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  • 1.  Full Length Shows with Middle Schoolers

    Posted 03-18-2017 03:29
    Hello all,

    I am wondering what full length musicals you have done with a 6-8th grade cast?  What changes to music did you have to make in order to make them workable for your cast?

    Thanks
    Dee

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    Dee Norman
    American School of Dubai
    MS Drama
    dnorman@asdubai.org
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  • 2.  RE: Full Length Shows with Middle Schoolers

    Posted 03-19-2017 10:24
    MTI jr shows are great if you want some meat with your show. We loved doing ONCE ON THIS ISLAND a couple of years ago.

    For straight plays, Theatrefolk has some really good scripts. 



    ------------------------------
    Keith Rollins
    Drama Teacher
    Dalton Public Schools - Dalton Middle School
    Dalton GA
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Full Length Shows with Middle Schoolers

    Posted 03-20-2017 10:39
    Hi,

        I just retired after 40 years of directing drama at the middle and high school levels. The following are the full length musicals which we did at the middle school:

         You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown
         Oklahoma!
         Annie
         Oliver!
         The Wizard of Oz
         Cinderella
         The Sound of Music
         Bye, Bye, Birdie
         Children of Eden
         Disney's Beauty and the Beast
         Peter Pan (with flying by ZFX)
         The Music Man
         Cats
         Willy Wonka
         Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
         The Secret Garden
         Seussical
         Disney's My Son Pinocchio, Geppetto's Musical Tale
         A Little Princess
        Disney's The Little Mermaid
         
         We stayed away from "junior" versions since they were not full length, and we wanted to challenge our performers.

         We also transposed the music when necessary (which was infrequent).

         It all starts with a very basic thought: believe in your performers and let them know that you believe in them!

         Yes, these are enormous undertakings which require enormous effort, work, and resources.

         We are a small Catholic school in Michigan, totally self-supporting.

        The rewards are great!

    Break a leg!

    Tom Cole
    Bay City All Saints, Michigan

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    Thomas Cole
    Bay City MI
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Full Length Shows with Middle Schoolers

    Posted 03-21-2017 05:26
    Thank you so much.  I am not afraid of doing a full length, but was concerned about the vocal limitations with baritones and such.  I appreciate your help.

    I want to do Bugsy Malone but I work in Dubai and it is not available outside of the US and Canada :(

    Thanks again!!

    ------------------------------
    Dee Norman
    American School of Dubai
    MS Drama
    dnorman@asdubai.org
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Full Length Shows with Middle Schoolers

    Posted 03-20-2017 11:38
    Busy Malone is a little longer that the Jr. version.  Fun show to do with the splurge guns.

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    David Kramer
    Mt Sinai NY
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    Original Message


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