I had wanted to do it at the high school level when it first came out and then after discussing it with my music director and watching a former student in the show at the college level, I realized, no matter how much I like the show, it probably wouldn’t work for us.
A couple things to consider... the female lead is a very vocally challenging part ... there is a lot of music and she sings alone most of the time. And, in the script, it really doesn’t give ideas for what is meant to be happening. In the movie version there is a lot of movement and dancing around the island during those songs. If your stage/set isn’t big enough then they could turn into long scenes of standing around.
Also ... the main story line is a woman who had sex with three men in close enough proximity that she doesn’t know who the father of her child is. I’ve always kind of ignored that aspect of the show because the rest of the music and costumes and dancing are so fun ... but depending on your community there could be some opposition to teenagers portraying such situations.
And lastly, again after seeing a university teamed up with community theatre do the show, I think most high school boys would struggle to play the dads ... without looking and sounding silly ... but maybe you all have more mature male actors than I have right now lol.
Toni Thomas
English & Theatre Teacher & Director
Ogemaw Heights High School
Sent from my iPhone
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We are working on it now. You have a lot of approaches, empowering women, non-traditional family, family comes in different forms, and the strength of friends. And of course "lets dance and have fun!!"
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Steven Arrigoitia
Teacher, Middle School Musical Director/Schoreographer
Lyndhurst Board of Education
Dumont NJ
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