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Best Comedies for High School

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#1

Best Comedies for High School

Posted: 6/14/04 at 6:59pm

Hm, well our school is attempting to decide on what show to do next school year for the Fall Drama. Of course, the show can be a comedy. In fact, we had a really serious show this past year so we are looking to do something fun and comedic.

Two years ago we performed Rumors by Neil Simon and it was a big hit and a lot of people really enjoyed it. What are some of the other really great comedies out there that don't contain a huge cast of people?

My director wants something of a murder mystery comedy, but I suppose anything will do. Any Suggestions?

#2

re: Best Comedies for High School

Posted: 6/14/04 at 7:11pm

Are you looking for a play or a musical? I hear that Noises Off is hilarious. But if you are looking for a musical, it opens up another book.

"First up was Max who sang "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" [...] I haven't seen that big of a reaction to a stair descent since Audra left the attic in Ragtime." --Seth Rudetsky

#3

re: Best Comedies for High School

Posted: 6/14/04 at 7:12pm

Can't go wrong with Simon. Lost in Yonkers is funny. And so is Brighton Beach Memoirs

#4

re: Best Comedies for High School

Posted: 6/14/04 at 7:18pm

Ken Ludwig's Lend Me a Tenor is a fun show about mistaken identity and stuff. We did it last spring and it was a big big hit!! It has 8 cast members and they're all about equal, except the two leading men. Check it out!

No Day But Today

#5

re: Best Comedies for High School

Posted: 6/14/04 at 7:26pm

Supposedly 'Lend Me a Tenor' is too sexually. I think we wanted to do that last year. I have yet to see it, so I'm not sure. Does it have a lot of sex stuff in it?

#6

re: Best Comedies for High School

Posted: 6/14/04 at 7:52pm

HMMM what kind of comedy are you looking for...classical? contemporary?
Classical-Moliere, Wilde etc. I have seen high schools do an incredible job with some Shaw plays esp. "Arms and the Man" I think it depends mostly on what kind of talent pool you are working with ie: This year I almost cried laughing myself to death at a HS production of "Arsenic and Old Lace"because the girls were absolutely hilarious, and quite honestly born to play crazy old women....incredible.
Contemporary-There are many but I must say I prefer more classical comedies @ high school age. The contemp. pieces often contain a lot of potty mouth and dirty humor , that can go oh so wrong in a setting where many of the peole aren't fully matured.

you think you know but you have no idea.....

#7

re: Best Comedies for High School

Posted: 6/14/04 at 8:58pm

My high school did 'Lend Me A Tenor' for last year's fall play, and althoug I've never seen it I heard it was fabulous. If the kids in your school can act, then sure, go for it. It just needs talent to work for high school, that's my personal opinion. Be willing to go all out.

You know it and you want it... you just can't believe you've got it.

#8

re: Best Comedies for High School

Posted: 6/14/04 at 9:03pm

We're willing to go out, its just our stuffy school board and principal that are the problem!

We have generally girls who try out for the shows. We have 3 or 4 guys who are decent enough and who try out.

#9

re: Best Comedies for High School

Posted: 6/14/04 at 9:08pm

Inspecting Carol.

That has to be the most fun show I've ever done. It's also one of the funnest shows I've ever witnessed. It really is hilarious. It'll have the audience peeing their pants, trust me. And the role I played, Kate, was originally the male character named Kevin Emery. Lots of the roles are interchangeable, so not to worry. It's great. And hardly sexual at all. Stuffy board people would love it.

You know it and you want it... you just can't believe you've got it.

#10

re: Best Comedies for High School

Posted: 6/14/04 at 9:18pm

It seems really funny from what I've just researched on it. But it seems that there are a lot of male parts? Can they easily be interchanged?

#11

re: Best Comedies for High School

Posted: 6/14/04 at 9:21pm

I second Noises Off, even though it requires a small, EXTREMELY talented cast.

#12

re: Best Comedies for High School

Posted: 6/14/04 at 9:21pm

Give me a list of the characters, and I will let you know the interchangeable ones, since I really can't remember right now. My brain is scrambled.

You know it and you want it... you just can't believe you've got it.

#13

re: Best Comedies for High School

Posted: 6/14/04 at 9:21pm

The Vagina Monologues

BSoBW2: I punched Sondheim in the face after I saw Wicked and said, "Why couldn't you write like that!?"

#14

re: Best Comedies for High School

Posted: 6/14/04 at 9:22pm

I actually just saw Noises Off at a local theatre not too long ago and it was incredible! My choral teacher, who builds our sets, mentioned that show.

