Show choices for a mixed bag

so there's a theater company that is struggling to decide a show/musical to do next year because their usual members and people who come and audition are a mixed bag of sorts. Not great singers, not great dancers, not great actors...


what shows can you suggest they do that will
1- bring in people to see it/popular enough to draw interest
2- be easy to do but can display the best potential in a cast

other than Grease.

Seussical or Disney' Beauty and the Beast.

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What about Avenue Q? It has easy songs, no choreography, you can make funny voices/singing, and the puppets will do all the acting!

I think taboo123 meant that they're just not great performers. They may be able to sing, dance or act, but only to a certain extent. They're probably not trained, I guess.

But I think it would be fun for them to do Avenue Q, because it's fun, silly and energetic.

Taboo, I would think the answer to your question depends more on the specific qualities of the people you expect are going to audition and what kinds of roles they might do a good or at least a decent, even if not a great, job with. It's a casting question that can only be answered with more information about who these people are. Their personalities, speaking voices, looks, etc. It can certainly be relatively enjoyable to see a show with people who are very well suited for the roles they are playing even if those people aren't great actors, dancers or singers; put differently, it's certainly a more palatable experience than seeing them take on roles that they aren't particularly right for. And it's certainly a lot more comfortable for the amateurs (a term I use with respect) themselves.

But it's very hard to answer the question without more information about them as individuals.

Certainly, there are professionals, even celebrities who aren't particularly great performers (especially on stage). Your question isn't all that different from the one the Weisslers ask when they have one available who wants to do one of their shows. What role might this person (relatively speaking) be a fun fit for.

Community theaters often choose shows because they know their regulars are right for them, whether or not their regulars are great performers.

Updated On: 5/26/13 at 07:56 AM

So no one should do something just because they love it? HOgwash. They don't need to be stellar just to do something they love.

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>> Yes I go its a community theatre. But I am not sure why you would to something you are not good at.

Because it's a community theater and the "talent" is always dependent on the community. Community theaters don't always produce a show because their pool of participants is exceptionally talented. (Although I've seen some really competitive community theater troupes that DO have some really good up-and-comers.)

Many community theater troupes have adopted the model of requiring paid membership because of the fact that if they didn't, they wouldn't get their money back in ticket sales.

Given what the OP wrote about the level of talent involved, it seems like they're seeking to find a show that will please an audience (and fill the seats), even if the talent involved isn't really "audience pleasing". ...not sure that's a realistic goal.

Maybe it would be more beneficial for all involved to look at the reasons your troupe exists in the first place (to make money? to have fun? etc...), and then pick a show based on that criteria. If the audience shows up, they show up. If they don't, they don't.

Updated On: 5/26/13 at 09:51 AM

Lord, you are clueless.

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What about Hello Dolly? If you can find a legit soprano for Irene, or even a mezzo, the rest don't really have to be great singers, they just need a lot of personality.

But I agree with everyone else, we need more information in order to give you more useful suggestions.

"If the actors can't act, how will the puppets be able to? You've actually just made their job HARDER."

I don't think so. I don't know about you, but when I saw Avenue Q, I was paying more attention to the puppets with their cartoony voices, rather than the actors controlling them. It's not that hard, anyone can put on a sock puppet and do it.

Avenue Q
Rock of Ages
American Idiot
Godspell
Hair
Hairspray
Mamma Mia

These could be good because they usually consist of a group of people singing together and creating a lively energy. Plus the songs are contemporary, and not Sondheim-y at all.

BroadwayStar4, Mamma Mia! and Rock of Ages are not yet available for public licensing because they are still on Broadway.

Updated On: 5/26/13 at 06:26 PM

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