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  • 1.  8th grade play

    Posted 11-27-2016 11:45
    Last year we did And Then There Were None for the annual 8th grade play, which was fabulous.  I usually try to to alternate a comedy and mystery, but I'm having a hard time finding a good comedy for my 5 girls and 6 or 7 boys.  I often use a few kids from other grades so I'm not strictly limited to a play for 11 (and I do gender bending when needed, casting a girl in a boys part, etc).  I need a good play that will appeal to 8th graders but is appealing to older kids to see as well.  I could do another mystery as long as it's very different from an Agatha Christie.  Thoughts?



    Karen L. Fairbank
    Director of College Counseling and Student Activities
    Chair, Social Studies Department


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  • 2.  RE: 8th grade play

    Posted 11-28-2016 07:49
    'The Musical Comedy of 1940', it's not a musical. Also It has a bar written into it, we changed ti to a coffee bar, and had a similar effect.

    --
    Hillary Bogers
    Theatre Director
    Jack Britt High School
    910-429-2800

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  • 3.  RE: 8th grade play

    Posted 11-29-2016 10:34

    Ms. Karen,

    You might take a look at  Ẅolf Tales or The Trial of Goldie Locks or a comedy mystery like The Unusual Suspects by Samara Siskind from playscripts, Inc 8 females and 6 males. These turned out well for us.

    Tks,

    Stephen Smith

    Joe T. Robinson High School

    Drama, Forensics and Poetry Out Loud Coach

    Little Rock, Ar

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    Stephen Smith
    Joe T. Robinson High School
    Drama, Forensics and Poetry Out Loud Coach
    Little Rock AR

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: 8th grade play

    Posted 11-28-2016 13:25

    Have you looked at "The Curious Savage" by John Patrick? Very funny and poignant, with a perfect cast size for your resources. Available through Dramatists.

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    Josh Kauffman
    Teacher
    Winfield AL

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  • 5.  RE: 8th grade play

    Posted 11-29-2016 11:11

    I always have fun working on mystery-thrillers with my students.

    Arsenic and Old Lace is a high school standard but for a very good reason. It's just a really delightful and well written play.

    There are dozens of versions of Dracula out there; from frightening to funny. Find one that best suits your community and your cast.  The special effects are a lot of fun for your tech kids. 

    You might also look at a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Those stories have had a resurgence lately (thanks to Benedict Cumberbatch and Robert Downey Jr.). There are several good versions of Hound of the Baskervilles out there. Lots of different adaptations with different cast sizes and technical requirements. If you are going to do some gender swapping anyway, you might consider going modern dress!

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    John Monteverde
    Drama Teacher
    Pittsfield High School
    Pittsfield, MA

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: 8th grade play

    Posted 11-29-2016 07:47
    I completely agree with The Curious Savage. It's funny, touching, and great characters. And it's 11 people!!

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    Juniper Wallace
    Theatre Director
    Brandon MS
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: 8th grade play

    Posted 11-30-2016 09:22

    When I taught middle school/junior high, my favorite straight play that my students performed was Leaving Iowa.  The kids and the parents loved it, too.

    Best wishes!

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    Sarah Gerling
    Theatre Teacher and Director
    Columbia MO

    Original Message