Open Forum

We are graduating most of our stud actors and actresses this year.  We have lots of potential coming up through the ranks, but we will be predominantly underclass.  A vast majority of these kids will not have any experience with major roles at the "varsity" level.  
What would you consider to be "easy" shows at the HS level?  We need one play and one musical.  Of course we want to challenge our kids, but we want to make the goals attainable.  We are also working with a limited after school rehearsal schedule due to sharing a lot of kids with the marching band.

We also need to have recognizable names, as our school is not in an arts-rich community.  If it's not a name that people recognize, they won't come. 

Thanks in advance for any help.

-------------------------------------------
Mike Morris
Technical Director / Business Manager
-------------------------------------------

Mike,

Tim Kelly's plays are a great starter. They usually feature familiar sounding titles. "Curse of the Werewolf" is one of my favorites. 

For a big musical, "Seussical" can withstand a lot. 

"Godspell" is one of the least vocally challenging of the "name" musicals. 

Scott

-------------------------------------------
Scott Piehler
Drama Director

-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 04-03-2014 07:24
From: Mike Morris
Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS

We are graduating most of our stud actors and actresses this year.  We have lots of potential coming up through the ranks, but we will be predominantly underclass.  A vast majority of these kids will not have any experience with major roles at the "varsity" level.  
What would you consider to be "easy" shows at the HS level?  We need one play and one musical.  Of course we want to challenge our kids, but we want to make the goals attainable.  We are also working with a limited after school rehearsal schedule due to sharing a lot of kids with the marching band.

We also need to have recognizable names, as our school is not in an arts-rich community.  If it's not a name that people recognize, they won't come. 

Thanks in advance for any help.

-------------------------------------------
Mike Morris
Technical Director / Business Manager
-------------------------------------------

For the play pick Almost, Maine by John Cariani. You'll thank me later. Written for 4, you can cast 18 and each person gets one vignette each. Easy to rehearse, easy set requirements and audience favorite. Check it out. ------------------------------------------- Nathan Shewell Theatre Arts Director -------------------------------------------
Original Message: Sent: 04-03-2014 07:51 From: Scott Piehler Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS Mike, Tim Kelly's plays are a great starter. They usually feature familiar sounding titles. "Curse of the Werewolf" is one of my favorites. For a big musical, "Seussical" can withstand a lot. "Godspell" is one of the least vocally challenging of the "name" musicals. Scott ------------------------------------------- Scott Piehler Drama Director -------------------------------------------
Original Message: Sent: 04-03-2014 07:24 From: Mike Morris Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS We are graduating most of our stud actors and actresses this year. We have lots of potential coming up through the ranks, but we will be predominantly underclass. A vast majority of these kids will not have any experience with major roles at the "varsity" level. What would you consider to be "easy" shows at the HS level? We need one play and one musical. Of course we want to challenge our kids, but we want to make the goals attainable. We are also working with a limited after school rehearsal schedule due to sharing a lot of kids with the marching band. We also need to have recognizable names, as our school is not in an arts-rich community. If it's not a name that people recognize, they won't come. Thanks in advance for any help. ------------------------------------------- Mike Morris Technical Director / Business Manager -------------------------------------------

For musicals, look at these full shows (I've done these with my experienced middle school kids and they were able to handle all the music, characterizations and dances quite well):
Bye Bye Birdie
Honk
Seussical
You're a Good Man Charlie Brown (small cast)
Once Upon a Mattress
Annie
Shrek (but only if you have at least 6 or so more experienced kids.) 

All of these have sections with harmonies that may be difficult, but can be simplified and still sound ok if needed.   All can accommodate a younger cast. 

Someone mentioned Godspell...the opening number is very difficult in terms of the harmonies/rhythms and I believe is, conceptionally, a more difficult show. 



-------------------------------------------
Shileah Corey

-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 04-03-2014 07:24
From: Mike Morris
Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS

We are graduating most of our stud actors and actresses this year.  We have lots of potential coming up through the ranks, but we will be predominantly underclass.  A vast majority of these kids will not have any experience with major roles at the "varsity" level.  
What would you consider to be "easy" shows at the HS level?  We need one play and one musical.  Of course we want to challenge our kids, but we want to make the goals attainable.  We are also working with a limited after school rehearsal schedule due to sharing a lot of kids with the marching band.