To be honest, however, I don't think that our talent pool would be able to handle repeating an entire act behind a wall while the actions of the second act occurs in front of the flats. Not to mention all the switching around. Plus, we couldn't make a two story set piece either. It would be chaos!

Someday I would love to be in it, though.

#15

re: Best Comedies for High School

Posted: 6/14/04 at 11:07pm

We did Rumors this past season at my school, but the play that pretty much stood in second place was Ken Ludwig's "Moon Over Buffalo," which is absolutely hilarious. It's 4M/4F. 2 of the males are big roles, 1 is medium, and 1 is pretty small. And then 3 of the females are pretty big, plus one smaller female role. I loved doing Rumors, but I think it'd be a blast to do Moon Over Buffalo someday.

#16

re: Best Comedies for High School

Posted: 6/14/04 at 11:17pm

SOMETHING'S AFOOT, a musical spoof of murder mysteries.

THE FRONT PAGE, crackling dramedy with lotsa great roles for men.

Sondheim's and Firth's play, GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER, a mystery (I don'r remember if there's anything inappropriate for high-schoolers)

WAIT UNTIL DARK--check out the movie with Audrey Hepburn

AN INSPECTOR CALLS by J.B. PRIESTLEY, sort of a metaphysical thriller

ACCOMPLICE, a comedy-thriller by Rupert Holmes, who also wrote the interactive musical, THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, which has several alternate endings, depending on who the audience selects as the murderer at any given performance. A lot of fun for cast and patrons.

Updated On: 6/14/04 at 11:17 PM

#17

re: Best Comedies for High School

Posted: 6/14/04 at 11:17pm

I have seen several high schools pull off the comedy "Dearly Departed" very well. It is a great and hilarious play with a variety of roles. However, some high school kids will have to be elders in the show.

http://www.glamsmash.com/ - Glamsmash Productions, a video production company in the heart of New York City

#18

re: Best Comedies for High School

Posted: 6/14/04 at 11:57pm

Noises Off! is a fantastically funny show.

My HS did Lend Me a Tenor when I was there and I didn't see it but it was supposed to be great.

Another really funny show is Simon's Fools and you don't see too many people doing that...

And hang on, when did you win the discus?

#19

re: Best Comedies for High School

Posted: 6/15/04 at 12:08am

I jsut finished highschool and the musicals that we have done in the past 2 years were comedies. You should try Once Upon a Mattress and if you dont have that many guys it is ok becuase u only need about 5-6 good guys. I played the King and it was such a good time it was hysterical. We also jsut finished Man of La Mancha and though it has a little bit of everythng if u play some of the characters right it can read as a real funny comedy.

No Other Road.. No Other Way.. No Day But Today! Live Dirty, Play Dirrty, I am DIRRTY!

#20

re: Best Comedies for High School

Posted: 6/15/04 at 12:09am

"The Curious Savage" is a great high school choice. We did it my junior year and I think it was the best production we did while I was there. It's about a wealthy elderly woman who checks herself into a crazy house to keep her money-grubbing stepchildren at bay, and makes friends with the other patients. It's very funny and poignant and makes a perfect choice for a high school production.

http://community.livejournal.com/ltd_brands_suck/

#21

re: Best Comedies for High School

Posted: 6/15/04 at 12:25am

I second 'Arsenic & Old Lace'. Hilarious!! Also 'Fools' by Neil Simon is good. We also did a farce called 'Bullshot Crummond'. We just didn't say the inappropriate lines and the story still works fine. Check it out.

#22

re: Best Comedies for High School

Posted: 6/15/04 at 12:32am

Ohhh Arsenic and Old Lace is one of my favorites, I can't believe I forgot to say that one.

And hang on, when did you win the discus?

#23

re: Best Comedies for High School

Posted: 6/15/04 at 1:39am

We did "Daddy's Dyin' Who's got the Will" and it was funny. This year we did an audience particpation murder mystery this year with prizes for those who solved the murder. It was fun, you went out before curtain and at intermission to be interviewed in character. However, the script was weak and the killer is announced in one word and if you missed it, you thought his sister did it. Oh well. It brought in interest.

#24

re: Best Comedies for High School

Posted: 6/15/04 at 8:15am

You Can't Take It With You --- one unit set and a good-sized cast with many character parts.

#25

re: Best Comedies for High School

Posted: 6/15/04 at 8:36am

Last year, we did 'Lend Me a Tenor' and it was really great. I would also recommend 'The Foreigner'. It was extremely funny.

"And it's mean and ugly..." NPH describing the world in 'Take me to the world' from Evening Primrose

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