Catholic High School Musical Choices

[cwoodside]

Posted: 6/24/19 at 6:48pm

Hello Everyone,



I recently inherited the drama program at the Catholic High School I work at. We are facing quite a shortage of kids, only about 7-10 right now, so we are considering merging with the middle school just to get some bodies on stage, just for context when thinking about suggestions.


Today, I suggested Legally Blonde, but the school shut it down because of it being a Catholic school and the Gay or European song, which I understand. I am struggling to find a show that is going to be entertaining for the kids to increase the participation among student body that will also be acceptable content wise for the school.


I was looking at the Superman musical that is on Tams Witmark. I know its not that well known (and the score gets some mixed reviews) but I figured the name superman would at least get people interested. Is this appropriate for a Catholic high school, and by extension, middle schoolers to join in? Anything in the content that would even potentially be problematic?


Apart from Superman, I am also open to suggestions. Let me know!

[Andres_123]

Posted: 6/24/19 at 6:55pm

Seussical, Godspell , any disney show, 

[VotePeron]

Posted: 6/24/19 at 6:57pm

Off the top of my head, I'd look into Peter and the Starcatcher. It's a play, has some music, can be done with 12 people, and everyone loves Peter Pan.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 6/24/19 at 7:03pm

The Fantastiks

Little Shop of Horrors

 

[santeFEEE]

Posted: 6/24/19 at 7:08pm

To spark more interest in the drama program, choose a well known show. For example if you were to choose The Little Mermaid many more kids would audition, if you are up to it almost any Disney show will spark some buzz within your school. Some other titles that could work for any school are Annie, Peter Pan, Oliver!, and Music Man. If you would like to reflect on the religious aspect of your school some great shows would be godspell or children of eden.

If you were to merge with the middle school, I believe the perfect choice would be Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame, If you have 3 strong males, 1-2 strong females it should work. The middle schoolers could be gypsies, solidiers, choir or even part of the congregation if there are some strong middle schoolers. The show also reflects on religion. There is some strong language in this. The word wh*** is thrown around a few times but it's nothing a lyric change can't fix. Best luck to you, I hope you find a good show!

[cwoodside]

Posted: 6/24/19 at 7:12pm

@SanteFEEE are you referring to the Disney version of Hunchback? Im surprised it uses the word whore, but you are right it can be easily changed.

Also to everyone, I do appreciate the suggestions and will look into all of them. That said, does anyone have feedback on Superman specifically? Im just curious

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 6/24/19 at 7:26pm

A high school drama teacher told me, "When in doubt, Into the Woods." The only objection is I know some religious schools find witches pagan and won't allow it. 

[VivianDarkbloom2]

Posted: 6/24/19 at 7:46pm

I like Superman’s score. I was a Catholic school kid and I know this can be a tough nut to crack; for example we were banned from doing “Lucky Stiff” because my friend and I would have had to do a scene in bed together.

Singin’ In the Rain?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/24/19 at 8:06pm

If you are a multicultural school, Once on This Island. Seussical is another great choice.

[comets]

Posted: 6/24/19 at 8:48pm

My Catholic high school did Assassins and Les Miserables. Looking back, I'm not sure how they got away with that. 

 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 6/24/19 at 8:50pm

Superman has a few good songs —but the kids (and the audience) will be bored stiff.

[persephone88]

Posted: 6/24/19 at 8:56pm

The King and I might be good - only a few male singers needed, has loads of girls playing the chorus of wives and you can use younger kids for the children.

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 6/24/19 at 9:15pm

comets said: "My Catholic high school did Assassins and Les Miserables. Looking back, I'm not sure how they got away with that.

"

I mean, Les Mis has some good messages in it that align greatly with a lot of Christian beliefs, so that one doesn't seem like a stretch, imo.

OP, I'd recommend Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. High schools in my town do it all the time, and the kids always have a lot of fun with it!

[Valentina3]

Posted: 6/24/19 at 9:27pm

Fun Home 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/24/19 at 9:53pm

As mentioned above the Superman musical would probably appeal more to adults than kids. It’s really more of a work place comedy. Most of the show and songs take place at the Daily Planet and don’t involve Superman just Clark Kent. It’s a fun show though it’s just probably not the right choice in this instance.

[KBPT1998]

Posted: 6/24/19 at 10:08pm

Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?

Clue

Godspell

[whatdoesntkillme]

Posted: 6/24/19 at 10:08pm

What about Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up??

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 6/24/19 at 10:16pm

Valentina3 said: "Fun Home"

I assume you’re being sarcastic, if not I think the character of a closeted older man would hit just a wee bit too close to home for the priests at the school. LOL ... speaking as someone who in my pre-atheist days worked in a Catholic rectory, oh the stories I could tell.

[David10086]

Posted: 6/24/19 at 10:31pm

"Carrie: The Musical"

or....

"Grease" 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 6/24/19 at 10:33pm

A lot of good suggestions here.

I am also the drama teacher at a small school with lots of Catholics, as well as Evangelicals and Mormons. You will indeed need to stick mostly to classics (shows written no later than the 1960’s) and Disney shows (although the latter tend to be very demanding in terms of costumes and sets).

Feel free to PM me if you need additional advice. The Fantasticks sounds like your best bet though. Do you teach curricular drama classes as well? I can help you avoid some mines in the minefield of choosing theater pieces for a conservative community.

[Madison7]

Posted: 6/24/19 at 10:40pm

If you still need a show with a small cast, Little Women would be a good choice. 

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 6/24/19 at 10:46pm

Have you thought about a stripped down version of Cats? Nothing objectionable in the libretto.

[Cesare2]

Posted: 6/24/19 at 11:05pm

I went to a Catholic Jesuit high school.  I played a musical instrument and was in the orchestra for some other Catholic schools as well.  I remember doing WEST SIDE STORY, SOUTH PACIFIC, FINIAN'S RAINBOW, CAMELOT, HALF A SIXPENCE, OLIVER!, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN ("I'm an Indian Too" was cut), MAME, and MAN OF LA MANCHA. I remember other Catholic high schools at the time doing LITTLE MARY SUNSHINE, FLOWER DRUM SONG(!), HELLO DOLLY1, THE KING AND I, DAMN YANKEES, and OKLAHOMA!  Okay, this was a while back. 

If you're only working with a small group of students THE FANTASTCKS is a great show.  IMHO, the less well-known GOD BLESS YOU MR ROSEWATER is another good choice.with a good message.

My alma mater recently did THE WIZ, even though I'm guessing most of the cast was probably Caucasian.

I saw the Encores SUPERMAN.  I think it would be hard to pull off, and the portrayal of the villainous Lings is not very PC.

[binau]

Posted: 6/25/19 at 3:49am

I can’t wait until a religious high school tried to perform the Book Of Mormon one day. I want to be front row center.

Good on you for trying to advocate for Legally Blonde. Hang in there!

[MrsSallyAdams]

Posted: 6/25/19 at 6:38am

Superman only has two principal female roles, Lois and Sidney, though some productions have gender swapped the villians Dr. Sedgewick and Father Ling.

The Lings are a Chinese crime family who tour the U.S. as acrobats. Their material is mildly offensive. The television special changed them to Russian mobsters but the published script offers no such alternative.

The raciest number is Sidney's "You Got Possibilities," which she sings while attempting to seduce Clark Kent. "Relax sweetheart, I'm not gonna bite ya... Yet."

Max Menken tries to seduce Lois with a rather tame song "You're the Woman for the Man" and then later sings a vaguely homoerotic duet with Dr. Sedgewick "You've Got What I Need Baby."