We also need to have recognizable names, as our school is not in an arts-rich community.  If it's not a name that people recognize, they won't come. 

Thanks in advance for any help.

-------------------------------------------
Mike Morris
Technical Director / Business Manager
-------------------------------------------

Shileah,

You are correct that Prologue/Tower of Babble is a challenging song. We took a bit a cheat, and turned it into a spoken word/poetry slam treatment, and it really worked. 

As far as being conceptually more difficult, you're right-there's a lot of levels going on, and it's critical to maintain Schwartz's concept of "formation of community." I think I was a tad spoiled on this year's show. Directing at a Christian school with an excellent Bible department, my actors came into a show with a deep understanding of the history and context of the parables in the show. 

So, on reflection, maybe not "easy." I'll call it "mid-grade!"

Scott

-------------------------------------------
Scott Piehler
Drama Director


Original Message:
Sent: 04-04-2014 06:13
From: Shileah Corey
Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS

For musicals, look at these full shows (I've done these with my experienced middle school kids and they were able to handle all the music, characterizations and dances quite well):
Bye Bye Birdie
Honk
Seussical
You're a Good Man Charlie Brown (small cast)
Once Upon a Mattress
Annie
Shrek (but only if you have at least 6 or so more experienced kids.) 

All of these have sections with harmonies that may be difficult, but can be simplified and still sound ok if needed.   All can accommodate a younger cast. 

Someone mentioned Godspell...the opening number is very difficult in terms of the harmonies/rhythms and I believe is, conceptionally, a more difficult show. 



-------------------------------------------
Shileah Corey

Your take on the Prologue/Babble sounds wonderful!  And it sounds like your kids really had an understanding of the show.  I'm doing Pippin right now...LOVE Schwartz! 
-------------------------------------------
Shileah Corey

-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 04-05-2014 09:39
From: Scott Piehler
Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS

Shileah,

You are correct that Prologue/Tower of Babble is a challenging song. We took a bit a cheat, and turned it into a spoken word/poetry slam treatment, and it really worked. 

As far as being conceptually more difficult, you're right-there's a lot of levels going on, and it's critical to maintain Schwartz's concept of "formation of community." I think I was a tad spoiled on this year's show. Directing at a Christian school with an excellent Bible department, my actors came into a show with a deep understanding of the history and context of the parables in the show. 

So, on reflection, maybe not "easy." I'll call it "mid-grade!"

Scott

-------------------------------------------
Scott Piehler
Drama Director


Original Message:
Sent: 04-04-2014 06:13
From: Shileah Corey
Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS

For musicals, look at these full shows (I've done these with my experienced middle school kids and they were able to handle all the music, characterizations and dances quite well):
Bye Bye Birdie
Honk
Seussical
You're a Good Man Charlie Brown (small cast)
Once Upon a Mattress
Annie
Shrek (but only if you have at least 6 or so more experienced kids.) 

All of these have sections with harmonies that may be difficult, but can be simplified and still sound ok if needed.   All can accommodate a younger cast. 

Someone mentioned Godspell...the opening number is very difficult in terms of the harmonies/rhythms and I believe is, conceptionally, a more difficult show. 



-------------------------------------------
Shileah Corey

Fools by Neil Simon
The Nerd by Larry Shue
The Foreigner by Larry Shue
The Curious Savage by John Patrick
The Dining Room by A. R. Gurney (this one is like "Almost, Maine" with vignettes. Usually done with 3 men and 3 women, but you can cast more.  The only character I would keep the same is Anna the maid at the beginning and end - and age her in the last scene)

I hesitate to say this here since his name has been brought up a lot, but...in general...I've never quite liked the Tim Kelly stuff.

-------------------------------------------
Lynda Gibson
Jr. Troupe 88305

-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 04-03-2014 07:24
From: Mike Morris
Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS

We are graduating most of our stud actors and actresses this year.  We have lots of potential coming up through the ranks, but we will be predominantly underclass.  A vast majority of these kids will not have any experience with major roles at the "varsity" level.  
What would you consider to be "easy" shows at the HS level?  We need one play and one musical.  Of course we want to challenge our kids, but we want to make the goals attainable.  We are also working with a limited after school rehearsal schedule due to sharing a lot of kids with the marching band.

We also need to have recognizable names, as our school is not in an arts-rich community.  If it's not a name that people recognize, they won't come. 

Thanks in advance for any help.

