Middle School Musicals

[disneyfan24601]

Posted: 8/31/13 at 8:09pm

I need suggestions for some Middle School Musicals... Please Respond!

[aaronb]

Posted: 8/31/13 at 8:20pm

When I was in middle school our drama teacher always chose "kiddy" musicals (including one she wrote herself, which featured a song to the tune of the Star Wars theme) and it made the actors feel patronized. I would suggest doing anything that a high school could do.

[all that jazz]

Posted: 8/31/13 at 8:25pm

Depending on the vocal range of your students, Into The Woods might be a great choice.

Willy Wonka Jr. is really fun as well.

[MaddieBB12]

Posted: 8/31/13 at 9:29pm

For me...
6th Grade- We did 'Grease'. Yeah, I know. Except here's how our director did it: she took the movie script, adapted it herself, and didn't purchase any sort of rights. There were like 8 songs and five or six scenes. But a week after we finished our shows, the principal asked us to perform the show 3 more times for each grade. For the first show, we cut 2 songs. For seventh, another two, until it was just four songs and two scenes. It was TERRIBLE.

7th Grade- We did a like known musical called "The Big Bad Musical" and it was actually pretty good---it was about the big bad wolf being put on trial for all his crimes. With dedication and hard workers, it could turn about to be a funny, enjoyable show, despite the bad songs.

8th Grade- We did "Annie". I was Miss Hannigan. It was a lot of fun, and everybody knows it.

Both Annie and Big Bad Musical were good experiences, and I would recommend both shows.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 8/31/13 at 9:42pm

Annie Jr

You're a Good Man Charlie Brown

State Fair

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 8/31/13 at 10:15pm

The Jr./TYA version of Seussical is actually quite good. The script and score have been adapted to a manageable length quite well without feeling like anybody is being cheated out of a full show, and the streamlining to the story only helps the show out. You can also do it with as few as 10-12 people, or adding in a full chorus to make it as big as you want/need.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 8/31/13 at 10:28pm

Joseph... Dreamcoat

[delongpre]

Posted: 8/31/13 at 11:40pm

Many moons ago in junior high I was in Oliver, Oklahoma and South Pacific. My daughter's school just did Bye, Bye Birdie and Guys and Dolls.

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 8/31/13 at 11:51pm

Did Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr. a couple of years ago and it was probably our best and most challenging. Check MTI Jr. for their entire list. G2K Rodgers and Hammerstein is their equivalent, and Tams Witmark just started to catch on with Wizard of Oz Young Performers edition, but that's their only title so far.

[FlowerChild67]

Posted: 9/1/13 at 2:47am

MTI has great shows adapted specifically for middle school students. I think the best part is that they're "real" shows that are recognizable, instead of patronizing little kid shows, like Aaron said. Instead, you have Into the Woods, The music Man, Millie, Guys and Dolls, etc. The middle school whose drama club I volunteer with frequently has kids wanting to do the shows because a relative was in a regional production, or their brother was in his high school production. It makes them feel grown up:)

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/1/13 at 5:04am

Bye Bye Birdie is a pretty great choice. Lots of roles and a big ensemble.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/1/13 at 5:18am

Once on this Island is great if you have a diverse cast.

And I'll second looking into MTI'S JR versions. They are inexpensive, and give lots of help for begining directors should you need it.

[Jon]

Posted: 9/1/13 at 6:55pm

The MTI JR shows also offer pre-recorded accompaniment on CD - a nice alternative to one piano or a really bad orchestra.

[jemjeb2]

Posted: 9/1/13 at 11:18pm

I once staged an 'adapted' version of "the pajama game" that went over quite well (if I do say so myself).

[jemjeb2]

Posted: 9/1/13 at 11:18pm

I once staged an 'adapted' version of "the pajama game" that went over quite well (if I do say so myself).

[disneyfan24601]

Posted: 9/2/13 at 9:40am

Im looking into the Jr. Shows. Which ones would be good to start off with? I was think Annie Jr or Into The Woods Jr

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/2/13 at 10:31am

It's hard to say blanketly, but those are two of my least favorites on the Jr list. They are not created equally.

Just like any show, it depends on how many you are hoping to cast, whether you have a decent number of boys, etc, how experience the director and the supporting staff are, how experienced the kids are.

Here are the titles I've liked best from the jr series:
Fiddler
Guys & Dolls
Honk
Music Man
Seussical

To be honest, i think Seussical Jr is MUCH better than the full length. (It was also a blast for all involved.)

The ones that I don't think work as well:
Beauty & the Beast
Millie
Into the Woods
Annie (But I'm not a fan of the show anyway, so perhaps not an impartial view.)

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/2/13 at 10:49am

oh, Willy Wonka Jr was pretty horrific as well.

You can get perusals so you don't have to decide sight unseen.

[disneyfan24601]

Posted: 9/2/13 at 11:29am

What about the other Jr. shows?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/2/13 at 12:32pm

I don't have any experience with the others. Sorry.

I do know that the Disney shows are much more expensive than the non-disney shows, and have other restrictions.


I also found that the other company's that do a similar thing do NOT offer nearly the package that MTI does, and their cuts are not anywhere near as thoughtful -- but it's been a long time since I've tried them.

[trentsketch]

Posted: 9/2/13 at 12:35pm

Annie, Jr. makes some really odd cuts to the music and the story feels really rushed. Like, confuse the audience rushed. "Wait a minute. Orphans aren't boys. I wanted a boy. Oh well. Annie, I want to adopt you."

[FlowerChild67]

Posted: 9/2/13 at 3:18pm

Actually, dramamama, the Disney titles have LESS restrictions- you can film them.

Perusal scripts are only ten dollars (five if digital, but you keep the paper one, whereas the digital one is deleted after a specified time slot) and I would strongly suggest you purchase one for any show you're considering. I learned this the hard way.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/2/13 at 3:45pm

My daughter was just involved in B&TB Jr, and they were told very specifically NO to videotaping....and they complained of some other things, but I don't remember what else.

[trentsketch]

Posted: 9/2/13 at 3:53pm

All of the Disney, Jr. shows have video licensing available. You just need to pay extra.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/2/13 at 4:27pm

I was strictly going on what I was told. I'm not the type to EVER do a Disney show.