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On the hunt for a Large cast Comedy

  • 1.  On the hunt for a Large cast Comedy

    Posted 06-05-2019 16:43
    we've all been here right?   

    I struggling to to find a large cast comedy play, that is female heavy for my hs fall show.  
    For a quick background- of what we've done recently:
    A Midsummer Night's Dream
    Almost Maine
    Antigone
    Up The Down Staircase
    and Romeo and Juliet.  As you can see, I like to bring Shakespeare around every 4 years. 

    I was originally leaning towards Radium Girls for this year but it has been suggested to me to find something more light hearted and less technically advanced- ie. Sets and costumes. And apparently, I have asked the audience to "think too much" in the last five years.  So...
    here I am struggling to find alternatives.

    Many help would be greatly appreciated.  

    Tallen

    ------------------------------
    Tallen Olsen
    Drama & Musical Director
    East Windsor Regional School District, Hightstown High School
    Mount Holly NJ
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: On the hunt for a Large cast Comedy

    Posted 06-06-2019 06:19
    Why not perform a set of one act comedies?
    Stephen Gregg 
    Sin Zolidis 
    Jonathan Rand
    Ian Mcwethy
    are some playwrights with high quality one acts from which to create a full length evening of theatre together.


    ------------------------------
    David Kramer
    Mt Sinai NY
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: On the hunt for a Large cast Comedy

    Posted 06-06-2019 08:38
    I just finished directing The Iliad, The Odyssey, and All of Greek Mythology in 99 Minutes or Less by Jay Hopkins and John Hunter, and it was a huge success!  It is one of those small group of actors all playing an ungodly number of parts shows that was in vogue a few years back. In this case, it is designed as a 5 person show with @ 135 parts​. However, you can expand the cast to fill your particular needs.  I did the show with a cast of 40, with most of them having 3 parts.  It's a great show for veterans to really go all out, and there are enough small parts to bring in newcomers.  
    It is a prop heavy show.  It also is done with a countdown timer on stage.  If they don't finish by the end of 99 minutes, the show is over.  It really keeps things moving at a fast pace.

    ------------------------------
    Robert Ellis
    Theater I-IV Honors
    Performing Arts Department Lead
    Cosby High School
    Midlothian, VA
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: On the hunt for a Large cast Comedy

    Posted 06-06-2019 08:43
    Several years ago we did the large cast comedy, Epic Proportions. My kids still talk about how fun the show was to do. My only caution is that it has romance and some adult situations, that can be toned down through staging.
    Fools by Neil Simon is a classic.

    ------------------------------
    Laurie Tyson
    Theatre Director
    Henry County Board of Education
    McDonough GA
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: On the hunt for a Large cast Comedy

    Posted 06-06-2019 09:59
    Try Cat Among Pigeons (also translated as Not By Bed Alone) by George Feydeau. I have directed the play twice at my school and audiences will come back to see the show more than once because it is so funny. It has a few technical requirements but nothing too challenging. Both times I had lovely furniture pieces but no actual set. 

    Good luck,
    Maura
    --
    Maura Vaughn
    Director of Theatre
    Branson
    39 Fernhill
    Ross, CA 95957



    ------Original Message------

    we've all been here right?   

    I struggling to to find a large cast comedy play, that is female heavy for my hs fall show.  
    For a quick background- of what we've done recently:
    A Midsummer Night's Dream
    Almost Maine
    Antigone
    Up The Down Staircase
    and Romeo and Juliet.  As you can see, I like to bring Shakespeare around every 4 years. 

    I was originally leaning towards Radium Girls for this year but it has been suggested to me to find something more light hearted and less technically advanced- ie. Sets and costumes. And apparently, I have asked the audience to "think too much" in the last five years.  So...
    here I am struggling to find alternatives.

    Many help would be greatly appreciated.  

    Tallen

    ------------------------------
    Tallen Olsen
    Drama & Musical Director
    East Windsor Regional School District, Hightstown High School
    Mount Holly NJ
    ------------------------------


  • 6.  RE: On the hunt for a Large cast Comedy

    Posted 06-07-2019 11:22
    We loved Museum by Tina Howe and are considering doing it again. It is a spoof on Modern Art in a single gallery setting, the public's reaction to it and the Guard in the Gallery who must make sure no one touches. The cast includes students, red hat ladies, foreign students, elderly, a photographer, a guide and her group, etc.  17 male character and 21 female character.  Suggested doubling/tripling for 9 men and 9 women. 3 of the 9 male roles are fixed.

    ------------------------------
    Jill Campbell
    Gifted Support Teacher
    State College Area School District
    State College PA
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: On the hunt for a Large cast Comedy

    Posted 06-16-2019 13:19
    We did a few versions of the Captain Bree series.  It is a series of plays about Lady Pirates and their antics.  Good costumes,  good visuals, and you can definitely get a kick out of the number of ladies in the show.  There are many types of the play... Captain Bree and her lady pirates, Captain Bree- Scourge of the Sea etc.

    They have good moments of humour, love and challenging societies cultural norms for women.  
    J

    ------------------------------
    Juanita McGarrigle
    Theatre Director
    St.Albert AB
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: On the hunt for a Large cast Comedy

    Posted 06-17-2019 08:58

    My suggestion is "Once In A Lifetime" - George S. Kaufman.

    Very large cast and very funny.  

    The only thing is, it's a little set heavy for a straight play but I guess it could be scaled back a little.  

    Samuel French carries the rights if you want to take a look at it.  



    ------------------------------
    Chuck Yarmey
    Advisor/Technical Director
    Wyoming Area Drama Club
    Thespian Troupe 4795
    Exeter PA
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: On the hunt for a Large cast Comedy

    Posted 06-17-2019 20:49
    Agree with Once in a Lifetime! May the the best play we have done. Kids loved it- audiences loved it.

    ---------------------------------
    Karin Neal
    Theatre Director
    Trinity Catholic Jr. Sr. High School
    Hutchinson KS
    ---------------------------------



    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: On the hunt for a Large cast Comedy

    Posted 06-18-2019 15:18
    Game of Tiaras by Don Zolidis. Game of Thrones, King Lear, and Disney princesses make for great entertainment.

    ------------------------------
    Amy Sando
    Minden NV
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: On the hunt for a Large cast Comedy

    Posted 06-18-2019 15:24
    Thank you all so much for your suggestions!!! I've been ordering these scripts to read- I truly appreciate the assistance.

    ------------------------------
    Tallen Olsen
    Drama & Musical Director
    East Windsor Regional School District, Hightstown High School
    Mount Holly NJ
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: On the hunt for a Large cast Comedy

    Posted 06-19-2019 13:42
    The Birds by Don Zolidis, adapted from the Aristophanes original. Great play, lots of fun, very good adaptation of the original Greek! We sold out.

    ------------------------------
    John Perry
    Retired Theatre Teacher
    ------------------------------



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