-------------------------------------------
Mike Morris
Technical Director / Business Manager
-------------------------------------------

Mike,
If you want to do a very easy musical with a large cast (40+) you just can't beat the MTI Disney JR shows for name recognition and ease of vocal/acting ability. They are shorter than full length shows and so the limited rehearsal time could be managed better than with a 2 or 2 1/2 hour full length musical. They also have titles that are not around yet in full length versions such as Little Mermaid JR and  Peter Pan JR, but everyone knows them and wants to see them.  If you want to do a full length music High School Musical is well known, easy set, costume, vocal demands, and the kids are playing high school students so characters are much easier. When I did it I used a coach from the school and a teacher from the school to play the only two adults. People came in groves to see the adults as well as the students. In addition, it has a great theme of acceptance that can allow for some cross-curricular work with the staff at the school around the theme of acceptance and not pigeon holing kids just because they participate in one activity over another. Having other adults at the school participate was a terrific way for them to learn what you do and how meaningful it is to students.
Good Luck!

-------------------------------------------
Leslie Van Leishout
Theater Education Coordinator
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville


-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 04-03-2014 07:24
From: Mike Morris
Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS

We are graduating most of our stud actors and actresses this year.  We have lots of potential coming up through the ranks, but we will be predominantly underclass.  A vast majority of these kids will not have any experience with major roles at the "varsity" level.  
What would you consider to be "easy" shows at the HS level?  We need one play and one musical.  Of course we want to challenge our kids, but we want to make the goals attainable.  We are also working with a limited after school rehearsal schedule due to sharing a lot of kids with the marching band.

We also need to have recognizable names, as our school is not in an arts-rich community.  If it's not a name that people recognize, they won't come. 

Thanks in advance for any help.

-------------------------------------------
Mike Morris
Technical Director / Business Manager
-------------------------------------------

I know they are out of vogue, but the old Rodgers and Hammerstein classics usually have a few principals and a larger chorus.  There is community name recognition.  You do have to have a strong female and male lead, typically with smaller secondary characters.  The King and I might be a good show for you.  Costuming may drive you crazy but there are very few principals.  If you want something where you don't want live orchestration, The R&H Library GTK shorter version musicals are much like MTI with stronger character development.  There is a track and there is a version of Oklahoma and The King and I among others.  On another point, I do love Suessical but have never done it because I find it really challenging since it is entirely sung.  It becomes much  the more  responsibility on our musical director and I haven't had one willing to take that on.  We enjoyed producing The King and I as it was also a cultural learning experience.  We even served Thai food for a cast meal.  

-------------------------------------------
Valerie Scott

-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 04-03-2014 07:24
From: Mike Morris
Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS

We are graduating most of our stud actors and actresses this year.  We have lots of potential coming up through the ranks, but we will be predominantly underclass.  A vast majority of these kids will not have any experience with major roles at the "varsity" level.  
What would you consider to be "easy" shows at the HS level?  We need one play and one musical.  Of course we want to challenge our kids, but we want to make the goals attainable.  We are also working with a limited after school rehearsal schedule due to sharing a lot of kids with the marching band.

We also need to have recognizable names, as our school is not in an arts-rich community.  If it's not a name that people recognize, they won't come. 

Thanks in advance for any help.

-------------------------------------------
Mike Morris
Technical Director / Business Manager
-------------------------------------------

I have two ideas for large-cast straight plays:

Although it doesn't have the name recognition, I'd recommend Arlene Hutton's Holocaust piece, Letters to Sala.  TWENTY+ FEMALE ROLES, SIX MALE ROLES.  I'm not kidding.  Two of the female roles require some acting chops, but I think it's manageable and would yield wonderful cross-curricular opportunities and bring in a ton of families.  

I'd also recommend Mary Zimmerman's Metamorphoses.  I was blessed to guest direct the show for a school with a large program (especially with tech and budget), but it could be done without the actual swimming pool.  I know of several productions that replaced the pool with fabric and lighting effects, and another that used dozens and dozens of buckets, bowls, and other containers full of water across the set.  The show itself is episodic and can accommodate a large cast of relatively green actors with enough featured monologues and roles to give everyone something significant to do.  Great curricular tie-ins with greek mythology and some opportunities to integrate stage combat and stylized movement.



