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Roger Paolini

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RE: Your Favorite Shakespeare Comedy for H.S.

Posted By Roger Paolini 01-01-2020 13:40
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All great suggestions here, but ":Midsummer" would be at the top of my list. There is a reason it has been on the EdTA list of most often-performed plays in high schools for many years. It's a great introduction to Shakespeare for both the cast and your audiences. The young lovers, Oberon and Titania, ...

RE: One Act Barefoot in the Park

Posted By Roger Paolini 12-07-2019 13:01
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Years ago, I was at a EdTa conference where Samuel French presented a workshop on cuttings, licenses, etc. I remember specifically them mentioning that Neil Simon was very agreeable to using cuttings for educational, competition purposes. Good Luck! Roger

RE: Too Much Drama in Into the Woods Jr.

Posted By Roger Paolini 12-05-2019 12:58
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A few years ago, the Roundabout Theatre in NYC did "Into the Woods" using only 10 actors playing all the parts. You have a couple of things in your favor: "Woods" is a small cast show as written, so you really don't have a lot of roles, plus chorus to deal with. Also, it is a show open to almost any ...

RE: That dreaded discussion

Posted By Roger Paolini 11-25-2019 12:50
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Learning to enjoy playing a supporting role instead of the lead is such an important lesson for our students to learn. I've often, in the heat of the post-casting list going up, had to beg kids NOT to quit the show because they didn't get the lead, and would regret it later. I had a boy we cast as Lazar ...

RE: That dreaded discussion

Posted By Roger Paolini 11-22-2019 11:55
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This is such a great - and important - discussion. I, too, use the jigsaw puzzle analogy with my students in casting a show. I also teach a workshop at our state conference about dealing with parents called "After the List Goes Up." It is difficult for new teachers who must deal with students and parents ...

RE: Costumes

Posted By Roger Paolini 11-11-2019 12:29
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One of the very first rules of theatre every one of my students hears, like never be late for rehearsal, is "you wear what we give you." This also applies to make-up and hair. It's even stated in the parent letter/contract that they sign. What you describe is blatant insubordination. I would have immediately ...

RE: Carousel? Anybody?

Posted By Roger Paolini 10-18-2019 14:00
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Thank you, all, for such a thoughtful and enlightening discussion. That's why I love this forum. Theatre educators can transform problematic material like this into powerful "teachable moments." I appreciate how R&H allowed for the script changes. What pleases me most about this discussion is that high ...

RE: Problems with Samuel French

Posted By Roger Paolini 10-01-2019 13:02
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I've always had trouble with Samuel French. They don't seem to "get" doing shows in schools. I actually try to avoid doing their shows. Their customer service is terrible, especially with their musicals. Roger

RE: Books on Directing/Theatre

Posted By Roger Paolini 09-28-2019 15:35
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I just found a used copy of "A Sense of Direction; some observations on the art of directing" by William Ball (Drama Publishers, 1984) It was very highly recommended by a few theatre educator friends of mine, saying it was the best book on directing they have ever read. Don't let the publishing date ...

RE: Suggestions for all women comedic play

Posted By Roger Paolini 08-22-2019 11:44
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I was going to suggest this as well. That seventh girl could also act as "understudy" to all the roles and stand in for anyone absent from rehearsal. A friend who taught in an all girls school once did "Magnolias" with two casts. All 12 girls rehearsed together everyday with different combinations of ...

RE: Fall drama Ideas and Curious Incident....

Posted By Roger Paolini 04-13-2019 11:39
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One of my students directed the Playscripts one act, "The Other Room" by Ariadne Blayde about an autistic high school student to great success. She and her cast researched autism extensively and used the school's special ed teachers as resources. A very rewarding experience! ------------------------------ ...

RE: Female Jesus in Godspell

Posted By Roger Paolini 03-17-2019 13:13
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The question is, before auditions, is WHY you are casting a female. Like color-blind casting, are you leaving yourself open to giving the role to the BEST performer for that role, or are you trying to say something by casting a female? If a male performer auditions best, would he not get the part because ...

RE: Spring play help

Posted By Roger Paolini 11-16-2018 11:53
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I highly recommend A.R. Gurney's wonderful "The Dining Room." I've done it twice with my students. Originally written for an ensemble of six (3m3f), the eighteen vignettes can be cast any way you want. In both productions I featured my "veteran" actors in more challenging roles, and cast up-and-comers ...

"Rise" TV show

Posted By Roger Paolini 08-31-2018 14:02
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Before we all go back to school, a question for the fun of it: What did theatre educators think of last spring's TV series, "Rise"? I had high hopes for a "Glee"-type popular show that focused on theatre in schools. I expected a lot of teen angst, and it did not disappoint in that department. I was hopeful ...

RE: Millie

Posted By Roger Paolini 05-27-2018 13:31
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I have rarely had good luck with Samuel French for either musicals or plays. They have no respect for educational theatre and what working in an educational setting is all about. We used to avoid choosing SF musicals so as not to have to deal with them.

RE: Spring Auditions for Fall Play?

Posted By Roger Paolini 11-14-2017 11:56
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I always try to announce my fall play at the Drama Club banquet in June .This get the students primed and excited about the upcoming production and saves me reading plays over the summer. And yes, I too never get to blocking and design decisions over the summer break. But I never cast in the spring. ...

RE: Musical Help

Posted By Roger Paolini 04-07-2017 11:28
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I love "The Boyfriend" and have done it twice. For the ultimate "girl show" look at Marvin Hamlisch's "Smile, the Musical," based on the movie about a teen beauty pageant. Some wonderful songs ("Disneyland") and a beautiful message.It moves like lightening and the best part is that your high school girls ...

RE: Double casting one show?

Posted By Roger Paolini 11-23-2016 14:17
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What a wonderful problem to have: more students than you need! I'm just going to offer one comment and one suggestion. Rehearsing two casts is like rehearsing two plays! Be sure to build enough time into your rehearsal schedule. And do not refer to them as cast A and Cast B. Make them Cast A and Cast ...