Open Forum

Hello, friends. I could use some help in learning more about affordable resources for shoes. I know we can shop at thrift stores, eBay, and rummage sales for one-offs for a single character, but I'm always stuck when we need multiples of one kind of shoe, especially when it's NOT for a musical. (Example: ten kids need basic colored canvas shoes of the same color to be funny dwarves, or twelve kids all need basic black dressy shoes that look the same, etc.). I don't know much about character shoes, but I could use a primer about what to look for and pricing those from someone who has some experience. Our budget is not large, so if students are not dancing in them, does anyone have a great resource for really inexpensive shoes of the same type?  Thank you so much!


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Julie Hanisch
English/Drama Teacher
Mukwonago High School
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Original Message:
Sent: 10/22/2021 1:43:00 PM
From: Julie Hanisch
Subject: Need help with shoe recommendations

Hello, friends. I could use some help in learning more about affordable resources for shoes. I know we can shop at thrift stores, eBay, and rummage sales for one-offs for a single character, but I'm always stuck when we need multiples of one kind of shoe, especially when it's NOT for a musical. (Example: ten kids need basic colored canvas shoes of the same color to be funny dwarves, or twelve kids all need basic black dressy shoes that look the same, etc.). I don't know much about character shoes, but I could use a primer about what to look for and pricing those from someone who has some experience. Our budget is not large, so if students are not dancing in them, does anyone have a great resource for really inexpensive shoes of the same type?  Thank you so much!


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Julie Hanisch
English/Drama Teacher
Mukwonago High School
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Generally speaking I expect kids to purchase their own shoes … unless it's something they would never wear or use again (Lurch in The Addams Family for example). My philosophy is that if a student were playing a sport a parent would think nothing of buying the required footwear. So when we did Seussical and all of The Who's needed certain colored canvas sneakers it was up to them to procure them in the color that would suit their costume and that they would wear again. 

I also require female actors to have character shoes and all dancers to have jazz shoes when necessary for musicals. The character shoes we use in both straight plays and for festival competition wear and some girls use for choir performances also … I buy them through Discount Dance and with a teacher account you can get Theatricals brand for around $20 and Capezio for around $30 (pretty reasonable for a shoe that can in theory be used for multiple events for four years). I encourage the kids who plan to stay involved to get the Capezios as they hold up better. They are a great company to work with - especially if you take the time to set up a teacher account. 

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Toni Thomas
English Teacher, Theatre Director
Ogemaw Heights High School
MI
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-22-2021 13:43
From: Julie Hanisch
Subject: Need help with shoe recommendations

Hello, friends. I could use some help in learning more about affordable resources for shoes. I know we can shop at thrift stores, eBay, and rummage sales for one-offs for a single character, but I'm always stuck when we need multiples of one kind of shoe, especially when it's NOT for a musical. (Example: ten kids need basic colored canvas shoes of the same color to be funny dwarves, or twelve kids all need basic black dressy shoes that look the same, etc.). I don't know much about character shoes, but I could use a primer about what to look for and pricing those from someone who has some experience. Our budget is not large, so if students are not dancing in them, does anyone have a great resource for really inexpensive shoes of the same type?  Thank you so much!


------------------------------
Julie Hanisch
English/Drama Teacher
Mukwonago High School
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10/22/2021 1:43:00 PM
From: Julie Hanisch
Subject: Need help with shoe recommendations

Hello, friends. I could use some help in learning more about affordable resources for shoes. I know we can shop at thrift stores, eBay, and rummage sales for one-offs for a single character, but I'm always stuck when we need multiples of one kind of shoe, especially when it's NOT for a musical. (Example: ten kids need basic colored canvas shoes of the same color to be funny dwarves, or twelve kids all need basic black dressy shoes that look the same, etc.). I don't know much about character shoes, but I could use a primer about what to look for and pricing those from someone who has some experience. Our budget is not large, so if students are not dancing in them, does anyone have a great resource for really inexpensive shoes of the same type?  Thank you so much!


------------------------------
Julie Hanisch
English/Drama Teacher
Mukwonago High School
------------------------------

FYI, marching band may have  a line on some styles.

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[William] [Myatt] [Director of Theatre]

[Pleasant Valley High School]

[myattw@pleasval.k12.ia.us][563-332-5151][Bettendorf][IA][USA]
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-22-2021 13:43
From: Julie Hanisch
Subject: Need help with shoe recommendations

Hello, friends. I could use some help in learning more about affordable resources for shoes. I know we can shop at thrift stores, eBay, and rummage sales for one-offs for a single character, but I'm always stuck when we need multiples of one kind of shoe, especially when it's NOT for a musical. (Example: ten kids need basic colored canvas shoes of the same color to be funny dwarves, or twelve kids all need basic black dressy shoes that look the same, etc.). I don't know much about character shoes, but I could use a primer about what to look for and pricing those from someone who has some experience. Our budget is not large, so if students are not dancing in them, does anyone have a great resource for really inexpensive shoes of the same type?  Thank you so much!


------------------------------
Julie Hanisch
English/Drama Teacher
Mukwonago High School
------------------------------

For unbranded stuff, nice stuff is available at the Hypermarkets like Local Carrefour and A-Mart, RT Mart e.t.c. something like Canada's Metro used to be. You guys can contact this online store for this purpose or for guidelines only

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Frederick Harley
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-22-2021 13:43
From: Julie Hanisch
Subject: Need help with shoe recommendations

Hello, friends. I could use some help in learning more about affordable resources for shoes. I know we can shop at thrift stores, eBay, and rummage sales for one-offs for a single character, but I'm always stuck when we need multiples of one kind of shoe, especially when it's NOT for a musical. (Example: ten kids need basic colored canvas shoes of the same color to be funny dwarves, or twelve kids all need basic black dressy shoes that look the same, etc.). I don't know much about character shoes, but I could use a primer about what to look for and pricing those from someone who has some experience. Our budget is not large, so if students are not dancing in them, does anyone have a great resource for really inexpensive shoes of the same type?  Thank you so much!


------------------------------
Julie Hanisch
English/Drama Teacher
Mukwonago High School
------------------------------