Middle School Show Question
Middle School Show Question
Quiche2
Broadway Star Joined: 7/20/12
#1Middle School Show Question
Posted: 11/6/12 at 4:44pm
Hey y'all. So I'm directing this year's school musical at my little brother's Middle School this year and need advice. Which shows do you think would be best for Middle Schoolers? Please consider their age (11-14), their attention span, (not big), and appropriateness. I am thinking about the following:
HOW TO SUCCEED
SEUSSICAL
SHREK
ANNIE
INTO THE WOODS
URINETOWN
HARISPRAY
AVENUE Q: SCHOOL EDITION
ELF
Also open to any suggestions. Any/all USEFULL responses are greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Theatre is my life. No one can take that away from me.
Broadway Star Joined: 12/31/69
#2Middle School Show Question
Posted: 11/6/12 at 4:50pmIs there a Urinetown JR? I saw it at a High school and parents were outraged.
Quiche2
Broadway Star Joined: 7/20/12
#2Middle School Show Question
Posted: 11/6/12 at 4:51pmOh. Really? I've never seen it, a friend of mine suggested it.
Theatre is my life. No one can take that away from me.
#3Middle School Show Question
Posted: 11/6/12 at 4:53pmSeussical would be good.
"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#4Middle School Show Question
Posted: 11/6/12 at 4:55pmI agree, Seussical is probably your best bet out of those.
Quiche2
Broadway Star Joined: 7/20/12
#5Middle School Show Question
Posted: 11/6/12 at 4:57pmI agree that Seussical is great, but it's practically all music. Most students at this school won't be able to sit through 1.5 hours of singing.
Theatre is my life. No one can take that away from me.
#6Middle School Show Question
Posted: 11/6/12 at 5:09pmI would recommend Hair School Edition.
....but the world goes 'round
ggersten
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#7Middle School Show Question
Posted: 11/6/12 at 5:14pm
You didn't say how big a cast you wanted/could have/must have.
HOW TO SUCCEED No. Not appropriate and not relatable.
SEUSSICAL Best bet.
SHREK Is this even available?
ANNIE Ego issues.
INTO THE WOODS School Edition that cuts Act 2 could be good.
URINETOWN No.
HARISPRAY Possible.
AVENUE Q: SCHOOL EDITION Don't think so.
ELF Is this even available?
Other "popular" Middle School shows around here: Guys and Dolls, Jr.; Once on this Island, Jr.;
Fiddler has a large cast.
Anything Goes can have a large cast.
temms
Broadway Star Joined: 7/21/04
#8Middle School Show Question
Posted: 11/6/12 at 5:28pm
MTI, the licensing house, offers one-hour versions of several of those titles, specifically designed for performance by Middle Schoolers. I strongly encourage you to check out the titles they offer. Seussical, Guys and Dolls, Into the Woods, and Annie are all available as well as a number of Disney titles.
Music is put into keys that are more friendly for adolescent voices, and the shows are smartly cut down. I've attached the link below.
MTI Broadway Jr.
Quiche2
Broadway Star Joined: 7/20/12
#9Middle School Show Question
Posted: 11/6/12 at 5:39pm
ggersten, MTI does liscense SHREK and ELF.
I don't know the cast size. Last year we did The Wizard of Oz, and had 22 people audition. We only used Dorothy, Scarecrow, Lion, Tinman, Wizard, Glinda, Witch of the West, and 2 Munchkins. (Toto was a stuffed dog). So essentially only 9 people of the 22 got parts. I can't predict how many will audition this year.
Theatre is my life. No one can take that away from me.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#10Middle School Show Question
Posted: 11/6/12 at 8:02pm
The Jrs are a great thing for new directors and young casts. Shrek would be a technical nightmare.
Seussical is a wonderful show for middle graders. I don't love the show, but I loved working on it and so did the kids. (Middle Graders)
The Jr version is (imho) far superior to the full length.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
ggersten
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#11Middle School Show Question
Posted: 11/7/12 at 1:00pm
The MTI site says Shrek is not available until June 2013 and ELF is "restricted".
But, I'm more concerned that you seem to want to restrict your cast size. 22 auditioned for Oz and you cast only 9? That seems counterproductive to an educational experience. With all of the opportunities for munchkins, monkeys, jitterbugs...
(FWIW, I'm with dramamama611 - go with Seussical)
Have fun with whatever you choose - and do check back in and tell us what you chose.
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#12Middle School Show Question
Posted: 11/7/12 at 1:52pmThey let another student direct the school musical?
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#13Middle School Show Question
Posted: 11/7/12 at 2:02pm
Seussical is a good choice. I also had a really great experience over the summer music directing middle school kids in a production of The Music Man Jr. Honestly, I'd lean towards one of the 60 minute Jr. shows rather than the 90 minute shows. It'll be easier on you and the kids will have less down time during rehearsal.
At that age, they just want a chance to perform. Choose a show you think they can handle that you enjoy and then sell them on how great it is as you go.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#14Middle School Show Question
Posted: 11/7/12 at 2:06pmNo offense but you're picking a musical and you aren't familiar with the musicals you are considering? How can you possibly make a decision?
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
henrikegerman
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/05
Wilmingtom
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/11
#17Middle School Show Question
Posted: 11/7/12 at 2:45pmR&H has very good student versions of STATE FAIR, OKLAHOMA!, THE KING AND I, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS and CINDERELLA.
Quiche2
Broadway Star Joined: 7/20/12
#18Middle School Show Question
Posted: 11/7/12 at 4:37pmJoe, most of these have been suggestions from other people.
Theatre is my life. No one can take that away from me.
Wynbish
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/27/12
#19Middle School Show Question
Posted: 11/7/12 at 4:51pm
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
Snoopy
Best Little Whorehouse
Wilmingtom
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/11
JRybka1611
Understudy Joined: 11/14/11
#21Middle School Show Question
Posted: 11/7/12 at 5:06pmI still think you should do the amazing off Broadway musical about politics. "Let My People Come" --
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#22Middle School Show Question
Posted: 11/7/12 at 5:13pmSo you cast only nine people in a show last year and you're considering all these large cast shows? Do you have enough African-American students for Hairspray? Are you sure you're not just making all this up?
Quiche2
Broadway Star Joined: 7/20/12
#23Middle School Show Question
Posted: 11/7/12 at 6:30pm
^^^
Yea, I'm sure I'm not making this up. The school is 40% black. We have had a high interest level this year, with lots of students asking for audition dates and what the show will be.
Theatre is my life. No one can take that away from me.
Wynbish
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/27/12
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