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It has become an epidemic!
First Le Miz, Then Rent, now Phantom is coming out for High Schools before Community Theaters.
While I am ALL FOR performance arts in High Schools and support them completely this is getting to be a drain on the community theaters.
The minute Le Miz came out.. every high school within 50 miles did it.
Same with Rent.
Now that Rent is available to community theater we aren't going to do it. Why? Because it is burned out and old.
The same thing will be said if Le Miz ever comes available.
There are plenty of shows that are perfectly suitable for high schools.
(I personally thought the Rent script was horrid and ruined the whole essense of the show.)
Now they are talking of an Avenue Q.. for HIGH SCHOOL! "The Internet is for.." what? Homework? oh ha ha ha that is so funny!
The royalty companies and/or writers really need to think about what is their bread and butter which is Community Theater. While High Schools do many performances. Community Theaters pay more and keep the shows alive well after broadway.
As I said I am all for arts in schools. But there has to be a limit to what is appropriate to release.
Why not just RELEASE THE SHOW! If a High School wants to do it GREAT! But at least give us the CHANCE to produce the show. Or Release a Jr. Edition at the same time as the Full Show edition?
Why is this so hard to understand to these companies?
Who wants to see a watered down version of "Spring Awakening" but bet you it will happen. As I am sure Hairspray, Legally Blonde etc will come out first for High Schools too.
That leaves very few new shows for CT's to do that haven't been done to death in the community.
The leaders of Community Theater's need to let the royalty companies know that this is starting to be completely unacceptable!
Of course what can we do? Not do their shows? (that are available.) that isn't an option and they know it.
So I guess we are stuck. Doing second hand shows and pray that they will be different enough in nature to bring in the audience.
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