffman" meets Noises Off meets A Christmas Carol. We produced it last year and I had the fun of playing Wayne Wellacre - the world's worst actor ever. The script called for a big junior high kid to play Tiny Tim because it's the same kid that plays him year after year for six years or so....... we had a kid that was 16 and it was just a hoot. Anyway, have a good read.
John ------------- John cfct@cfu.net http://www.osterregent.org http://www.facebook.com/osterregent |
Posted By: wrenmarston
Date Posted: 12/25/08 at 5:10pm
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Patrick,
Finding the right holiday show can be a challenge. Here are some i'm familiar with that have been done locally in the past. Each has its own pluses and minuses, but I hope it helps.
"The Christmas Schooner" - musical, visit http://www.mtishows.com - www.mtishows.com
"Miracle on 34th Street" there is a musical and non-musical version
"Godspell" -- billed as hearing the story of Jesus during the celebration of his birth
"Christmas Belles" - comedy, visit http://www.joneshopewooten.com - www.joneshopewooten.com ; it is the second in a trilogy by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten. I directed it and it was a success at the box office
Best wishes ------------- Guyz4SteelMagnolias |
Posted By: iamadramanerd
Date Posted: 12/26/08 at 11:04pm
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Patrick,
I am thinking about "Meet me in St. Louis" Lots of fun. Might be a few more children then you want. Good luck. ------------- Wove, true Wove. |
Posted By: Goforbroke
Date Posted: 1/03/09 at 6:34pm
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I have a script that I wrote for our holiday production this year that was very well received. We even had a first time patron who offered a cash donation on the spot because he said "it was worth so much more than the price of admission." I wrote a story based on Virginia O'Hanlon and the letter she sent to The New York Sun in 1897. I have always loved the editorial response that was published and as I researched the time period and the characters I fell in love with them too. I think the audience responded so well because so much of what was happening in the country at that time is relevant today in terms of politics and the economy. If you are interested I would be happy to send you an excerpt.
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Posted By: GoldCanyonLady
Date Posted: 1/04/09 at 9:10am
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I just saw Scroogical which was done by a community theatre and it was fun. It is a musical with a modern twist. http://www.scroogical.com/ - http://www.scroogical.com/ ------------- Barb Hofmeister, MountainBrook Village Players, Gold Canyon, Arizona. |
Posted By: patrickcolvin
Date Posted: 1/23/09 at 4:50pm
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Thanks for your replies everyone, although it looks like the season selection committee is going for Brigadoon.
I like the show - we could do far worse.
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Posted By: SpenceKenzer
Date Posted: 2/12/09 at 12:14pm
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I've seen a CT production of "It's A Wonderful Life - the musical". I think it's published by Samuel French, Inc.
------------- --------------------<*> Saludos, my dahlinks, and you know who you are ... ! |
Posted By: Rorgg
Date Posted: 2/12/09 at 4:42pm
| I got to take part in a CT production of the Radio Play version of "It's a Wonderful Life" this year and had a great time. On the bright side, the staging and costuming needed are minimal, and as your actors are on-script, it's also nice for people who are busy during the holidays. |
Posted By: John Luzaich
Date Posted: 9/08/09 at 11:32am
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Nobody has mentioned White Christmas - The Musical. I don't care when or where you produce it, If done well and marketed properly, I bet it would be one of your highest selling Christmas shows of all time. I've seen professional productions of the show (both Seattle and St. Paul) but it's available for amateur licensing too. ------------- John cfct@cfu.net http://www.osterregent.org http://www.facebook.com/osterregent |
Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 9/09/09 at 8:39am
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I have done Traveling Travesty twice now in different theatres. Both runs were huge successes. The audiences roared at the comedy. The other plusses for this show include the simplicity of the set and costumes. ------------- Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse |
Posted By: bnk01
Date Posted: 9/18/09 at 9:23pm
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Look at The Christmas Princess. Original, funny, crowd pleaser - brought back a couple of times (being done again in Los Angeles this December.)
Info at %20 - http://www.arthurjolly.com/princess07.html . |
Posted By: jaytee060
Date Posted: 9/19/09 at 4:23pm
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We were considering Meridith Wilson's Here's Love for this current season but after hearing the music, we quickly reversed that decision. While the songs have the flavor of Music Man music, they are below average to awful. I would not recommend this play to any community theatre.
We were fortunate to find a really nice musical version of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE that was privately written and produced by a large church in Texas for the past 5 years. I think it has promise to be a big audience pleaser for our community. ------------- "REMEMBER ME IN LIGHT" |
Posted By: JohnnyOneNote
Date Posted: 9/21/09 at 12:52pm
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We are doing that show right now Jaytee!
I am in production with it. What an awesome script and the music is fantastic! Sure there are a few things about it I would like different but the cast are enjoying it a LOT. I think it is much better than the one from Samuel French. I didn't like that one at all.
THIS version gives a Hopefull and spiritual message without bashing you over the head with it! and "My Life" is such a beautiful haunting song. Chills every time I hear it.
It is probably a little late for this season but here is the info for future reference if anyone is interested
It's A Wonderful Life - The Musical!
Book and Lyrics by: Keith Ferguson
Music by: Bruce Greer
http://iawlmusical.com/ - http://iawlmusical.com/
We are also contracting the music to be recorded and it will be available from the writers for future productions. We simply have no space for a 50 piece orchestra! ;)
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