-------------------------------------------
Benjamin Stuart
Middle School Theatre Arts Teacher
Seattle Public Schools


-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 04-05-2014 00:25
From: Valerie Scott
Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS

I know they are out of vogue, but the old Rodgers and Hammerstein classics usually have a few principals and a larger chorus.  There is community name recognition.  You do have to have a strong female and male lead, typically with smaller secondary characters.  The King and I might be a good show for you.  Costuming may drive you crazy but there are very few principals.  If you want something where you don't want live orchestration, The R&H Library GTK shorter version musicals are much like MTI with stronger character development.  There is a track and there is a version of Oklahoma and The King and I among others.  On another point, I do love Suessical but have never done it because I find it really challenging since it is entirely sung.  It becomes much  the more  responsibility on our musical director and I haven't had one willing to take that on.  We enjoyed producing The King and I as it was also a cultural learning experience.  We even served Thai food for a cast meal.  

-------------------------------------------
Valerie Scott

-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 04-03-2014 07:24
From: Mike Morris
Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS

We are graduating most of our stud actors and actresses this year.  We have lots of potential coming up through the ranks, but we will be predominantly underclass.  A vast majority of these kids will not have any experience with major roles at the "varsity" level.  
What would you consider to be "easy" shows at the HS level?  We need one play and one musical.  Of course we want to challenge our kids, but we want to make the goals attainable.  We are also working with a limited after school rehearsal schedule due to sharing a lot of kids with the marching band.

We also need to have recognizable names, as our school is not in an arts-rich community.  If it's not a name that people recognize, they won't come. 

Thanks in advance for any help.

-------------------------------------------
Mike Morris
Technical Director / Business Manager
-------------------------------------------

The original post asked for shows with some name recognition.  These might include some the old standbys:
Annie
You Can't Take It With You
The Man Who Came To Dinner
Our Town
The Odd Couple
Arsenic and Old Lace
Hello, Dolly!
A Midsummer Night's Dream (edited)
Romeo & Juliet (edited)
Fiddler on the Roof (if you have a Tevye, etc.)

Stage Agent has great analysis of what a musical might require.

Challenge is largely where the artistic team finds it.  Consider that your shows need to allow apprentice actors a chance to develop in smaller roles.

We had a wonderful time this year with The Hamlet Thrill-Mageddon.  We did the one act version, and there is also a full-length version.  Some of the Playscript mash-ups let you do a familiar-sounding show that is geared towards your actor's skills and abilities.

-------------------------------------------
Nathan Rosen

-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 04-05-2014 19:55
From: Benjamin Stuart
Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS

I have two ideas for large-cast straight plays:

Although it doesn't have the name recognition, I'd recommend Arlene Hutton's Holocaust piece, Letters to Sala.  TWENTY+ FEMALE ROLES, SIX MALE ROLES.  I'm not kidding.  Two of the female roles require some acting chops, but I think it's manageable and would yield wonderful cross-curricular opportunities and bring in a ton of families.  

I'd also recommend Mary Zimmerman's Metamorphoses.  I was blessed to guest direct the show for a school with a large program (especially with tech and budget), but it could be done without the actual swimming pool.  I know of several productions that replaced the pool with fabric and lighting effects, and another that used dozens and dozens of buckets, bowls, and other containers full of water across the set.  The show itself is episodic and can accommodate a large cast of relatively green actors with enough featured monologues and roles to give everyone something significant to do.  Great curricular tie-ins with greek mythology and some opportunities to integrate stage combat and stylized movement.



-------------------------------------------
Benjamin Stuart
Middle School Theatre Arts Teacher
Seattle Public Schools


-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 04-05-2014 00:25
From: Valerie Scott
Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS

I know they are out of vogue, but the old Rodgers and Hammerstein classics usually have a few principals and a larger chorus.  There is community name recognition.  You do have to have a strong female and male lead, typically with smaller secondary characters.  The King and I might be a good show for you.  Costuming may drive you crazy but there are very few principals.  If you want something where you don't want live orchestration, The R&H Library GTK shorter version musicals are much like MTI with stronger character development.  There is a track and there is a version of Oklahoma and The King and I among others.  On another point, I do love Suessical but have never done it because I find it really challenging since it is entirely sung.  It becomes much  the more  responsibility on our musical director and I haven't had one willing to take that on.  We enjoyed producing The King and I as it was also a cultural learning experience.  We even served Thai food for a cast meal.  

