Best Bwy show for High School?

[ExpressThis]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 1:43pm

Which show would you recommend for a high school senior drama group to go see?? I hear a lot of buzz about Spring Awakening, but I'm not sure...tell me your thoughts! Thanks

[madbrian]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 1:59pm

Spring Awakening would be good, although I think some schools (particularly parochials) might object to the subject matter. I think Hairspray would be an excellent choice.

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 2:24pm

Go see Curtains, a comedy by a classic song writing team. Great all around.

Don't go see Wicked or Hairspray, challenge them a little to see something they aren't probably already experts on. (even though I love both of those shows, introduce them to new things)

or go see Grey Gardens, I can't imagine anything inappropriate in it, and since Christine will win the Tony (says I) and Grey Gardens will win for best musical (hopes I) it will be exciting for them.

[Julian2]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 2:30pm

Grey Gardens, much safer (parent approval wise) then Spring Awakening, best written show of the season (IMO), including stellar preformances that are likely to go down in history books and will most like win Tonys, great supporting cast, wonderful score, and two different tones in each act in case some don't like the moodier stuff or vice-versa. If you want to show your students great musical theatre, take them to this.

Updated On: 5/17/07 at 02:30 PM

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 2:31pm

I think high school students would find enjoyment from seeing the new Kander-Ebb-Holmes musical comedy, CURTAINS.

[Action2]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 2:55pm

Hairspray! It has all the things that make good theatre AND good entertainment. If this is a drama group, they can appreicate the technical aspects of the show (costumes, hair/makeup, scenic elements, interesting direction) and the performance elements (acting, singing, dancing). More importantly, they will have a good time. Even if other shows will challenge them, you want them to have a FUN experience (especially if this trip to NYC is something special).

And, regardless if the summer movie is good or great, it will give them something to talk about with their families and peers (well, when I saw it on Broadway...).

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 3:01pm

Journey's End and let them experience REAL ACTING and REAL DIRECTING.

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 3:10pm

I'd suggest taking them to Grey Gardens, but first having them watch the documentary. After they see the documentary, ask them to imagine how they would turn it into a musical.

[gymdudeva]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 3:49pm

A Chorus Line and Hairspray

[i.heart.link]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 3:51pm

Hairspray and Drowsy Chaperone!

[WestVillage]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 4:13pm

A Chorus Line, especially if they've never seen it done with the original staging. Curtains if they want an old-fashioned style Broadway musical, Grey Gardens if they want something more on the "artsy" side (and to see amazing performances by Ebersole and Wilson). The students would probably enjoy SA, but considering the subject matter and sexual situations, parental consent should be mandatory.

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 4:16pm

I think you should expose them to something less commercialized and take them to Grey Gardens to see a once-in-a-lifetime performance from Christine Ebersole and Mary Louise Wilson. The music is glorious and the performances amazing. It's something they'll be talking about years from now.
That's my two cents. (I taught 6th grade advanced children and had one little girl who I think ended up seeing it. She was a rarity, a real theater person. But, I'm thinking the high school level kids would get something out of it, too.)

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 4:30pm

i dont know if they would enjoy GG too much, seeing as they are high schooloers. a GREAT show to go see would be Hairspray! it is SO much fun, probably the most fun you can have at the theater. i promise, they'll enjoy it!

[scooter38432]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 4:35pm

I agree with HAIRSPRAY. Plus, it's got a diversity message, which is always welcomed.

A CHORUS LINE is also an excellent choice for young theater-goers. It's almost a rite of passage. If they're going to see A CHORUS LINE anywhere, at least let it be the Broadway production and not a mediocre production elsewhere.

I adore GREY GARDENS, but unless they all see the documentary first, I think it would go right over their heads.

[Julian2]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 4:40pm

High Schoolers can get Grey Gardens, its not in Russian, and they are, after all, a "senior drama group".

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 4:40pm

I didn't see the documentary before I saw the show. I went in a blank slate. Read the insert in the playbill and took it from there. (Not saying you couldn't show documentary-not a prerequisite, though.) It's special and I think they might just like it. Plus, they are, theoretically anyway, young adults. (There were college freshmen at the show when I was there-not much older-and they enjoyed it.)
I just think it'd be good to expose them to something unusual and unique. (And to two outstanding performances.)

[scooter38432]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 4:56pm

I'm all for exposing them to something unusual and unique, and of course, the performances are outstanding.

I love GREY GARDENS.

I know I wish I had seen the documentary first. In fact, now that I have, and now that I know the music more, I'll be seeing the show again on Saturday afternoon.

I know that as a high school student on a field trip, I would rather see something that I could get excited about. As wonderful as GG is, your "average" 16 or 17 year old would probably enjoy something else. (I was obssessed with SWEENEY TODD and EVITA in high school, but I was kind of a rarity, even within my drama group.)

If the kids do have an opportunity to learn about the Beales and the Kennedys prior to seeing the show, I say go for it.

You have to admit, the second act is pretty whacked (in a wonderful way), and if the kids had no knowledge of the situation, I think they'd be like "WTF?"

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 5:01pm

I agree with scooter. If you take them to GG, have them see the doc. first. I will give them a little more backround on the Beales and who they were before they see the show.

I'd say go for it and take them. You'd be exposing them to absolutley wonderful performances, and a great show.

[jess20882]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 5:14pm

My vote is for either HAIRSPRAY, A CHORUS LINE, or even possibly THE LION KING (if only for the costumes and visual effects).

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 5:25pm

i only watched 30 minutes of the doc., really didnt like it...

[sweetdisaster]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 5:33pm

I'd have to agree with most people here- stay away from the commercial or Disney shows. If it's a senior drama group, I'm sure they'd love A Chorus Line or even Hairspray. I feel like to a group of students, ACL is a classic show and entertaining.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 5:45pm

I'll go out on a limb and say 110 In The Shade. It's got a little something for everyone. And Audra is not to be missed.

GG is good too. And I'm in the "tried to watch the doc. but it did nothing for me" camp. If the kids in the group are anything like the teenagers I used to work with, if the documentary bores them, they might not want to have anything to do with the show.

Of course it does all depend on when you're coming and what's open.

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 5:54pm

I would send all of my friends and people I like to GG, and to all those who have made your life miserable, you can send them directly to a fantastic new show at the Hilton

[istillbelieve24601]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 6:02pm

I wouldn't reccomend GG unless there are a lot of high schoolers who are extremely theatrical and have interests in persuing a lifetime in musical theatre. A lot of high schoolers with a lackluster interest in theatre could be turned off to musicals entirely by something artsy they won't get like GG. Many high schoolers involved in school drama departments perform because they're good at it, not because they have a love for the theatre.

ACL may be a good show to take high schoolers to. A lot of them probably have grown up with the cast recording, especially if they dance, but never got a chance to see the original Broadway production.