Sweeney Todd in High School?!

[edenespinosalover]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 6:35pm

What do you guys think about doing "Sweeney Todd" in high school?!

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 6:37pm

HA!

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 6:39pm

It's VERY difficult to put on with normal actors, and it would be almost impossible with high schoolers, unless your high school has a great drama department. I'd pick something less challenging. Updated On: 10/24/04 at 06:39 PM

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 6:43pm

Screw the acting
how many high schoolers do you know who can pull of the practically operatic score?
I apologize being so blunt, I just think Into The Woods is probably a more approipriate show for high school
it's still Sondheim, but it's singable Updated On: 10/24/04 at 06:43 PM

[edenespinosalover]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 6:43pm

Well, I don't go to a performing arts high school, but we do put on 9 shows a year. (5 musicals and 4 straight shows). Our department is made up of students from 5 different schools in my county so we get a lot of talent to choose from. We do have quite a bit of talent at our high school, but I was just wondering what everyone else's thoughts were on it. (We actually just got done doing "Parade" 2 years ago, GovernorSlaton. I played Frankie. We actually got to open the 2003 International Thespian Festival)

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 6:48pm

It just depends on the talent pool. MY high school couldn't do it, but there are a lot of talented kids out there. If they can do Les Miz and Jekyll & Hyde... Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett are not that much of a step up vocally and could maybe be done by some trained seniors...

[Plum]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 6:52pm

That is some seriously difficult music to sing, from Pirelli and the Beadle to Johanna, the Beggar Woman, and the ensemble members, all of whom have to hit big-time high notes. Not to mention what the pit orchestra would have to play. It would be extremely- and I mean extremely- ambitious for a high school to do. I'm not going to say it's impossible, but...geez.

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 7:00pm

Parade is hard, but it's certainly not as tough as Sweeney. The sets, music, orchestra, acting, lighting, costumes, pretty much everything has to be top-notch for it to be successful.

[edenespinosalover]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 7:04pm

Well I'm hoping it's gonna be successful. We've had rehearsal for the past 2 months and will be rehearsing until it opens in January. And we've known about the casting and everything since February. SO...Everything's been coming together pretty well. We did get someone from Milwaukee to do the sets. And a lot of the people who played for "Parade" from Chicago are going to be playing again for us for "Sweeney". So I'm thinking everything should be top-notch.

[pab]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 7:09pm

"If they can do Les Miz and Jekyll & Hyde... Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett are not that much of a step up vocally"

And if you believe that I have a bridge that I'm willing to sell you at a very low price.

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 8:07pm

I've seen a high school do a better "Sweeney" production than any of the colleges I've seen do it. I've also seen high schools screw up on easy stuff. There's a tremendous range.

[nychick9876]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 9:03pm

well since we're on the subject, what are some good shows for high schools? we've done annie, wizard of oz, and annie get your gun. we like to stick to musicals and some ideas would be really helpful. thanks!

[timote316]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 9:53pm

nychick: if its not overdone in your area, Grease and Footloose are like the ideal high school shows. however, those shows are WAY overdone (here anyway), so it may be wiser to go with older shows, like the ones you've done.

if you have a very strong female soprano, and lots of guys, Joseph is a good one for high schools.

I personally think shows about teens or younger people are better for high schools, not like Sweeney Todd.

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 9:56pm

under no circumstances should there be a TEVYE younger than 35...ever. and 35 only if he's a great character actor.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 10:06pm

As you can tell from my icon, I love "Sweeney Todd." But even if this were "Sunday in the Park with George" we were talking about (a Sondheim show I don't like...oooh, can't wait to hear the response on that one), I'd say the same thing. It's not a show that's appropriate for young people. Even if you have really good actor/singers, no one that young would sound good singing that music, and no one that young would be watchable playing those characters. Besides, who wants to watch kids committing murder onstage? In times like these, I think some people would take offense to that...

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 10:12pm

"If they can do Les Miz and Jekyll & Hyde... Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett are not that much of a step up vocally"

Was that a joke?

All-in-all, SWEENEY should not be done at a high school.

[Amneris]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 10:16pm

my high school did Sweeney when I was a freshman, and we pulled it off. I'd say it was more a community theater type production then a HS show.

[morosco]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 10:50pm

[Mattio98]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 10:54pm

'nuff said

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 10:55pm

Ummm...WOW.

[edenespinosalover]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 10:57pm

...yeah

[edenespinosalover]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 10:59pm

Here's another discussion question...What do you think about performing "Sweeney" modern-day?! We're still not completely sure about this, but our director is kinda steering toward the idea. REMEMBER: Everyone's entitled to their own opinion Updated On: 10/24/04 at 10:59 PM

[Plum]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 11:11pm

Um. Because all the wigmakers still get their hair from Bedlam?

[sean martin]

Posted: 10/25/04 at 12:34pm

You could do it modern day, but why? The whole point of the show is an hommage to those 19th century over-the-top melodramas, theatre that's very much of a particular period. It'd be like doing EDWIN DROOD in modern dress -- sure, you could, but it wouldn't be the same show.

[rKrispyt]

Posted: 10/25/04 at 12:39pm

hahahahahahaha

A high school program I used to work for is doing this show. rehearsing now, goes up in jan or dec.

I just shake my head.