-------------------------------------------
Valerie Scott

-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 04-03-2014 07:24
From: Mike Morris
Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS

We are graduating most of our stud actors and actresses this year.  We have lots of potential coming up through the ranks, but we will be predominantly underclass.  A vast majority of these kids will not have any experience with major roles at the "varsity" level.  
What would you consider to be "easy" shows at the HS level?  We need one play and one musical.  Of course we want to challenge our kids, but we want to make the goals attainable.  We are also working with a limited after school rehearsal schedule due to sharing a lot of kids with the marching band.

We also need to have recognizable names, as our school is not in an arts-rich community.  If it's not a name that people recognize, they won't come. 

Thanks in advance for any help.

-------------------------------------------
Mike Morris
Technical Director / Business Manager
-------------------------------------------

Here are a few shows we've particularly enjoyed.

"Stardust" by Walter Kerr is a fabulous show for several seasoned actors and a bunch of newbies.  The single set can be made up of any accumulated set pieces you have on hand.

We had a wonderful time doing "Medea" as translated by Ian Johnston.  I double-cast all the major roles--something I had never done before, but felt was essential due to the long monologues that would be horrible for an understudy to deliver.  Because Mr. Johnston let us do it without paying any royalties, as well as print our own scripts, we were able to perform multiple shows during the school day for the English classes.  A Butoh teacher choreographed the chorus.  

"The Skin of Our Teeth" by Thornton Wilder is another great one for a few experienced actors and a bunch of less experienced students.  It is expensive, though.  Samuel French charges $9.95 per script and $100 per performance--which seems like a lot to me for a play written in 1941.

"The Mouse That Roared" is also great fun.  Unfortunately, it seems to have renewed relevance.

-------------------------------------------
C. J. Breland
Asheville NC
-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 04-07-2014 08:10
From: Nathan Rosen
Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS

The original post asked for shows with some name recognition.  These might include some the old standbys:
Annie
You Can't Take It With You
The Man Who Came To Dinner
Our Town
The Odd Couple
Arsenic and Old Lace
Hello, Dolly!
A Midsummer Night's Dream (edited)
Romeo & Juliet (edited)
Fiddler on the Roof (if you have a Tevye, etc.)

Stage Agent has great analysis of what a musical might require.

Challenge is largely where the artistic team finds it.  Consider that your shows need to allow apprentice actors a chance to develop in smaller roles.

We had a wonderful time this year with The Hamlet Thrill-Mageddon.  We did the one act version, and there is also a full-length version.  Some of the Playscript mash-ups let you do a familiar-sounding show that is geared towards your actor's skills and abilities.

-------------------------------------------
Nathan Rosen

-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 04-05-2014 19:55
From: Benjamin Stuart
Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS

I have two ideas for large-cast straight plays:

Although it doesn't have the name recognition, I'd recommend Arlene Hutton's Holocaust piece, Letters to Sala.  TWENTY+ FEMALE ROLES, SIX MALE ROLES.  I'm not kidding.  Two of the female roles require some acting chops, but I think it's manageable and would yield wonderful cross-curricular opportunities and bring in a ton of families.  

I'd also recommend Mary Zimmerman's Metamorphoses.  I was blessed to guest direct the show for a school with a large program (especially with tech and budget), but it could be done without the actual swimming pool.  I know of several productions that replaced the pool with fabric and lighting effects, and another that used dozens and dozens of buckets, bowls, and other containers full of water across the set.  The show itself is episodic and can accommodate a large cast of relatively green actors with enough featured monologues and roles to give everyone something significant to do.  Great curricular tie-ins with greek mythology and some opportunities to integrate stage combat and stylized movement.



-------------------------------------------
Benjamin Stuart
Middle School Theatre Arts Teacher
Seattle Public Schools


-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 04-05-2014 00:25
From: Valerie Scott
Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS

I know they are out of vogue, but the old Rodgers and Hammerstein classics usually have a few principals and a larger chorus.  There is community name recognition.  You do have to have a strong female and male lead, typically with smaller secondary characters.  The King and I might be a good show for you.  Costuming may drive you crazy but there are very few principals.  If you want something where you don't want live orchestration, The R&H Library GTK shorter version musicals are much like MTI with stronger character development.  There is a track and there is a version of Oklahoma and The King and I among others.  On another point, I do love Suessical but have never done it because I find it really challenging since it is entirely sung.  It becomes much  the more  responsibility on our musical director and I haven't had one willing to take that on.  We enjoyed producing The King and I as it was also a cultural learning experience.  We even served Thai food for a cast meal.  

