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  • 1.  Good Plays For Large Casts

    Posted 07-03-2016 13:25
    Hello everyone,
    I'm a first year teacher and the school I'll be at is rather large. Our theatre program tries to give opportunities to as many students as possible so I'm looking for a drama that could allow for a larger cast. Any suggestions?

    Thanks,
    Katie Apperson

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    Katherine Apperson
    Normal IL
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  • 2.  RE: Good Plays For Large Casts

    Posted 07-04-2016 08:49
    Before settling on a large cast, you might see what the history of the auditions are. You don't want to set yourself up with a cast of 20 when only 14 usually turn out at auditions. If you are sure of your numbers then there are many great plays out there. Perhaps 12 Angry Jurors or Our Town.
    This forum is a great resource for you and please rely on us often, although traffic is slow in the summer. Welcome to the profession!

    Scott Hasbrouck
    George Washington HS
    Denver, CO

    Sent from my iPhone


    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Good Plays For Large Casts

    Posted 07-04-2016 10:14

    There have been several threads for this as we all seem to be searching for large cast shows.  When you look at the top ten produced plays for high schools, I believe so many classics are on the list because they offer large cast shows.  Accommodating as many students as possible is a great way to get to know the program and guarantee an audience.  I highly recommend in picking a large cast show, choose something with name recognition.  This will allow for easier buy in for both your students participating and community members as audience.  Large cast shows that have name recognition:

    Treasure Island

    The Three Musketeers

    Robin Hood

    The Crucible

    The Witches

    or choose a show based on historical events and pair up with the history department.  

    Again, search for all the threads on here and your list will be very healthy.  Most of my plays I direct have 20+ in the cast, so I am happy to answer any questions.

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    Jessica Harms
    Theatre Director
    Acton MA

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Good Plays For Large Casts

    Posted 07-04-2016 11:08
    Edited by James Lapan 07-04-2016 11:34

    Make a splash with Julius Caesar. Lots of great (potentially gender blind) characters, an easily expandable/contractable cast, and an accessible story. It's also a terrific election year selection. I'd be happy to share an adaptation I did for a production I directed at North Seattle College a few years back. It streamlines the battle scenes, contains the length, and focuses the ending a bit. Let me know if you're interested.

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    James Lapan
    Drama Director
    Kennedy Catholic High School
    Burien WA

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Good Plays For Large Casts

    Posted 07-05-2016 14:46

    Not previously listed very successful large-cast dramas:

    "I Never Saw Another Butterfly" (pair with "The Terezin Promise") by Celeste Raspanti mfrom Dramatic Publishing

    "Little Women of Orchard House" adapted by David Longest from Dramatic Publishing

    "The Outsiders" adapted by Christopher Sergel from Dramatic Publishing 

    "A Christmas Carol" (many versions but we used an adaptation by Michael Wilson from Dramatists Play Service that has the 3 ghosts come from street vendors that owe Scrooge money. It also comes with a great sound effects and music computer program.)

    "David and Lisa" by James Reach from Samuel French

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    Valerie Gargus
    Director
    Northern Burlington County Reg HS

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Good Plays For Large Casts

    Posted 07-06-2016 07:19

    A number of creative large-cast scripts for high school have been written by Alan Haehnel. He's got the formula for many high school situations, with more females than males, undetermined abilities, the need to please a crowd, and the ability to use imaginative play to create a theatrical piece.  I have never been dissatisfied!

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    Charles McMeekin
    Sharon VT

    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Good Plays For Large Casts

    Posted 07-07-2016 07:40

    You need to look into yourself and see what you want to direct, then determine the group you have to work with, then the space, time frames, experience levels of the base of your group and then ask more specific questions of this forum.  

    Also, what resources do you have that you could make use of... parents, other theatre adults in the community, people who are knowledgeable about your program??? 

    What is your space like?  Cafe- torium, black box, classroom, large or medium auditorium?  What do the audience attendance numbers look like for the past few years?  

    Do you have revolving budget (tix= next show's budget) or do you have a self-replenishing budget (the school gives you some money each year/show)? 

    If it were me, I would make sure to have a show that the kids and my new bosses would be pleased with the process and the results.  I would focus on setting the right tone and getting a show off of the ground successfully! 

    break a leg!

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    [Drama] [Dan] []
    [Drama Teacher/Director]
    [Dublin Coffman HS]
    [Dublin] [Ohio]

    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Good Plays For Large Casts

    Posted 07-08-2016 14:41

    All really good points made so far.  Without knowing more, I can speak to one aspect of play selection:  if you are looking to include lots of students, and possibly not make any cuts, then look for shows with an expandable cast (and also one with doubling possible, in case turnout is lower than expected). 

    Some of the school theatre classics fit this:  "A Christmas Carol" (party people, lots of bit parts, people on the street, some scripts use narrators), "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (extra fairies, people in the court), "Our Town" (townspeople). 

    Well-known titles may be a good way to get started, both for attracting students and audiences.

    We've also had success with some less-frequently-done shows:  "The Visit" by Durrenmatt (townspeople), "The Rememberer" by Steven Deitz (villagers, students), "To See the Stars" by Cynthia Mercati (striking workers, union men, narrators), and "The Hound of the Baskervilles: A Comic Thriller Starring Shirley Holmes and Jennie Watson" (lots of bit parts and group scenes).  They may not be everyone's cup of tea, but they were all successful for our school - and all can handle lots of extras.

    Good luck! 

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    Kristin Hall
    Drama Director
    Lincoln Public Schools
    Arlington MA

    Original Message


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