Easier Musicals to direct

I may be getting a job as a theatre instructor at a High School for this upcoming year. Although I am certified to teach, I really only want to do it for a year or so to get enough money for graduate school.
The school wants to do a musical, so I'm looking for shows that will be easy to direct.
I don't want something too challenging because I'm not a "director" in the sense that I feel it's my calling. Plus, being a public school I see myself having to worry about all other aspects of the show like costume, set, ect.
So I'm wanting some advice on shows that will be easier for me to direct. Nothing too complicated, no HUGE dance shows, things like that, not even shows that require GREAT acting :)

The only ones that come to mind so far are:
Damn Yankees
Once Upon a Mattress

Oh! Don't suggest Seussical! I've done the show once and HATE it! I don't want to be involved in it again :)
Any Ideas?

Mattress is actually a boring show to do. Other options are Guys & Dolls, Footloose, Oklahoma.

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Maybe, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown? A lot of musicals that I can think of that don't have a lot of dancing are very dramatic and would require good actors and musicals that wouldn't necessarily require good actors tend to have a lot of dancing.

Updated On: 7/18/08 at 12:00 AM

Damn Yankees isn't a HUGE dance show, imo.

R and H seems like it maybe too difficult in terms of acting.

Charlie Brown and Fantastics are too small, I would think.

Little Shop of Horrors maybe?

my first thought was you're a good man charlie brown. cinderella is pretty simple though too

What about "Working"? Not sure if the rights are available since they are revising it at present.

'Mattress" seems like a good choice too.

CapnHook-
In a TX High School you would NEVER get L5Y done.

MTVMANN-
From someone who did mainly RnH in High School (Working being the exception), it's not a challenge acting wise. Just remember, they are in High School, they are "training" or doing it for fun.

If you are worried about the talent pool, wait to announce it until you get in the classroom a week or two. Be prepared to have to take something less well known though, on the off-chance someone in the district decides to do it.

I'll also echo Working as an EASY show to do. Mostly monologues, so you can send kids off with an ASM/SM/AD, build a unit set that rotates, maybe a wagon or two, and the costumes/lighting are a breeze. And, you only need piano accompaniment, AND you're set. No dancing either. The monologues give the kids a chance to really show their stuff, and you don't have to worry about someone forgetting major amounts of blocking. Plus, with TX's No Pass-No Play, it's easy to just remove a monologue versus re-casting. (That's how we went from a full cast to 25)

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Schoolhouse Rock LIVE! is extremely easy.

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Try DO PATENT LEATHER SHOES REALLY REFLECT UP?

There's also high school versions of G&S shows like PIRATES OF PENZANCE...we did that in HS and it went over very well.

Mattress is a big costume show.
Les Mis? One of the most difficult shows to direct. And if you don't know the kids you would have no way of knowing if you would have the cast. Male heavy
Guys and Dolls: challenging to choreograph, and Male heavy
Honk!: while it's sweet, I don't think it would appeal to HS kids.

Here's an oldie...but fun and easy to cast/direct/perform: Li'l Abner

I have been a HS and MS drama teacher/middle school teacher for 15 years so I've done GADS of shows (2 musicals a year). Feel free to pm me if you have specific questions.

I'll post more as I think of them.

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