-------------------------------------------
Valerie Scott

-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 04-03-2014 07:24
From: Mike Morris
Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS

We are graduating most of our stud actors and actresses this year.  We have lots of potential coming up through the ranks, but we will be predominantly underclass.  A vast majority of these kids will not have any experience with major roles at the "varsity" level.  
What would you consider to be "easy" shows at the HS level?  We need one play and one musical.  Of course we want to challenge our kids, but we want to make the goals attainable.  We are also working with a limited after school rehearsal schedule due to sharing a lot of kids with the marching band.

We also need to have recognizable names, as our school is not in an arts-rich community.  If it's not a name that people recognize, they won't come. 

Thanks in advance for any help.

-------------------------------------------
Mike Morris
Technical Director / Business Manager
-------------------------------------------

Hello!

For the musical, have you ever heard of Calvin Berger? It's a cute show, mostly should be done for high schoolers. It's cute. 4 person, 2 guys and 2 girls. Adorable! Simple! Give it a try! Seussical is always a crowd pleasure! Can be a small cast. 

For the non-musical: Almost, Maine, Wiley & The Hairy Man, Dead Man's Cell Phone (mature content), and any type of fairy tale would be easy to do! 

Hope this helps! 
-------------------------------------------
Grae Greer
Marshall University
Huntington WV
-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 04-03-2014 07:24
From: Mike Morris
Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS

We are graduating most of our stud actors and actresses this year.  We have lots of potential coming up through the ranks, but we will be predominantly underclass.  A vast majority of these kids will not have any experience with major roles at the "varsity" level.  
What would you consider to be "easy" shows at the HS level?  We need one play and one musical.  Of course we want to challenge our kids, but we want to make the goals attainable.  We are also working with a limited after school rehearsal schedule due to sharing a lot of kids with the marching band.

We also need to have recognizable names, as our school is not in an arts-rich community.  If it's not a name that people recognize, they won't come. 

Thanks in advance for any help.

-------------------------------------------
Mike Morris
Technical Director / Business Manager
-------------------------------------------

We were in a pretty transitional period of actors this past year, and we did Robin Hood as our play which worked extremely well. It was very much an ensemble piece and didn't rest too much importance on any particular actor. Plus, we executed it in a steampunk style that really made it more interesting.
I'd recommend anything well-known like that, so your actors already have an idea of what they are getting themselves into and don't shy away from it! Plus, making it steampunk made it sound more flashy, and it attracted huge audiences!

-------------------------------------------
Maison Kelly
Dallas TX
-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 04-03-2014 07:24
From: Mike Morris
Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS

We are graduating most of our stud actors and actresses this year.  We have lots of potential coming up through the ranks, but we will be predominantly underclass.  A vast majority of these kids will not have any experience with major roles at the "varsity" level.  
What would you consider to be "easy" shows at the HS level?  We need one play and one musical.  Of course we want to challenge our kids, but we want to make the goals attainable.  We are also working with a limited after school rehearsal schedule due to sharing a lot of kids with the marching band.

We also need to have recognizable names, as our school is not in an arts-rich community.  If it's not a name that people recognize, they won't come. 

Thanks in advance for any help.

-------------------------------------------
Mike Morris
Technical Director / Business Manager
-------------------------------------------

I did a simple production of A Christmas Carol with a large cast from my Acting and Directing Class. We had a wide variety of acting abilities. We did a one night only performance, rehearsed mostly during class with a few tech rehearsals, and I worked with our choir teacher to have our madrigal singers do Christmas caroling throughout the production. We did it as a benefit and  It was a huge success.EVERYONE came out for this and we filled the house and made a good $3,000 in the process.

This year, I'm doing Our Town with them. Again - large cast with a WIDE variety of acting abilities. 

For a musical - Seussical (or the Jr. version) is fun, has a wide variety of characters and voice types. I did the Jr. version with a cast of 50  - 2nd graders through high schoolers - so a HUGE range of ability there.

Good luck!

-------------------------------------------
Glenn Morehouse Olson
Theater Teacher, Director
St. Francis MN
-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 04-30-2014 01:49
From: Maison Kelly
Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS

We were in a pretty transitional period of actors this past year, and we did Robin Hood as our play which worked extremely well. It was very much an ensemble piece and didn't rest too much importance on any particular actor. Plus, we executed it in a steampunk style that really made it more interesting.
I'd recommend anything well-known like that, so your actors already have an idea of what they are getting themselves into and don't shy away from it! Plus, making it steampunk made it sound more flashy, and it attracted huge audiences!

-------------------------------------------
Maison Kelly
Dallas TX
-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 04-03-2014 07:24
From: Mike Morris
Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS

We are graduating most of our stud actors and actresses this year.  We have lots of potential coming up through the ranks, but we will be predominantly underclass.  A vast majority of these kids will not have any experience with major roles at the "varsity" level.  
What would you consider to be "easy" shows at the HS level?  We need one play and one musical.  Of course we want to challenge our kids, but we want to make the goals attainable.  We are also working with a limited after school rehearsal schedule due to sharing a lot of kids with the marching band.

We also need to have recognizable names, as our school is not in an arts-rich community.  If it's not a name that people recognize, they won't come. 

Thanks in advance for any help.

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Mike Morris
Technical Director / Business Manager
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"Snow Angel" by David Lindsay-Abaire is amazing -- ensemble cast, teenagers, funny but with a beautiful and mysterious story at its center. Similarly, "Things Fall (Meanwhile)" and "Aliens vs. Cheerleaders" were great for us. You can read most of all three scripts at Playscripts.com.

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Cora Turlish
Drama Department Chair
Rutgers Preparatory School
Somerset, NJ
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-01-2014 07:32
From: Glenn Morehouse Olson
Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS

I did a simple production of A Christmas Carol with a large cast from my Acting and Directing Class. We had a wide variety of acting abilities. We did a one night only performance, rehearsed mostly during class with a few tech rehearsals, and I worked with our choir teacher to have our madrigal singers do Christmas caroling throughout the production. We did it as a benefit and  It was a huge success.EVERYONE came out for this and we filled the house and made a good $3,000 in the process.

This year, I'm doing Our Town with them. Again - large cast with a WIDE variety of acting abilities. 

For a musical - Seussical (or the Jr. version) is fun, has a wide variety of characters and voice types. I did the Jr. version with a cast of 50  - 2nd graders through high schoolers - so a HUGE range of ability there.

Good luck!

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Glenn Morehouse Olson
Theater Teacher, Director
St. Francis MN
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-30-2014 01:49
From: Maison Kelly
Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS

We were in a pretty transitional period of actors this past year, and we did Robin Hood as our play which worked extremely well. It was very much an ensemble piece and didn't rest too much importance on any particular actor. Plus, we executed it in a steampunk style that really made it more interesting.
I'd recommend anything well-known like that, so your actors already have an idea of what they are getting themselves into and don't shy away from it! Plus, making it steampunk made it sound more flashy, and it attracted huge audiences!

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Maison Kelly
Dallas TX
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-03-2014 07:24
From: Mike Morris
Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS

We are graduating most of our stud actors and actresses this year.  We have lots of potential coming up through the ranks, but we will be predominantly underclass.  A vast majority of these kids will not have any experience with major roles at the "varsity" level.  
What would you consider to be "easy" shows at the HS level?  We need one play and one musical.  Of course we want to challenge our kids, but we want to make the goals attainable.  We are also working with a limited after school rehearsal schedule due to sharing a lot of kids with the marching band.

We also need to have recognizable names, as our school is not in an arts-rich community.  If it's not a name that people recognize, they won't come. 

Thanks in advance for any help.

-------------------------------------------
Mike Morris
Technical Director / Business Manager
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Tim Kelly is always a good way to go. My freshman year we did his version of Robin Hood and had a very good turn out. It is funny and extremely fun to be apart of. You can also have a large ensemble with this play. 

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Emilee Cruchelow
Indianola IA
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Emilee is right.  I've read that Tim Kelly has written more plays than anyone else.  I've seen them at middle schools, high schools, community theatres, and professional theatres.  His scripts would be great for your school district's script library.

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Vicki Bartholomew
Playwright
Sherwood OR
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-01-2014 13:33
From: Emilee Cruchelow
Subject: "Easy" Shows for HS

Tim Kelly is always a good way to go. My freshman year we did his version of Robin Hood and had a very good turn out. It is funny and extremely fun to be apart of. You can also have a large ensemble with this play. 

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Emilee Cruchelow
Indianola IA
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